REPORT OF BVA 60TH NATIONAL CONVENTION BYLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

Resolutions 1-05 through 3-05
Resolutions 4-05 through 6-05
Resolutions 7-05 through 10-05
Resolutions 11-05 through 13-05
Resolutions 14-05 through 17-05
Resolutions 18-05 through 21-05
Resolutions 22-05 through 23-05
Resolutions 24-05 through 27-05
Resolutions 28-05 through 29-05
Resolutions 30-05 through 32-05
Resolutions 33-05 through 35-05
Resolutions 36-05 through 38-05
Resolutions 39-05 through 41-05
Resolutions 42-05 through 43-05
Resolutions 44-05 through 45-05

RESOLUTION 24-05

Resolution- Clerical support for VIST Programs

WHEREAS, most VIST Coordinators across the country have no clerical support, AND

WHEREAS, this causes these program managers to spend a significant amount of time doing clerical and administrative duties, AND

WHEREAS, the BVA feels this time would be better-spent performing clinical duties and direct patient care, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, the Blinded veterans Association in convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida on this 20^th day of August, 2005 requests the VA authorize the provision of at least .5 FTEE GS 4/5 clerical support for all full time GS-12 VIST Coordinators with a caseload of 300 or more blinded veterans and 1.0 FTEE for programs having both a full time VIST Coordinator with a minimum of 300 caseload and a GS-12 Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS), AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that VISN Directors be required to provide funding to local facilities to support these positions, AND FINALLY BE IT

RESOLVED, that the VIST and BROS Handbooks and documents pertaining to 

VIST and BROS contain language supporting the intent that such support is to be provided.

RESOLUTION 25-05

Resolution - BRC funding

WHEREAS, there is currently inadequate funding of residential blind rehabilitation programs to allow adequate procurement and stocking of training materials and supplies, AND

WHEREAS, this affects patient care and interferes with the ability to procure and test new technology, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida on this 20^th day of August, 2005 work with the VA to find a solution to this problem, AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that those BRCs be nationally funded to purchase and maintain adequate equipment and supplies to meet teaching and staff needs. 

RESOLUTION 26-05

Resolution - BRC Staffing Levels

WHEREAS, Blind Rehabilitation Centers are staffed with varying levels of instructional and support staff (social worker, recreational therapist research staff, psychologist and so forth), AND

WHEREAS, it is felt that veterans cannot receive the same level of services at each residential blind rehabilitation center due to a lack of standardization and adequate staffing, AND

WHEREAS, the BVA desires that veterans receive the same level of treatment at each BRC, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida on this 20^th day of August, 2005 at request the Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress to review the staffing at residential blind rehabilitation centers to determine the areas of inconsistency and take corrective action to ensure that there is standardization between programs, AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that this review of BRC staffing and corrective action by the VA be made a national priority for BVA to ensure that corrective action is taken: 

 RESOLUTION 27-05

Resolution- BRC Staffing of Nurses

WHEREAS, an increasing number of veterans have complex medical issues, AND

WHEREAS, it is felt that many veterans with special needs cannot participate in residential blind rehabilitation due to lack of adequate staffing in BRCs, particularly nursing staff, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida on this 20^th day of August, 2005 partner with BRS to encourage VA to review the staffing levels of nursing at residential blind rehabilitation centers to determine the correct number of nurses needed at each site and to ensure that corrective action is taken at those site found to be lacking adequate staffing levels, AND BE IT FURTHER 

RESOLVED, that this be made a national priority for BVA to ensure that corrective action is taken by the VA if a review reveals inadequate staffing does exist, AND FINALLY BE IT

RESOLVED, that this issue be placed on the agenda of the BVA/BRS Strategic Work Group and presented in the annual testimony to Congress.

Resolutions 28-05 through 29-05 >