COOFIA Advocacy Action & Empowerment Source
SagesSenior Action & Grassroots Empowerment Source
SagesSenior Action & Grassroots Empowerment Source
Advocate’s Column
VA Head Resigns – Obama Accepts Resignation
VA Disability Claimants Demand Fairness
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Eric Ken Shinseki (/ʃɨnˈsɛki/; born November 28, 1942) is a retired
United States Army four-star general who serves as the seventh
United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. His final U.S. Army
post was as the 34th Chief of Staff of the Army (1999–2003). He is
a veteran of combat in the Vietnam War, where he sustained an
amputation of part of a foot from a landmine explosion while
serving as a forward artillery observer. In May 2014, Shinseki was
embroiled in a scandal involving the Veterans Health
Administration, which is a component of the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs. Questions involving substandard
timely care and false records covering up related timelines had
come to light, involving treatment of veterans in a number of VA
hospitals. On May 30, 2014, President Obama announced that he
has accepted Shinseki's resignation as Secretary.
EMPOWERING CLAIMANTS THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
2013-2014
________________________________________
Obama Accepts Shinseki's Resignation
The controversy about mismanagement at Veterans Affairs hospitals
has been brewing since an April report that dozens of veterans on a
“secret waiting list” in Phoenix, AZ, died while waiting for care.
Intense political pressure against Shinseki reached a crescendo this
week as prominent lawmakers from both sides of the aisle called for
his ouster, including a steady stream of Republicans and many
Democrats who are facing tough elections in the fall.
A VA inspector general’s report released Wednesday showed that
over 1,500 veterans at the Phoenix facility were kept off of an official
waiting list. The report also found that such scheduling manipulation
was “systemic” throughout the veterans’ health care system and that
similar problems have existed there since 2005 -- long before Obama
or Shinseki's tenure. Earlier Friday, Shinseki apologized for the
problems and promised to “use all authority at our disposal to enforce
accountability among senior leaders who have been found to have
instigated or tolerated irresponsible or dishonorable scheduling
practices at VA health care facility.”
Shinseki, a decorated general and Vietnam combat veteran who
previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Army, has held the post
since 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0clLJAVlMsM
June 2014
California Office of Federal Insurance Advocacy Newsletter

Sages
Senior Action & Grassroots Empowerment SourcesInternet Self-Help Services
COOFIA Advocate Claim Representatives are business
professionals within the community, trained and
supervised by competent Attorneys in Social Security
Disability Law. COOFIA Advocates are assigned to
Claimants who need assistance and representation
when the matter is scheduled for an administrative
hearing.
Self-Help Services
COOFIA publishes a new COOFIA Self-Defense self-help
guide for claimants who choose to represent
themselves, but may require important and critical
information on “How to Avoid Common Problems and
Pitfalls when filing a disability claim.”
No-Cost Phone Consultation
COOFIA provides No-Cost Phone Consultations for New
Claimants. If a claimant is having trouble understanding
how to complete his or her claim documentation, we
encourage them to contact our office for assistance.
Community Advocacy and Information
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Central California Legal Services
2115 Kern Street, Suite 1
Fresno, CA 93721
1-800-675-8001
(559) 570-1200
(559) 570-1256 TTY
www.centralcallegal.org
Central California Legal Services is a non-profit law firm.
They provide free legal assistance to low income
families and individuals in the following counties:
Fresno, Kings, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare, and
Tuolumne. They also provide a Guardianship Clinic
every 3rd Thursday of the month from 8:30 am – 12:00
pm but participants must meet CCLS’s eligibility
requirements. Availability is limited to only 20
participants each Thursday.
Disability Rights California
567 West Shaw, Suite C-3
Fresno, CA 93704 (559) 476-2000
1-800-776-5746
1-800-719-5798 TTY
http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/
Advance the rights of Californians with disabilities. Our
vision is a barrier free, inclusive world that values
diversity, culture, and each individual.
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program
(HICAP)
3845 N. Clark, Ste.201
Fresno, CA 93726
(559) 224-9117
http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/HICAP/index.html
HICAP provides free and objective information and
counseling about Medicare. Volunteer counselors can
help you understand your specific rights and health
care options. HICAP also offers free educational
presentations to groups of Medicare beneficiaries, their
families and/or providers on a variety of Medicare and
other health insurance related topics.
Central California Agency Contacts
Central California Legal Services
2115 Kern Street, Suite 1
Fresno, CA 93721
1-800-675-8001
(559) 570-1200
(559) 570-1256 TTY
www.centralcallegal.org
Central California Legal Services is a non-profit law firm.
They provide free legal assistance to low income families
and individuals in the following counties: Fresno, Kings,
Mariposa, Merced, Tulare, and Tuolumne. They also
provide a Guardianship Clinic every 3rd Thursday of the
month from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm but participants must
meet CCLS’s eligibility requirements. Availability is
limited to only 20 participants each Thursday.
Central Valley Regional Center
4615 N. Marty Avenue
Fresno, CA 93722
(559) 276-4300
www.cvrc.org
Advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities
and children at risk to reach their goals. Evaluation,
assessment, information, referral, and coordination of
services to developmental disabled.
Centro La Familia Advocacy Services Inc.
302 Fresno Street Suite 102
Fresno, Ca 93706
(559) 237-2961
1-877-294-3772
www.centrolafamilia.org
Centro La Familia provides direct advocacy and
intervention services to low-income residents. Advocacy
services assists with child support/stay away orders,
public benefits, enrollment in Medi-Cal and Healthy
Families insurance, food stamps, Home Owners and
Renters credit, EITC, and PG&E Care program. Education
Awareness Programs include Telecommunications,
Breast Cancer, First 5 Home Visitation Program, Mental
Health counseling and both English and Spanish Speaking
Parenting Classes.

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