Founded in 1995 by the National Association of Community Health Centers, Community HealthCorps is the largest health-focused, national AmeriCorps program that promotes healthcare for America’s underserved, while developing tomorrow’s healthcare workforce.

The

mission

of Community HealthCorps is to improve healthcare access and enhance workforce development for community health centers through national service programs.

The

vision

of Community HealthCorps is to become a national service pipeline for careers in community health centers that is improving access to necessary primary and preventative care services for the medically underserved.

For further information about Community HealthCorps, visit www.communityhealthcorps.org

Engaging, Recruiting & Retaining Veterans & Members of Military Families

Mandatory Coordinator Conference Call

Paula Sotnik, National Service Inclusion Project Dawn Fry, California Conservation Corps Neal Pointer, Habitat for Humanity’s VetCorps March 12, 2013

Strategies & Insight from the National Perspective Paula Sotnik, Director National Service Inclusion Project & Operation ABLE Community

www.SERVICEandINCLUSION.org

Toll-free hotline: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY)

Paula Sotnik

Paula Sotnik

has over twenty-five years of experience working as a director, curriculum developer, trainer, and diversity and disability specialist. She oversees the National Service Inclusion Project, the national T&TA center on accessibility and disability issues funded by CNCS. Paula also oversees Operation ABLE Community, a pilot designed to examine promising practices on getting veterans with disabilities engaged and supported in national service. Paula has served as a lead training consultant and author on culture brokering for the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. Prior to this project, she developed and coordinated several capacity-building projects with community organizations that examined the experiences of individuals with disabilities from diverse cultures related to person-centered planning and assistive technology. She also developed and directed several federal- and state funded assistive technology projects for individuals with cognitive disabilities to live more independently in their homes. Paula has served on several consumer advocacy boards, consulted nationally, and conducted presentations and published on topics related to diversity and disability, accommodations, responsive outreach strategies, and developing the capacity of organizations to include individuals with disabilities. 8

Operation ABLE Community

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is embarking on OAC, a pilot to demonstrate the benefits of a National Service experience for veterans with disabilities who are re entering civilian life. National Service can provide direction and purpose, allowing veterans to continue contributing their skills and expertise to improving lives.

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“ My experience as a volunteer in the AmeriCorps program has given me the will to get out of bed everyday. It has given me the education and the knowledge to understand my disability and it gives me a purpose in life. If you don ’ t have a purpose in life, it is hard to get out of bed every morning ” -anonymous veteran who served in AmeriCorps

Please share….

Are you engaging veterans and Wounded Warriors in your programs?

What are the benefits? What are the challenges?

Operation ABLE Community

Most asked question from Vets, Wounded Warriors and military installation staff,

“How will this impact my benefits?”

If I am on SSI/SSDI and Veterans Benefits, how will national service benefits impact me?

1. OAC researching clear and approved existing guidance on the intersection and develop a paper 2. Identify unanswered questions 3. Hold summit with benefits experts and address unanswered questions and gaps 4. ACTION!

Educate Military about National Service 1. Main goal = military staff offer national service as an option in their transition counseling plans and script 2. Develop a curriculum based on their input and feedback

Educate National Service about the Military 1. Acquaint national service with culture, language, positions, experiences and post military status.

2. Educate national service on how to approach and develop relationships with military and veterans organizations.

3. Identify local and national resources to assist with PTSD and TBI supports

What is a Veteran?

“

Someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life

”

. - Unknown

The Department of Veterans Affairs Defines it as: “

Veteran means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

”

(VHA HANDBOOK 1601A.02)

Branches of the U.S. Armed

• Air Force

Services

• Army Soldier • Coast Guard Guardians • Marine Corps • Navy Marine Sailor Other: • Military Personnel • Dependents Service Members Family Members

AIRFORCE

Born: 1947 Primary mission: To defend the U.S. (and its interests) through exploitation of air and space

Born: 1775 Primary Mission: To protect and defend the U.S. (and its interests) by way of ground troops, armor (tanks), artillery, attack helicopters, tactical nuclear weapons, etc

