[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6547186,"mediaKeyId","3868984-b23d6365f06fd01abfb9f34ce216c049","parentId",3868984,"title","SMU team updates commission on veterans needs assessment, GIS mapping and July forum; commission schedules follow-up meeting","audioSeconds",1437,"startMs",2563000,"endMs",4000000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868984-b23d6365f06fd01abfb9f34ce216c049&start=2563&end=4000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868984-b23d6365f06fd01abfb9f34ce216c049/thumbnail_2563000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6547186/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/SMU-team-updates-commission-on-veterans-needs-assessment-GIS-mapping-and-July-forum-commission-schedules-follow-up-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547186-2d4a0540760d116df226ee2f4a001333/orig.mp4?Expires=1770591641&Signature=BzfaOvxt5d8-J5Ojrypz50le8bGHPWgVcDF4atBiDf9EYV5dfCtb17qg4Pv7q2wSHuWA7ZIACLI2JY3a6Vav~vFoDsCATPG7dKJEQKGuCsAcKA~0ovP-~7Sr7~-yTCoXEBWtbWyE-1GAfqgjlmUrFch-ipu~8KZyx5IzZW7LmnWpWceGkeEDwF3MV567eTmD3VSO-w2n6wSHRTKrhG0G9Y1o9K3cxItOjI9FCBeazwm7~OvM7mU04fdt7mILuNGxDrBenDLyfCE3zUEs88GW724~M2OFny-r0tm0MEQmCakkDH4Q~zlKfPodKTxaaAOfvLqDAesVRixuNWk0ekB7Ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dallas","date","2025-06-13T00:00:00Z","article","SMU researchers and their partners told the Dallas Veterans Commission that quantitative and qualitative work for a veterans needs assessment is progressing: researchers have reviewed roughly 28 to 29 city agendas and videos, are operating an ArcGIS Pro geospatial database to map veteran populations and service \"hot spots,\" and had 31 confirmed participants for a July 12 veterans forum (the VIIF), with registrations continuing to grow.

Doctor Mani McGee and Jennifer Eppinger, project leads for the SMU assessment, said their quantitative team has produced early mapping and hotspot analysis using census block groups and that a Dallas City GIS meeting on June 9 aligned data-sharing and mapping efforts with city staff. Dylan, a project researcher, completed keyword extraction and two summary documents from city materials, the presenters said.

\"The geospatial database, the ArcGIS Pro, is now operational,\" Eppinger said, calling the mapping work a core piece for locating underserved areas. The team said the Dallas County Veterans Court leadership team has agreed to assist recruitment and that several of its members will help facilitate small-group sessions at the July forum.

The team told commissioners they had postponed the forum into July to allow time for recruitment and preparation. Project timeline notes provided to commissioners said Phase 1 (through April–June) was adjusted to hold the forum on July 12; Phase 2 will analyze the forum data and continue the veterans location and mobility study; Phases 3–4 (fall and early 2026) will synthesize findings and deliver stakeholder training.

Commissioners asked about data sources. Steve Cole suggested including first-responder reports (police, fire) because incident reports sometimes note veteran status; SMU said the team has begun work with the City of Dallas GIS team and a shared folder (SharePoint) for collecting public datasets, and that outreach to RightCare and other city units is in progress.

The presenters said the project will not recruit people who are actively in crisis for the forum without significant support; instead, the Dallas County Veterans Court will help identify veterans who have experienced homelessness but are in recovery and can participate productively. The team plans weekly recruitment updates as the forum date approaches and agreed to add a data-capture field that records the service era of participants (Vietnam, Gulf War, post-9/11) to the registration form.

Formal actions and schedule: Commissioners also debated whether to count the July forum as an official commission meeting or to hold a separate, recorded meeting afterward. A motion was put on the floor to hold a commissioners meeting after the July 12 forum; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Scott Chase. The transcript records voices saying \"Aye\" during the vote, but it does not record a roll-call tally or a clear final announcement of the motion's passage; commission staff said a separate formal meeting requires livestreaming, a posted agenda and recording and that staff would follow up on available dates. Earlier in the meeting, the commission moved to approve the previous meeting minutes (mover/second not specified in the transcript); the motion to approve was recorded with \"Aye\" and no opposition recorded.

Why it matters: The assessment will produce maps and service-gap analysis intended to guide city outreach and referrals to veteran services, including homelessness interventions and mobility/location planning.

