August 6, 2014

MISSION: The West Michigan Veterans Coalition is collaboration between local military friendly organizations that provide support, information, and resources to veterans and their families, employers, and other organization throughout West Michigan. We are a part of the Michigan Veterans Community Action Team providing the no wrong door community-based veterans system of care.

Education Employment Healthcare Quality of Life

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VCAT Leadership ForumRegion 4

August 6, 2014

Michigan’s Veteran PopulationSome Basics

Michigan’s veteran population is one of the largest in the United States, ranking 11th in 2013

Michigan’s Veteran PopulationSome Basics

The U.S. veteran population, in general, is older than the general U.S. population.

In Michigan, over half of veterans are

aged 65 or older.

Michigan’s Veteran PopulationEra of Service

Michigan’s veteran population is older than that of the U.S. veteran population as a whole, with a significantly higher proportion of Vietnam veterans residing in the state.

Michigan Veterans Affairs AgencyMission

To serve as the central coordinating point,

connecting those who have served in the

United States Armed Forces and their families,

to services and benefits throughout the State of Michigan.

Michigan Veterans Affairs AgencyVision

Putting Michigan on the path to be the most veteran-friendly state, by:

Providing the advice and assistance veterans need as they transition through the chapters of their lives;

Creating a “no wrong door” customer service culture; and

Advocating for and on behalf of veterans and their families.

Region 4’s Veteran PopulationSome Basics

Region 4’s Veteran Population15% of Michigan’s Veteran Total Vet Population

MVAA PriorityIncrease Rate of Fully Developed Claims

MVAA PriorityImprove Per Capita GDX in Michigan

Region 4 GDX2013 Growth

Region 4 GDXTotal and by Category of Spending

Kent County GDXTotal and by Category of Spending

MVAA ActionServices Available to Veterans

• One Stop Shop– MichiganVeterans.com

– 1-800- MICH-VET

– Benefits Counseling

– Education

– Employment

– Healthcare

– Quality of life

• Emergency Assistance– Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF)

– Michigan Veterans Homeowners Assistance Program (MiVHAP)

• Veteran Homes

• Community Pilots

MVAA ActionInitiatives & Programs: the Numbers

Michigan Veteran Community Action TeamCommunity Pilots

• Two Michigan Veteran Community Action Team (MiVCAT) pilots

• Regions 4 and 10

• Connect service partners together to improve coordination and collaboration

• “No Wrong Door”PILOT

PILOT

The MiVCAT ModelAn Overview

Federal Veteran Service Partners

State Veteran Service Partners

City/County Veteran Service Partners

Community Veteran Service

Partners

Informal Support Network

Veterans and their Families

• Complete comprehensive assessments of pilot community assets, needs, challenges, experiences, and recommendations for working collaboratively to serve veterans.

• Create sustainable community collaborative programs, effectively implementing the “no-wrong-door” concept supporting veterans and their families.

• Achieve measured progress in effective collaboration and delivering services and benefits to veterans.

• Create repeatable processes and capture best practices to enable rollout to other communities and regions.

Michigan Veteran Community Action TeamRationale Behind Model

Michigan Veteran Community Action TeamMeaningful and Measurable Outcomes

Like the VCAT pilots in San Diego and San Antonio, Michigan’s pilot programs are focused on outcomes that are both measurable and meaningful to assess the effectiveness of MiVCAT efforts.

• Lower vet unemployment

• Higher utilization of vet services

• Dedicated and focused homeless veteran strategy

• Collaborative environment that attracts new partners

• Community directed goals and objectives

MVAA PriorityCreate Wrap Around Veteran Services

MiVCAT goals ….

• Roll out regional collaboratives in all ten prosperity regions

• Routinize communications between the state and regional VCATs

• Ensure that the Michigan Veterans Resource Service Center and all MVAA communications link veterans to federal benefits, state programs and local resources

• Dedicate committed personnel to work with each region and serve as a part of the VCAT

• Improve coordination with other state departments and agencies i.e. MDHS, MDCH, WDA and MEDC

• Increase integration of accredited veteran service officers into the network

• Utilize AmeriCorps staff to round out targeted outreach efforts

• Organize focused events that concentrate resources and maximize time for veterans and service providers

Upcoming MVAA Events in Region 4Michigan Veteran Expo

Two-day event for veterans and their family members to explore employment, education, healthcare and

quality of life programs and opportunities.