ARMY

COAST GUARD

Born: 1790 Primary Mission: To provide law enforcement, boating safety, sea rescue, and illegal immigration control. However, the President of the U.S. can transfer part or all of the Coast Guard to the Department of the Navy in times of conflict

MARINE CORPS

Born: 1775 Primary Mission: To assault, capture, and control "beach heads," which then provide a route to attack the enemy from almost any direction

Born: 1775 Primary Mission: To maintain the freedom of the seas

NAVY

NATIONAL GUARD & AIR NATIONAL GUARD

The Lifestyle You Knew Exists No More

• Boot camp • Customs • Uniforms • Language

Warning: Content may be disturbing or harmful to those who have experienced combat or other trauma. The following slides are courtesy of Cornell University, Disability Services Office.

A service member coming home may experience…

Common Disabilities and Challenges of this Conflict • PTSD/MST • TBI • Impaired vision/Blind • Hearing loss/Tinnitus • Loss of limb • Body disfigurement • Back, shoulder and knee pain • Suicide • Unemployment • Stigma

Common Functional Limitations of PTSD • Detachment, loss of interest, numbing • Hyper vigilance • Concentration issues • Anger outbursts • Intense guilt • Memory deficits • Avoidance behaviors • “ Thousand mile stare ” • Flashbacks • Sleep issues/night terrors

Common Functional Limitations of TBI • • • • • • • • Difficulty learning and synthesizing new information Decreased Processing Speed Working memory deficiencies Long and short term memory deficiencies Poor decision making /problem solving skills Unaware of difficulties Inability to focus and concentrate Fatigue

What’s Important to Veterans?

• • • • • • • •

Understanding why they joined the military and their emotional response to their military service Personal goals Teamwork, emergency response and deployment Vet to Vet Respect prior service and leadership skills Focus on abilities, not disabilities Recruit in person Communication

Themes that Resonate with Veterans

• Importance of service and diversity • Desire to transition personally and professionally • Feelings of patriotism • Prioritization of benefits • Search for new opportunities • Sense of accomplishment

Common Questions You Will Encounter…

•How many terms of service may someone serve?

•May a member serve while still serving in the Army?

•Where are service opportunities in my area?

•What if I have a less than honorable discharge?

•Can someone support a family on an AmeriCorps living allowance? What are the other benefits and WIIFM?

•What if I have VA appointments?

• • • • • • • Educate yourself on the military Know how national service will benefit the Veteran, family and military organization, e.g., Encouragement of

Postseparation Public/Community Service

Be aware of mental health challenges and be knowledgeable of where to refer if needed Understand that the transition back into civilian life is again another culture shock and the more structured the program the better the Veteran will do If certain steps need to be taken, have a list of the steps for the Veteran to follow and have point of contacts for them to reach out to Actively listen to the Veteran ’ s needs -Motivational Interviewing (OARS) Identify the chain of command

• Be straight up, if your program will not fit their ’ them know needs let • Become acquainted with Veteran resources in the community these take many forms – DAV, VA, Student Veteran Organizations, American Legion, VFW • Keep in mind that accommodations may be needed but the Veteran will be apprehensive about asking • Give the Veteran an opportunity to lead • Create a Veterans mentorship group • Lastly, do not talk about military service unless there are certain questions that need to be answered or the Veteran brings it up in conversation

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• • • • • • • • •

Resources:

Engaging Veterans with Disabilities in National Service Initiative http://www.serviceandinclusion.org/ CNCS Veterans Corps http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/serveamerica/veterans.asp

CTAT www.ctat-training.com

Denver Options www.denveroptions.org

Operation TBI Freedom www.operationtbifreedom.org

America ’ s Heroes at Work www.americasheroesatwork.gov

Invisible Wounds: Serving Service Members and Veterans with PTSD and TBI http://www.disabilityrightsoregon.org/search?SearchableText=invisible+wounds Recovering

from

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)

A Handbook of Hope for Our Military Warriors and Their Families

www.braininjuryhopefoundation.org

National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) www.serviceandinclusion.org/veterans 50

