Montgomery County Veterans Coalition
Programs
Budget
$16,142.00
Description
80% to 91% of returning soldiers do not have PTSD. In an effort to help the 11-20% of veterans struggling with mental health and addiction issues, there has been a misconception that being a veteran equates to being unstable or broken. The conversation needs to include that PTSD and other mental health issues are treatable, and many live healthy happy lives with appropriate treatment and support. It is imperative that we provide the veterans in need the assistance they require, while restoring the image the average civilian has of a veteran. MCVC seeks to ensure our community sees 80 to 91% of veterans that seamlessly transition out of the military and go on to be the leaders of our community. We host events to educate both civilians and Veterans, and those that reestablish the image of a Veteran. Schreger's 2018 study is the first study to demonstrate implicit biases of veterans as unstable...the re- integration issues that veterans face may be due, to a negative bias.
Beneficiaries
Veterans
At-Risk Populations
Long-term Success
To improve the quality of care, streamline veteran benefits, and improve access to direct needs.
To improve physical and mental health processes through access and education
To improve the communication to and within the veteran community
To change how the community views veterans, and how veterans view themselves
To empower and enable every citizen to be part of the suicide solution
To ensure community workers, civilians, mental and physical health professionals, are educated in areas of military/veteran culture, the unique issues of transitioning soldiers, and the issues veterans and their families face so that we may improve the quality-of-care veterans receive in our community
Short-term Success
Host events that ultimately improve the quality of life for our Veteran families
To provide opportunities to network among local non-profits, veteran businesses, veteran organizations, governmental agencies, and religious organizations.
Program Success Monitored By
Number of attendees at events
Number of presentations
Number of events
Number of website and suicide prevention cards distributed
Surveys
Program Areas Served
Montgomery County
$16,142.00
Description
80% to 91% of returning soldiers do not have PTSD. In an effort to help the 11-20% of veterans struggling with mental health and addiction issues, there has been a misconception that being a veteran equates to being unstable or broken. The conversation needs to include that PTSD and other mental health issues are treatable, and many live healthy happy lives with appropriate treatment and support. It is imperative that we provide the veterans in need the assistance they require, while restoring the image the average civilian has of a veteran. MCVC seeks to ensure our community sees 80 to 91% of veterans that seamlessly transition out of the military and go on to be the leaders of our community. We host events to educate both civilians and Veterans, and those that reestablish the image of a Veteran. Schreger's 2018 study is the first study to demonstrate implicit biases of veterans as unstable...the re- integration issues that veterans face may be due, to a negative bias.
Beneficiaries
Veterans
At-Risk Populations
Long-term Success
To improve the quality of care, streamline veteran benefits, and improve access to direct needs.
To improve physical and mental health processes through access and education
To improve the communication to and within the veteran community
To change how the community views veterans, and how veterans view themselves
To empower and enable every citizen to be part of the suicide solution
To ensure community workers, civilians, mental and physical health professionals, are educated in areas of military/veteran culture, the unique issues of transitioning soldiers, and the issues veterans and their families face so that we may improve the quality-of-care veterans receive in our community
Short-term Success
Host events that ultimately improve the quality of life for our Veteran families
To provide opportunities to network among local non-profits, veteran businesses, veteran organizations, governmental agencies, and religious organizations.
Program Success Monitored By
Number of attendees at events
Number of presentations
Number of events
Number of website and suicide prevention cards distributed
Surveys
Program Areas Served
Montgomery County
Budget
$25,787.00
Description
Addresses 4 of the 8 MCVC suicide prevention best practices. A Veteran or a community member may not know what sources exist to address the multifaceted issues facing veterans. We address this issue by providing an online searchable resource guide, an education page, and a community calendar. If a civilian has a veteran employee with needs, how might that civilian find the resources his employee needs or if a veteran has a neighbor in need. With our scannable website card available in their wallet, anyone can quickly access needed resources. Our goal is to empower Veterans and community members with tools to help themselves and others. Our website services help to reach the underserved and reduce the risk factors that lead to suicidal ideations. Connecting Veterans to the VA can create financial, physical, and mental stability through access to health care, education benefits, and compensation payments. We know Veterans connected to the VA are 20% less likely to die by suicide.