When: September 5 & 6, 2014

Where: DeltaPlex, Grand Rapids

Sign up today – information in your packets!

Saturday Only Special Program

Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair• Resume writing support

• On-site interviews with employers ready to hire veterans

Upcoming MVAA Events in Region 4REBOOT Workshop

15-day course of progressive training, designed to build upon the participants’ military training, skills and experience and

comprehensively address the personal, social and professional aspects of military-to-civilian life transition.

When: September 22 – October 10, 2014

Where: Grand Rapids Area

Enrollment ProcessEnrollment to the REBOOT Workshop is by on-line application only, with additional registration and location information coming soon. REBOOT is free for accepted applicants, with MVAA covering the $2,500 workshop fee.

Sign up at michiganveterans.com/reboot

www.MichiganVeterans.com800-MICHVET(800) 642-4938

• Year 2010–2013Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids

Goodwill Industries - Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program

Grand Valley State University

Grand Rapids Housing Urban Development

Health Care for Homeless Veterans

Kent County Department of Veterans Affairs

Michigan Rehabilitation Services

VA- Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

VetCenter

In the beginning…Grand Rapids Veterans Forum

319 South Division Street, Grand Rapids

The next step…

Michigan Veterans Community Action Team2014 –

West Michigan Veterans Coalition

• Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency & Altarum Institute

• Advisory Board

• Subcommittees: Education, Employment, Healthcare, Quality of Life

V e t e r a n C o m m u n i t y A c t i o n T e a m

West Michigan Veterans CoalitionVeterans Community Action Team

Education: Co-Chairs – Jonathan Highman and Amy Gould

Employment: Co-Chairs – Brandi McBride and Michael Poyma

Healthcare: Co-Chairs – Elena Bridges and Carrie Roy

Quality of Life: Co-Chairs – Debra Unseld and Jerry Petorvich

West Michigan Veterans CoalitionFuture Process Map

West Michigan Veterans Coalition

Questions?

Michigan Veterans Community Action Teams Project (MiVCAT)Community Assessment Finding

August 6, 2014

Presentation Objectives

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Share a summary of the findings from Altarum’s community assessment

Use the community assessment findings to identify opportunities for your VCAT

Begin to think about what the West Michigan Veterans Coalition can do to take advantage of the opportunities

identified in the community assessment

What data were collected for the community assessment?

Census and VA data

Interviews with veteran service providers and advocates (30 individuals interviewed mostly in October 2013 and most in person)

Web-based survey of providers (73 West Michigan providers from 58 organizations)

Survey of Veterans in Kent County (1145 responses)

Focus groups with Veterans in February 2014 (2 groups each of OEF/OIF Veterans, Vietnam-era Veterans, and Women Veterans for a total of 6 groups with 58 Veterans)

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Goals for the Data Collection

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Hear from a wide range of providers and veterans

Use data collection methods that allow for asking lots of individuals some

questions and smaller groups questions that allowed more detailed responses

Make sure we reach groups that are harder to reach (women Veterans,

Veterans who are/have been homeless, OEF/OIF Veterans)

Goals Were Achieved!!

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Context

You are currently one of two regional Michigan VCATs

Next year will see the formation of four more regional Michigan VCATs

Opportunities (and challenges) abound in Michigan and in Veterans support in general

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Veterans in West Michigan Prosperity Region 4

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Findings from the Interviews, Surveys, and Focus Groups

Veterans Rely on Providers and Other Veterans for Information

41Source: Veterans Source of Information Question, MI-VCAT Veterans Survey

Need for More Help Navigating the Service System

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I think when it comes to federal benefits—a claim or education—those are a little easier to know and find out once you get out. When it comes to community agencies, what Goodwill can offer, what Michigan Works can offer, Michigan Veterans Trust Fund, all these different programs, no one knows about or it’s pieces of information that isn’t

coming together—when it comes to community Veteran resources, I think those are a lot more difficult for the average Veteran. — OEF/OIF Group

