Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans Services

The GAC-VS was established as Pennsylvania's first interagency cooperative approach to veterans services. The council reviews, evaluates and assesses state veterans programs in collaboration with senior staff from state agencies and commissions. It increases information sharing, ensures program fidelity, coordinates complementary programs and facilitates meaningful enhancements in service accessibility to veterans benefits and services within Pennsylvania.

The GAC-VS consists of committees comprised of state, federal, and county personnel who have a vested interest in serving veterans. Each committee is chaired by a subject matter expert who facilitates the committee's initiatives and provides a brief to the Council members and/or designees during the quarterly meetings.

Caring for aging veterans in nursing homes involves more than meeting physical needs – it’s about nurturing the soul. The PA Council on the Arts, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veteran Services (GAC-VS), began bringing meaningful arts programming to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ (DMVA) six Veterans Homes across Pennsylvania in 2015.

Through the Arts Residency program, artists have visited these homes, encouraging residents to express themselves through art mediums. Whether seasoned artists or first-timers, all residents benefit from the creative outlet. As explained by the National Endowment for the Arts, creative arts therapy is a non-invasive and cost-effective medical treatment patients experience to improve a wide range of health conditions including cognitive skills and trauma or grief processing.

In 2025, a Music Therapy pilot was launched at the Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home (DVVH). Given music therapy’s proven therapeutic effects, the sessions have yielded wonderful outcomes. Jeff Spencer, a Therapeutic Activities Aide, noticed “remarkable interaction and recall of lyrics, artists, and song titles” among residents with dementia. DVVH Commandant Margo Coleman added, “Residents who are usually expressionless now smile and shake instruments when a song sparks a memory.”

Music’s ability to evoke emotion and memory creates deep connections. Michelle Copeland, DMVA Social Work Administrator and GAC-VS Aging Committee Chair, was inspired by Naomi Feil’s Validation Therapy years ago, which used music and touch to engage even non-verbal dementia patients, much like what is seen at the current DVVH sessions.

Music therapy improves cognition, communication, and coordination. Allison McCrea, DVVH Music Therapist, shared that it “normalizes social interactions and improves quality of life.” As the daughter of a late, disabled veteran, she is grateful she can create shared music environments where participants feel honored, respected, and loved. Jamie Dunlap, Chief of Creative Catalysts & Lifelong Learning for the PA Council on the Arts added how “it is heartwarming and inspiring to hear how music therapy connects to people and creates meaningful, joy-filled moments. We hope to find ways we can continue these types of programs and collaborations for our Pennsylvania veterans.”

2025 Meeting Dates

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025
1-3 p.m.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
1-3 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025
1-3 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025
1-3 p.m.