Strategies & Insight from the Programmatic Perspective Dawn Fry, Zone Recruiter California Conservation Corps

About California Conservation Corps

• State agency engaging individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 in a year of service as Corpsmembers • Corpsmembers serve outdoors to improve California’s natural resources as well as assist with emergency resources • Modeled after the original Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s & Created in 1976, CCC has more than 115,000 Alumni • CCC has several special programs including: Veteran Crews, Fisheries, Wildland Fire & Fuel Reduction and Green Energy Crews

About Dawn Fry

• Graduated from Humboldt State University in CA • A CCC Alumni, has worked for CCC for 12 years in three prior positions before becoming a Zone Recruiter • Currently a Zone Recruiter- leading CCC recruitment for the top half of Northern California

Defining What is a Veteran

• Length of time served? • Type of discharge (noted in box 24 on DD214) • Can active military reserves join?

Best Practices for Recruiting Veterans

• Have a veteran “rep” – a veteran who can speak to other prospective veterans about the program- if possible • Identify local CBO’s (Community Based Organizations) in your area that works with veterans – Examples include: your state Veterans Affairs Department, state level Employment Department, local Armory or National Guard Unit, Veterans Resource Center, Veterans hospital – Our state puts out a book each year called “Veteran’s Resource

Book”

– – One-stops Military Transitional Program (TAP) – Local colleges usually have a vet rep

Best Practices for Recruiting Veterans

• Attend local job/career fairs for veterans and on military bases for veterans transitioning into civilian life – – Hire a Hero job fairs Keep track of which job fairs were most beneficial for next year – Some job fairs a very expensive and do not have much to show from it • Have flyers/ handouts to give to prospective veterans/ and CBO’s that highlight your Veteran program

Best Practices for Recruiting Veterans

• Advertise- Craigslist has been very effective for us statewide – for us the best timing to advertise has been 3-4 weeks prior to the program start date • Word of mouth • Ask interested veterans if they know of other veterans that would be interested, give them handouts to pass out or post-

Getting Veterans Interested

• As a Recruiter get to know as much information about the program opportunities for the veterans – what are the benefits for the veteran who completes the program?

– what training certificates can they earn? • Be honest and consistent when delivering the program • Don’t sugarcoat the program & give as much detail about the program.

• Be available to meet in person with the interested veteran in a timely manner

Getting Veterans Interested

• Familiarize yourself with what resources are available to veterans, or refer them to a Veteran’s Resource Center – for housing/ transportation assistance- etc… • Find out what benefits the veteran and their family can use while serving – for example , while the veterans are in our program they can still collect unemployment benefits because it is a training program

Getting Veterans Interested

• Share success stories with new prospects • Be friendly, approachable & smile!

• Have an engaging display board for job fairs & an inviting

hook line

– an example: Recruiter says to a veteran “Have you ever thought about having an exciting career in the medical field”

Strategies & Insight from the Veteran Perspective Neal Pointer, VISTA VetCorps Member Habitat for Humanity- Dallas Area

About Habitat For Humanity’s VetCorps

• National initiative created in August 2011 by Habitat for Humanity to salute veterans • Main goal is to provide homeownership possibilities & volunteer opportunities to veterans • Strives to build sustainable partnerships with non-profits to ensure a continuum of care for veterans • Uses a “peer to peer” methodology to provide special service to veterans in supporting the transition from military to civilian life

About Neal Pointer

• Neal is a veteran serving as a VISTA with VetCorps for the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity • Neal’s role as a coordinator includes connecting veterans to Habitat for Humanity as service recipients, short term volunteers, & Americorps members

Sources for Veteran Volunteer Recruitment

(with an absence of military bases) • VA Hospitals • Corporate Veteran Organizations • Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) • Retired Military Organizations • Student Veterans of America • Local not for profit partners • The Senior Source

Sources for Veteran Volunteer Recruitment

(with a presence of military bases) • Family Service Officers • National Guard Armories • Military Reserve Units

Engaging, Recruiting & Retaining Veterans & Members of Military Families

QUESTIONS COMMENTS