Program Successes
Our online resources and website cards enable our agency to be available when a family is in need, not just when we are open. This is especially important in reaching those with mental and physical issues, transportation barriers, and the working poor who are working during agency operating hours. Our website services help to reach the underserved and reduce the risk factors that lead to suicidal ideations.
Beneficiaries
Veterans
At-Risk Populations
People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Long-term Success
To increase awareness of and increasing the numbers on the national registries
To increase veteran entrepreneurship.
To be proactive and preventative in nature, while working to address existing issues
Short-term Success
To ensure community organizations, thereby veterans of our community, have the resources and the education need to serve the multifaceted issues impacting the local veteran community. This is accomplished by enhancing communication and providing educational opportunities through technological solutions
To empower and enable anyone in the community to be able to assist or better understand a service member, veteran, or family member (SMVF) by accessing our website
To provide access to resources, education and events that increase the financial, physical, and mental well-being of our veteran community, while reducing the risk factors that lead to suicidal ideations, thereby increasing the quality of life for our SMVF
To reduce SMVF homelessness by ensuring every SMVF has access to needed resources to thrive in our community
To remove barriers in accessing resources for those with mental health or transportation issues
Program Success Monitored By
Numbers for social media reach
Number accessing online videos
Number of social media followers
Number of videos created
Number of articles produced for local media
Number of webinars
Number of website hits
Number of referrals
Surveys
Program Areas Served
Montgomery County
$25,787.00
Description
Addresses 4 of the 8 MCVC suicide prevention best practices. A Veteran or a community member may not know what sources exist to address the multifaceted issues facing veterans. We address this issue by providing an online searchable resource guide, an education page, and a community calendar. If a civilian has a veteran employee with needs, how might that civilian find the resources his employee needs or if a veteran has a neighbor in need. With our scannable website card available in their wallet, anyone can quickly access needed resources. Our goal is to empower Veterans and community members with tools to help themselves and others. Our website services help to reach the underserved and reduce the risk factors that lead to suicidal ideations. Connecting Veterans to the VA can create financial, physical, and mental stability through access to health care, education benefits, and compensation payments. We know Veterans connected to the VA are 20% less likely to die by suicide.
Program Successes
Our online resources and website cards enable our agency to be available when a family is in need, not just when we are open. This is especially important in reaching those with mental and physical issues, transportation barriers, and the working poor who are working during agency operating hours. Our website services help to reach the underserved and reduce the risk factors that lead to suicidal ideations.
Beneficiaries
Veterans
At-Risk Populations
People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Long-term Success
To increase awareness of and increasing the numbers on the national registries
To increase veteran entrepreneurship.
To be proactive and preventative in nature, while working to address existing issues
Short-term Success
To ensure community organizations, thereby veterans of our community, have the resources and the education need to serve the multifaceted issues impacting the local veteran community. This is accomplished by enhancing communication and providing educational opportunities through technological solutions
To empower and enable anyone in the community to be able to assist or better understand a service member, veteran, or family member (SMVF) by accessing our website
To provide access to resources, education and events that increase the financial, physical, and mental well-being of our veteran community, while reducing the risk factors that lead to suicidal ideations, thereby increasing the quality of life for our SMVF
To reduce SMVF homelessness by ensuring every SMVF has access to needed resources to thrive in our community
To remove barriers in accessing resources for those with mental health or transportation issues
Program Success Monitored By
Numbers for social media reach
Number accessing online videos
Number of social media followers
Number of videos created
Number of articles produced for local media
Number of webinars
Number of website hits
Number of referrals
Surveys
Program Areas Served
Montgomery County
Budget
$17,899.00
Description
Dedicated veteran advocates and community workers are often unaware of resources outside of their discipline or area of expertise. Even when such resources are known, the ability to do a warm hand off for a veteran family with unique or challenging needs is not available. With limited funding and time for staff, it can also be a challenge for workers to research and receive education on the latest veteran challenges, changes in benefits, or advances in physical or mental care. While these workers may clearly see veteran issues, gaps in service, and even understand what solutions are needed; they have neither the resources, time, nor platform to create or implement the needed solutions.
