I posted in GD but wanted to post here as well: 311 for veterans

[OneGrassRoot]

Today, IAVA joined Mayor Gavin Newsom to launch San Francisco’s Veterans 311 Portal. This innovative, one-stop shop combines resources provided by the VA, federal, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations specifically for veterans in the Bay Area. The online hub includes information about jobs, economic development programs, educational opportunities and information on the New GI Bill from IAVA’s NewGIBill.org, as well as healthcare and mental health resources.

“Mayor Newsom is leading and innovating in a way that other local leaders are not. His leadership on the Veterans 311 Portal should serve as the standard for other cities across the nation. IAVA was thrilled that Mayor Newsom and the city of San Francisco were so receptive to this idea when we proposed it to them this spring and are excited to be a partner in this effort. We look forward to working with other mayors and elected officials across the country on similar initiatives aimed at improving access to resources for veterans in their local communities,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.

http://iava.org/blog/mayor-newsom-iava-launch-311-veter...


:thumbsup:

[pinboy3niner]

1. That's a great program

We do the same thing where I live, on a more limited basis, through a quarterly, 1-day outreach. It's basically the same thing as the Stand Down programs, but we've adapted it to the 1-day model, where services are offered four times each year.

Ours isn't a government program, though the VA is involved as a service provider, along with CA state and county, business, industry, military, charity, civic, veterans', faith and other groups--everything from the local Wal-Marts to the Rotary and the Lions Clubs to the local food bank. We even provide basic dental services--cleanings, drill-and-fill, and extractions (along with referrals to low- or no-cost services). A VA medical team is usually there to provide basic check-ups and inoculations.

We have a couple dozen VA people, including a dozen with laptops, to establish eligibility and enroll new clients in the VA Health Care System. Legal help is there--sometimes judges from local counties--to help clear past legal problems. There are employment and housing specialists, vets' service groups, substance abuse counseling and halfway-house orgs, free clothing, barbers, and eye checkups and referrals.

We normally have between 60 and 80 clients coming for services, and triple that number in providers and volunteers. This Saturday happens to be the next Outreach date, and evryone is looking forward to it.

:patriot: