Vet Service Centers in San Diego, Redding & Bakersfield...
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:35 am
CalVet, State Library Open Veterans Service Centers In San Diego, Redding and Bakersfield Libraries
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and the California State Library announce the opening of a Veterans Resource Center at the Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library in San Diego and at the Beale Memorial Library in Bakersfield on November 20, 2012. A resource center will open at the Redding Library on November 29. The Centers will be staffed by volunteers who have been trained by CalVet to help California veterans and their families connect with the benefits and services they have earned through military service. Some Center volunteers are veterans themselves who can easily relate to the experiences of the veterans and families they will assist.
Volunteer training included information about veterans’ benefits and services, veteran reintegration challenges, listening and problem-solving skills, meaningful information gathering and referral techniques. This training prepared volunteers to answer basic benefits-related questions for veterans and their families, to offer CalVet and other appropriate veterans benefits resources, and to provide a checklist of specific documents and information needed when applying for benefits through County Veterans Service Offices.
“We’re always looking for new ways to connect veterans and veteran families with their benefits, ” said CalVet Secretary Peter J. Gravett. “Opening veteran resource centers in local libraries is a great opportunity for us. We’re grateful to the State Library for helping us create this program and are confident the program will be effective. We look forward to taking it statewide. ”
“California public libraries are committed to helping veterans and their families find information on the resources they need and the benefits they have earned, ” said Acting State Librarian Gerald Maginnity. “We’re very pleased to partner with CalVet and community volunteers to open the resource centers for veterans. ”
This is a one-year pilot program. If successful, the program could be replicated in public libraries statewide.
This program was supported in whole or in part by the U. S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and the California State Library announce the opening of a Veterans Resource Center at the Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library in San Diego and at the Beale Memorial Library in Bakersfield on November 20, 2012. A resource center will open at the Redding Library on November 29. The Centers will be staffed by volunteers who have been trained by CalVet to help California veterans and their families connect with the benefits and services they have earned through military service. Some Center volunteers are veterans themselves who can easily relate to the experiences of the veterans and families they will assist.
Volunteer training included information about veterans’ benefits and services, veteran reintegration challenges, listening and problem-solving skills, meaningful information gathering and referral techniques. This training prepared volunteers to answer basic benefits-related questions for veterans and their families, to offer CalVet and other appropriate veterans benefits resources, and to provide a checklist of specific documents and information needed when applying for benefits through County Veterans Service Offices.
“We’re always looking for new ways to connect veterans and veteran families with their benefits, ” said CalVet Secretary Peter J. Gravett. “Opening veteran resource centers in local libraries is a great opportunity for us. We’re grateful to the State Library for helping us create this program and are confident the program will be effective. We look forward to taking it statewide. ”
“California public libraries are committed to helping veterans and their families find information on the resources they need and the benefits they have earned, ” said Acting State Librarian Gerald Maginnity. “We’re very pleased to partner with CalVet and community volunteers to open the resource centers for veterans. ”
This is a one-year pilot program. If successful, the program could be replicated in public libraries statewide.
This program was supported in whole or in part by the U. S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.