Ending: SMU asked commissioners to continue outreach to local partners; project staff said they would send weekly registration updates and follow up with the commission to finalize a date for a formal July meeting if commissioners want one recorded as a regular meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dallas - Veteran Affairs Commission - Jun 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","SMU researchers told the Dallas Veterans Commission that ArcGIS mapping and city-data review are under way for a veterans needs assessment, the July 12 veterans forum has 31 confirmed participants and the Dallas County Veterans Court is assisting recruitment.","taxTitle","Dallas, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",2781,"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},6547191,"ACU official briefs Dallas commission on education benefits, highlights new Supreme Court eligibility window",1277,1181000,2458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868984-b23d6365f06fd01abfb9f34ce216c049&start=1181&end=2458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868984-b23d6365f06fd01abfb9f34ce216c049/thumbnail_1181000.jpg","/articles/6547191/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/ACU-official-briefs-Dallas-commission-on-education-benefits-highlights-new-Supreme-Court-eligibility-window","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547191-4cb3f43dc521f8076c436e12fa3ebd54/orig.mp4?Expires=1770591641&Signature=RQUhb9CsUXbxDFbBxzpnTDT3gMXjqnaeFraSUpEv4RlwtJpfWmBOnO71RJLoKkthCo7~hYcHOHPoIezTVuwKJGatuWCQH-Z7i01Um9MHhYZha~bd8sllkHy0ZIk3~tsBMFPxyOJqQRQYNqrTtR8Yb842HYb8EsW1la-7sfNAZKut5AfTLAGLu0KcGw9RGtXrG3sfXqOO8d0TCDrgZ0Il4cTTOa9mEWaFQLSeXc~9VeRr9VgHCb6gOQ9ka-lPNPQjydDSTeNXSByBUprsR4b2hNytF~Blo~K3k5nQRpyKaTyZxKUeBvAGxNfyQzTmbZ4aQYejm2HWjC41fSgjPNuCZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vanessa Wise, a strategic partnership executive for military and government organizations at Abilene Christian University, told the Dallas Veterans Commission that a range of federal and Texas education benefits remain available to veterans, service members and their dependents and that a recent Supreme Court decision can restore an additional 12 months of GI Bill benefits for some people who reenlisted.

\"I would sum this one up as the best one — the Post-9/11 GI Bill — because it covers tuition, books and a housing allowance for every qualified service member who uses it,\" Wise said, describing differences among the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, chapter 31). She told the commission that the Post-9/11 program often covers public tuition in full and that private-school users may face annual caps.

Wise also described programs that apply to dependents and spouses, including the Hazelwood Act in Texas and Chapter 35 survivors-and-dependents benefits, and noted the My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) scholarship for eligible military spouses. She highlighted the so-called Rudacille (Supreme Court) decision of 2025, which, she said, allows some veterans who reenlisted and previously were forced to choose between benefit programs to apply for an additional 12 months of benefits through the VA website.

Why it matters: Education benefits are a primary route to economic stability for many veterans and their families. Commission members said the information is important for outreach to Dallas-area service members, veterans and nonprofit partners.

The presentation answered commissioners' questions about ACU's local presence and outreach. Steve Cole asked about ACU's Dallas campus and whether the school had continued programming after a recent leadership change; Wise said the Addison campus is refurbished and hosts events, including a recent women's veterans event. Commissioner Christiano asked about ACU's outreach; Wise described a military admissions team that attends education fairs, matches tuition-assistance (TA) programs, and hosts community events. Commissioner Glenn Hunter asked whether any program rules had recently changed; Wise said she had noticed FAFSA delays but no major program rule changes affecting the benefits she described.

Wise also explained specific points commissioners raised during Q&A: that VR&E (chapter 31) serves veterans with service-connected disabilities with individualized counseling and employment services; that Hazelwood provides up to 120 credit hours at Texas public institutions for qualifying Texas residents and their dependents; and that MyCAA targets spouse certificates and associate degrees. She urged veterans and dependents to apply and offered to run trainings and one-on-one consultations.

Wise gave examples of how the Supreme Court decision has already helped individual students: she described one officer who successfully applied and received an additional 12 months of benefits and another student who used VR&E in combination with other benefits.

The commission asked that Wise share contact information and outreach materials; Wise agreed and offered to provide trainings and briefings to local bases and organizations.

Ending: Commission members thanked Wise and said staff would follow up to share her contact details with local partners and to explore presentations at city or base events.","Vanessa Wise of Abilene Christian University reviewed federal and Texas education benefits for veterans, dependents and spouses and described a recent Supreme Court decision that can add 12 months of GI Bill eligibility for people who reenlisted and previously chose between benefits.","actionData","errors"]

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SMU team updates commission on veterans needs assessment, GIS mapping and July forum; commission schedules follow-up meeting

ACU official briefs Dallas commission on education benefits, highlights new Supreme Court eligibility window