When a person tells you that, “The Veterans Trust Fund? Oh, you don’t qualify.” Instead of suggesting you go across the hall, they just say you don’t qualify for here. So what does a Veteran do? Gets back in the elevator, goes

down, and [you have] missed an opportunity. — Vietnam Era Group

They give you packets, but sometimes give you numbers and send you all these different ways and you get frustrated to the point

where you are like, “You know what? I give up; it’s not worth my effort” because you’ve already made so many phone calls. You just kind of get frustrated and just give up. — Women Veterans Group

Reason For Not Receiving Services and Benefits (Kent County)

8%

8%

8%

9%

9%

10%

12%

13%

14%

15%

16%

21%

28%

29%

30%

40%

49%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

I was not well enough to apply

I was not well enough to access

I was afraid others would find out

I could not take time off work

I did not have transportation

I would have had to travel too far to apply

I would have had to travel too far to access

I felt embarrassed

It was too much paperwork

The process took too long

It was too time consuming

I needed help to figure out process

I was not eligible

I did not know how to get info

I did not know where to go

It was difficult to figure out how to get

Other reason did not receive benefits or services

Kent County (N=316)

Veterans Would Like to See the Peer Support System Strengthened

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Nothing better than Veterans passing info to other Veterans. We [Buddy to Buddy] do groups and share

information. — Vietnam Era Group

Speaking from the standpoint of smaller communities, implementing certified peer-support specialists [would

be a good way to do outreach for Veterans]. If every smaller town had something like what I’m [trying to do] there; I facilitate at Vet to Vet, If every small town had that, then everybody would have a place to go to find

out what they need to know. — OEF/OIF Group

Other Key Outreach Findings

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Veterans and providers indicated that a wide range of different outreach strategies are needed (mailings, TV, internet, personal contact)

Outreach strategies should emphasize the wide variety of support available to help Veterans at different points and stages of life (Veterans shouldn’t have to wait till they have a crisis to find out)

There needs to be outreach strategies that target specific groups of Veterans including women Veterans and those who have had a bad experience with the system or whose issues were not being addressed when they left the military

Veterans Think a Variety of Outreach Strategies are Needed

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I think that is something we need to have in place. A system that [is]constantly in contact. For the younger generation I think that is going to be email, some kind of application [you] can just plug into. For the older Vets, Vietnam era things like that, I think there has got to be a different support

system for them. — OEF/OIF Group

You are finding out about opportunities either by happenstance, or it is too late, or all money is gone or some

other crazy reason that could be avoided, we want to be more proactive with ourselves and Veterans. We see where the

system has failed quite a few people. If we don’t deal with the core of what the problem is; making sure services [are]

connected and people get information and people are actually helping us do what we need to do it is going to be a revolving

circle. — OEF/OIF Group

Outreach: Possible Opportunities

What can be done to help Veterans understand how to access the variety

of services available to them?

How can the coalition partners support the development of an effective peer support system?

Are there opportunities for service providers to collectively develop

outreach strategies?

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Education Benefits

West Michigan colleges and universities have done some excellent work in becoming Veteran friendly

Veterans knew of other Veterans who didn’t know about such benefits or were reluctant to seek information (in the Veterans survey just under 40 percent of Veterans reported knowing some or a lot about such benefits)

Veterans often do not know about the opportunity to get educational credit for their military experience

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Education Benefits: Possible Opportunities

What can be done to encourage other educational institutions to be as Veteran-friendly as Davenport

University?

What can be done to ensure that Veterans are accessing a high quality

institution and maximizing the benefits from their education assistance?

Can opportunities be created for interested student Veterans to play a leadership/support role in the larger

Veterans community?

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Employment

Veterans vary in how much they know about translating their military experience into language that will appeal to a civilian employer

Most Veterans know about government hiring preferences for Veterans but they do not necessarily know how to navigate the hiring system for U.S. government jobs

Michigan Works can be helpful but its Veteran Employment Specialists can only serve Veterans who meet certain eligibility requirements, same with VA employment/education support programs

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Employment

Veterans are frustrated by their experience at the typical job fair

The people there [at job fairs] are more just getting their name out there. They don’t hire them [Veterans]. It’s a PR [public relations] campaign.— Women Veterans Group

Overwhelming. Went from table to table and kept repeating the same thing over and over again; just overwhelming. — Women Veterans Group

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Employment: Possible Opportunities

How and where can support be provided to Veterans on employment issues (e.g., better resumes, effective Federal employment applications,

thoroughly trained Veteran support specialists)?

How can Veterans be better informed about the employment support that is available?

What can be done to develop or support more Veteran-friendly job fairs?

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Health Care

Veterans find the VA bureaucracy frustrating but have more positive things to say about the quality of care and how the VA has changed over the years though some Veterans may still be reluctant to access the system.

Is this the same VA? The answer is no, it’s a lot more caring of an organization, more personalized, more friendly, supporting, but I would not have known about it if it hadn’t have been for that experience. When I talked to other Vietnam Vets, they haven’t had anything to do with the VA, they won’t. —Vietnam Era Group

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Health Care: Mental Health

It can take a long time to get a mental health appointment (two to three months). Many Veterans don’t know about alternative options such as the VA’s Vet Center

Veterans with less than honorable discharges may have trouble accessing care:I tried Network 180, but they looked at me and said, “You’re a Vet. You should get services from them,” but with my discharge I can’t. — OEF/OIF Group

Many Veterans have concerns about the extent of medication use to treat mental health conditions and are not aware that they can influence their treatment options

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Health Care: Possible Opportunities

What can coalition partners do to support efforts within the VA to improve customer service?

What can be done to help Veterans access and navigate the health care system including the

mental health care system?

What can be done to help Veterans be effective advocates for themselves and/or others?

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Quality of Life: Scope

A broad category encompassing a wide range of issues and services such as: housing assistance and support for homeless Veterans; support with the VA pension and compensation application and appeals process; support for Veterans involved with the criminal justice system; emergency economic assistance; and recreation opportunities

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Quality of Life: Findings

Veterans are often in crisis before they are connected to the wide range of support services available for them

Veterans have faced challenges with turnover among Veterans Service Officers

There is support within the local criminal justice system for Veterans, but there may be opportunities for further growth and development in this area

Veterans outside Grand Rapids face additional challenges accessing services and navigating the system

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Many female Veterans in particular have experienced military sexual trauma and had very negative experiences with the way the response to the trauma was hanled

Quality of Life: Possible Opportunities

How can the coalition partners work to better inform Veterans about the various services out there

through outreach and more Stand Down-like events directed at all Veterans?

How can coalition partners strengthen outreach to the police and the criminal justice system, including support for Veterans courts and

transition programs?

How can coalition partners ensure rural and female Veterans receive the support they

need?

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How have assessments like this been used?

Community assessment in San Diego brought the issue of veterans transition from

military to civilian life to the forefront

Clear from interviews and focus groups that existing transition process was not working

Coalition tackled the idea and came

up with the Veterans Transition Assistance Program

(VTAP)

Outcomes: Process improved, strong leadership shown

from a new generation of

veteran leaders

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Breakout Instructions

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Purpose is to identify priorities, strategies, and action steps for key

focus areas related to Veterans services

After lunch we will break up into groups to discuss these

In order to plan for breakouts we would like those of you who will

participate to select the group you are likely to participate in

First task after lunch: Priority setting

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Priorities are the main topic or topics you want to address in the area

It is impossible to solve every problem and issue so you should think about what

makes sense for this coalition to tackle and vote for your highest priorities

Second Task SMART Objectives

S is for specific

M is for measureable

A is for achievable

R is for realistic

T is for time-bound

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Examples of SMART objectives

By March 1, 2015 at least 10 colleges and universities will have implemented a new Veteran friendly policy

By August 1, 2015 the West Michigan VCAT will have developed a checklist for Veteran-friendly job fairs/outreach events and a process for endorsing and publicizing the ones that meet these criteria

By August 1, 2015 the West Michigan VCAT will have developed a web-based directory of trained peer support counselors that can help Veterans navigate the Veteran service system

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Final Task

Develop a list of the action steps needed to achieve those objectives

For all these tasks, start with your highest priority area, go to your 2nd

highest priority area if you have time

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Priority Area:

Objective (make it SMART):

Actions Needed to Achieve Objective When will it be completed by? Who Needs to Work on It?

Questions?

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Five Groups

Outreach (informing Veterans about how to access and use services)

Education

Employment

Health care (including mental health)

Quality of life (other resources and services including housing assistance and support for homeless Veterans; support with the VA pension and compensation application and appeals process; support for Veterans involved with the criminal justice system; emergency economic assistance; and recreation opportunities)

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Please join your group if you plan to participate in the afternoon breakouts

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