[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6227728,"mediaKeyId","3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483","parentId",3485329,"title","Mohave County leaders and veterans groups press state on siting of promised veterans home; county offers land leads and raises staffing concerns","audioSeconds",1875,"startMs",6543000,"endMs",8418000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483&start=6543&end=8418","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483/thumbnail_6543000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227728/Mohave-County/Arizona/Mohave-County-leaders-and-veterans-groups-press-state-on-siting-of-promised-veterans-home-county-offers-land-leads-and-raises-staffing-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227728-5fd4082d42e4deb400b179334d3c8cf3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168710&Signature=H68XbW36WJCDNsX~3Ysb~mxl1F5vgcvcV78ayS2vSzmI6Upg~0zUKUuEfC4hWCPI5p5-aojKLBLByd-~gsFDJ8FPB0TrV-iGINgHrt4aP-GmO8MY~~t5daaPfO~ozzzatrynFjqInvX7doORggXJBhoyomwiTXfJ6IST-SNP5ysvnDlQv8vETDms~GkVqKFdGpEFi-In4FSKTQCfNVtMQ6IUrmVvmKzMQE2m2Xz~LSCnkHrJ2dz8VcLTWXNoOfbreu27xO~7Axl61Kotw~zcunpLlni0Ci4G3nOpk0EXzv~8ZkGsv3-Vcj6AyaDR~jK7oU7FBiylZ175RU9OW5FAVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mohave County, AZ ","date","2025-05-24T04:32:57.607Z","article","Commissioners, county supervisors and veterans service organizations discussed the long-standing proposal to locate an Arizona State Veterans Home in Mohave County during the May 22 commission meeting in Kingman and identified several practical barriers and next steps.

Supervisors and local advocates emphasized Mohave County’s high veteran population and offered potential land leads. Supervisor Don Martin (Mohave County District 4) said Kingman would be a “centralized” and population-appropriate location if the commission and state decide to site a facility there. Connie Hargreaves, outgoing state legislative chair for the VFW Auxiliary, said local landowners and developers have parcels available and that community leaders and chambers would support the effort.

Process and requirements described by staff: a commission member and staff described the state process as requiring donated land (meeting participants repeatedly cited an 11-acre donation threshold) and a state appropriation and federal VA concurrence; one speaker estimated an initial construction cost in the low tens of millions, though the commission said figures should be verified. Staff cautioned that the State Veterans Home program and the VA have limited construction funding each federal fiscal year and that projects require multi-year planning and close project management.

Operational concerns raised: several speakers said staffing nursing positions is a major challenge in rural Arizona. Gary Ochoa, Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services, told the commission that recruitment and retention are difficult and that lessons learned opening Flagstaff and Yuma should be applied to a Mohave project; he said Flagstaff took about four years from donated land to admitting residents and that operating costs and local demographics affect occupancy and staffing.

Medical suitability: Judge Kalui and others noted that high-elevation facilities like Flagstaff pose medical challenges for some veterans (e.g., respiratory conditions) and that Mohave County’s varied elevations may influence siting decisions for a skilled nursing facility.

Discussion vs. decision: attendees exchanged offers of land leads, volunteered local support and urged timely action; no formal site selection or funding commitment was made at the meeting. Several attendees urged the department and commission to accelerate outreach to landowners and local governments to avoid state funds being reallocated if unspent.

Ending: Commissioners asked stakeholders to identify specific donated parcels and said staff would follow up on land offers and project feasibility; the commission reiterated that site selection and construction is a multi-step process that will require both community donations and state/federal approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Arizona Veterans Services Advisory Commission","oneSentenceSummary","County supervisors, veterans groups and state officials at a May 22 meeting in Kingman discussed where to locate a promised Arizona State Veterans Home in Mohave County and described land donation, funding approvals and staffing as the main hurdles.","taxTitle","Mohave County, Arizona","taxId",4183,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227733,"Mohave County transitional housing provider says VA inspection dispute forced rapid repairs and highlights eligibility barrier for high-need veterans",886,3689000,4575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483&start=3689&end=4575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483/thumbnail_3689000.jpg","/articles/6227733/Mohave-County/Arizona/Mohave-County-transitional-housing-provider-says-VA-inspection-dispute-forced-rapid-repairs-and-highlights-eligibility-barrier-for-high-need-veterans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227733-aaec71acc1b4e6c944ddb5d34e48af19/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168710&Signature=XbRmx~n26oXz~wgJ9Y~vgppkGpvfzLl4tWzCo1O9UVYXZk6MC8KJFzHUtb8fXx17G79AE0poxJs~OIX6~zdu9akulCIixmrMlnigrtYbBPb5zisVMtNNU5UGSXisotwAcY~yPNU3zLuV6Br0L0ouPmnZfgFzEnZ23ju2pakMjNyhO4orjNF33svfHx1~U3HajT4qRiASsl4o4a6Q537P~JuE60PHs4RN0WNlU4q6K1Ro7S-pD20jrK4k9yXksdiJHBgcmHScm1UOWvU0oqboULxs2KvFqwBzWo3JozCFLeBX~Sbu-A0TgamO4Pkecy2QQwqgA4uDvlIKrgOawqLsAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Casey Farrell, director of programs for the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council of Mohave County, told the advisory commission on May 22 that the organization’s transitional housing program serves veterans statewide with transportation, tiny homes and a low-demand safe-haven program — but is operating under an active dispute with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs over facility conditions and inspection requirements.

Farrell described three core services: a volunteer-driven transportation program averaging just over 3,000 miles per month to take veterans to medical and legal appointments; a tiny-home initiative (7 units currently in RV parks) that charges only lot fees and utilities to residents; and a low-demand safe-haven transitional housing program for veterans who were not successful in other programs.

The dispute with the VA: Farrell said the VA notified the program that its facility was unsafe and ordered a list of corrective actions, but that a third-party inspector (First Due) completed an annual inspection in January and reconfirmed sprinkler operability after the VA’s notice. Farrell said the VA required additional documentation including blueprints and permits, but those were already pulled by the city of Kingman on April 4; he said the VA canceled a planned on-site reinspection and then issued a letter listing requirements on a compressed timeline.

CDBG grant and construction timeline: Farrell said the organization previously planned to use a Community Development Block Grant for phase 2 construction and roof work but pulled that request because the CDBG program requires construction completion by Dec. 31 and the scope and permit review made that deadline impractical. He said a structural engineer’s plans were expected by June 13 and that the organization will proceed with the work regardless of the grant timeline.

Eligibility barrier for low-demand clients: Farrell told commissioners that Congress or VA policy requires transitional residents to be eligible for VA health care in order to enter the low-demand safe-haven program; as a result, the program has had to refuse roughly 22–25% of applicants who sought help because they were not VA-health-care-eligible. Farrell said he and other local advocates have urged congressional offices and the VA to lift that requirement for the low-demand program, which serves veterans with the most barriers to housing.

Program outcomes: Farrell said Jerry Ambrose’s program placed 26 participants into housing in a little over a year and that staff are mostly veterans. He also described planned supportive community projects including a thrift shop and a greenhouse that would provide therapeutic volunteer opportunities and donated produce for veterans.

Discussion vs. decision: The commission heard Farrell’s report and asked questions; no commission action or vote was recorded about the VA dispute or grant plans. Farrell said the organization will complete structural plans and seek reinspection and will continue placement work in the meantime.

Ending: Farrell asked for continued community and commission support for resolving inspection differences with the VA and loosening eligibility restrictions for low-demand transitional programs.","Casey Farrell, director of programs for the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council, told the commission that a VA inspection dispute prompted rapid corrective actions at the group’s transitional housing site and that a VA policy requiring VA-health-care eligibility is forcing the program to turn away about 22–25% of veterans who seek help.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227738,"Arizona’s Purple Star Schools program expands; state liaison urges schools to adopt peer supports and staff training",686,2477000,3163000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483&start=2477&end=3163","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483/thumbnail_2477000.jpg","/articles/6227738/Mohave-County/Arizona/Arizonas-Purple-Star-Schools-program-expands-state-liaison-urges-schools-to-adopt-peer-supports-and-staff-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227738-311393f485bac812a37b99716b69c55f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168710&Signature=MvdgZ490yjB2Og-qwfgPy4WRGR135pi9CUWX4XjHyJRrtP9F9fwv6yH4RTsziSdR-f2v3UsDr~94E1lBXH6dGWYGRrScIjUbAm5HO0u3dtn3LJ8z5wKRnvBWtsypDw8PScZdN4c4OA0DC5lBe38ZXp7~oHU1WdT6K84sM088CTwxp3wHAnL4eehquK-55XN6g8CcUQymjeEtm02c1JBSz0FrXra9NezhNz3Awk8dwMmQzBdy9Qx-4EZNPMcJ8yFHK8j8PMH3d-14-5TseGJ36GVUer46hkBk41PRAGGTNmZT-CtrEPOcFbNZU0~wZs4k-bKzBQmqAM3qA9AWSoy4pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lee Fernwalz, military community liaison with the Arizona Department of Education, briefed the advisory commission May 22 on Arizona’s newly enacted Purple Star Schools program and how schools can win the designation to better support military-connected students.

Fernwalz described the law, signed by the governor in April and effective in July, as part of a broader national Purple Star movement; he said Arizona joins about 40 other states. “Every state must enact legislation in order to have such a designation,” he said. He reported roughly 53 Arizona schools have begun the process and said initial requirements are intentionally light so schools can begin the work and finish the remaining steps within about 90–120 days.

Why it matters: Fernwalz said military-connected students are highly mobile — often changing schools two to three times every three years — and that trained school staff and an organized peer-support program improve student outcomes. He cited national research summarized by Columbia Law’s leadership survey showing a positive to very positive impact in 77 percent of schools that implement Purple Star programming and a teacher-reported 53 percent improvement in academic outcomes among participating students.

Program details Fernwalz listed: a school must publish Purple Star information on its website, train 70 percent of staff in military culture and transition issues, and designate a peer-to-peer program to welcome and support incoming military-connected children. The program is school-based rather than district-based; Fernwalz said the law assumes families interact first with schools, not district offices.

Fernwalz also explained related state programs he oversees: SkillBridge internships (DoD internships for active-duty members), Troops to Educators (now Troops to Educators/Teachers), and efforts to ensure reservists and National Guard families are included in outreach. He said the designation carries minimal cost to schools (a banner or signage is an optional small expense) and that the Education Department’s website provides training modules and a parent resources section.

Discussion vs. decision: The presentation was informational. Commissioners asked about scaling and whether charter, private and parochial schools can participate; Fernwalz confirmed they can and said several charter and parochial schools are already participating. No formal action or state funding commitment was made at the meeting.

Ending: Fernwalz said he hopes to expand the program and later consider a “Purple Star College” initiative to ease the high-school-to-college transition for military-connected juniors and seniors.","The Arizona Department of Education’s military-community liaison described the new Purple Star Schools designation, its requirements (including 70% staff training and a peer-to-peer program), and plans to grow from about 53 schools to broader statewide adoption.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227743,"Lake Havasu judge tells Arizona commission veterans courts cut recidivism, urges better data and outreach",1378,952000,2330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483&start=952&end=2330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3485329-1b93e182fe56165fe5fcaa1f33b78483/thumbnail_952000.jpg","/articles/6227743/Mohave-County/Arizona/Lake-Havasu-judge-tells-Arizona-commission-veterans-courts-cut-recidivism-urges-better-data-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227743-40bab5c1c5bd4099647fc599988d3614/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168710&Signature=amVG8yMKTYV3T4TlJP~DxiiP4uRvXJUC8BT9BcxxJG6o9ylbA5j7JfBp8ikHdfUoxIlkHaXP7R~g6dx3RI5ezoUNJdV4QhgQNTGltic5dWpKg8X4rxGfsbqGhQzmTFqgqqfAsW6xNJtfKw-yob5cFEvbPCRiwvtLCWIhY1AZzVsAkHDU2bhQ6f-I4F5jbNrWyfh3VLYwPCf6kX6yeeAZjaKPXgFnkWeWyXqXOJVUtMgbo6v8067itJ4XZaQjUK3aUVT8loGRM201Ehb09AXhYGMVorTTEziCJc4HXgcaUnwqL2gJoB-7LCHB4RNSPr7IrkgkOiE6fqf~WOcfQURcoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Judge Mitchell Kalui of the Lake Havasu City Municipal Court told the Arizona Veterans Services Advisory Commission on May 22 that Lake Havasu’s veterans treatment court has sharply reduced repeat criminal behavior among participating veterans and stressed the need to identify veterans early and collect outcome data for state funding.

Kalui, who helped start Lake Havasu’s court more than a decade ago, said the town’s Veterans Resource Team coordinates services such as emergency rent, utility assistance and transportation and that the team filled service gaps during the court’s early years. “The court system is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff,” Kalui said. “What we really need is to push all of those services up onto the top of the cliff and back from the cliff so that they never fall over.”

Why it matters: Kalui argued that evidence of effectiveness — not appeals alone — will sustain and grow state support for veterans courts. He gave concrete figures from Lake Havasu’s program: about 300 graduates over roughly 12 years and a recidivism rate “less than 8 percent.” He also said the community-run Veterans Resource Team provided roughly $80,000 in services and covered $30,000–$40,000 a year for drug testing in the program’s early years.

Kalui described how the court recruits community partners and expands services over time: mentoring programs were added after launch, transportation was provided via donated vans and volunteer drivers, and a coordinated intake process reduced duplication of emergency aid. “If somebody comes to the Veterans Resource Team, typically there’s rarely a time when it takes more than 24 hours to fill that need,” he said.

Kalui urged the commission and other officials to require or fund routine identification of veterans in the justice system. “It doesn’t cost any money to ask somebody, have you ever served in the military?” he said, and recommended asking the broader question, “Have you ever served in the military?” rather than narrower phrasing that can miss National Guard or noncombat service.

On performance measurement, Kalui told commissioners that while he has many anecdotal success stories, sustainable state funding requires comparable metrics and broader study. He said a rumored bill under consideration would both require courts to flag veterans and create funding channels; he encouraged using data to show “this works” when asking the legislature for support.

Discussion vs. decision: Kalui’s presentation was informational and advisory; commissioners and staff discussed next steps such as hosting more training and a likely expanded veterans-court conference. No formal commission vote or directive on funding or statewide mandates occurred at the May 22 meeting.

Ending: Kalui closed with a personal example of a veteran whose medical needs were clarified through the court’s assessment and whose life stabilized after treatment and mentoring — an example he said demonstrates why veterans courts are “worth it.”","Judge Mitchell Kalui told the Arizona Veterans Services Advisory Commission that Lake Havasu’s veterans treatment court has reduced repeat offending, saved community resources and depends on a local Veterans Resource Team; he urged better veteran identification in courts and statewide data collection to secure funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mohave County leaders and veterans groups press state on siting of promised veterans home; county offers land leads and raises staffing concerns

Mohave County transitional housing provider says VA inspection dispute forced rapid repairs and highlights eligibility barrier for high-need veterans

Arizona’s Purple Star Schools program expands; state liaison urges schools to adopt peer supports and staff training

Lake Havasu judge tells Arizona commission veterans courts cut recidivism, urges better data and outreach