Beneficiaries
Veterans
Adults
At-Risk Populations
Long-term Success
To provide a safe environment that fosters collective problem solving for workers to be involved in multidisciplinary collaborative work to share and learn from one another.
To create opportunities for communication and collaboration among organizations, identifying complex veteran issues, and gaps in services.
To improve the quality of care and streamline veteran benefits, access to direct needs, and physical and mental health processes through communication and education.
To reduce suicide among active duty, veterans, and their families and the risk factors that lead to suicidal ideations through access to resources and education.
To ensure community workers, civilians, mental and physical health professionals, are educated in areas of military/veteran culture, the unique issues of transitioning soldiers, and the issues veterans and their families face so that we may improve the quality-of-care veterans receive in our community.
Short-term Success
To bring the veteran community together to fuel our flow of veteran information, and to ensure information flows to and between organizations in our community.
To improve the communication to and within the veteran community
To guide systems thinking practitioners in peer problem solving conversations to create solutions for our veteran community.
To provide a safe environment for workers to be involved in multi-disciplinary collaborative work to share and learn from one another.
To ensure community organizations, thereby veterans of our community, have the resources needed to serve the multifaceted issues impacting the local veteran community by enhancing communication and providing educational opportunities.
To be the catalyst for bringing together the right people, at the right time, for the right solutions.
To provide a safe environment that fosters collective problem solving for workers to be involved in multidisciplinary collaborative work to share and learn
Program Success Monitored By
Surveys
Attendees at monthly meetings
Number of members and member organizations
Networking - numbers at events including monthly meetings
Number and variety of community events
Number of Mass emails sent
Open rate of Mass emails
Number of presentations
Type of education in presentations
Number of cards distributed
Program Areas Served
Montgomery County
$17,899.00
Description
Dedicated veteran advocates and community workers are often unaware of resources outside of their discipline or area of expertise. Even when such resources are known, the ability to do a warm hand off for a veteran family with unique or challenging needs is not available. With limited funding and time for staff, it can also be a challenge for workers to research and receive education on the latest veteran challenges, changes in benefits, or advances in physical or mental care. While these workers may clearly see veteran issues, gaps in service, and even understand what solutions are needed; they have neither the resources, time, nor platform to create or implement the needed solutions.
Beneficiaries
Veterans
Adults
At-Risk Populations
Long-term Success
To provide a safe environment that fosters collective problem solving for workers to be involved in multidisciplinary collaborative work to share and learn from one another.
To create opportunities for communication and collaboration among organizations, identifying complex veteran issues, and gaps in services.
To improve the quality of care and streamline veteran benefits, access to direct needs, and physical and mental health processes through communication and education.
To reduce suicide among active duty, veterans, and their families and the risk factors that lead to suicidal ideations through access to resources and education.
To ensure community workers, civilians, mental and physical health professionals, are educated in areas of military/veteran culture, the unique issues of transitioning soldiers, and the issues veterans and their families face so that we may improve the quality-of-care veterans receive in our community.
Short-term Success
To bring the veteran community together to fuel our flow of veteran information, and to ensure information flows to and between organizations in our community.
To improve the communication to and within the veteran community
To guide systems thinking practitioners in peer problem solving conversations to create solutions for our veteran community.
To provide a safe environment for workers to be involved in multi-disciplinary collaborative work to share and learn from one another.
To ensure community organizations, thereby veterans of our community, have the resources needed to serve the multifaceted issues impacting the local veteran community by enhancing communication and providing educational opportunities.
To be the catalyst for bringing together the right people, at the right time, for the right solutions.
To provide a safe environment that fosters collective problem solving for workers to be involved in multidisciplinary collaborative work to share and learn
Program Success Monitored By
Surveys
Attendees at monthly meetings
Number of members and member organizations
Networking - numbers at events including monthly meetings
Number and variety of community events
Number of Mass emails sent
Open rate of Mass emails
Number of presentations
Type of education in presentations
Number of cards distributed
Program Areas Served
Montgomery County
Budget
$16,211.00
Description
Montgomery County has the 2nd largest, and soon to be largest, population of veterans, as well as the largest number of 100% wounded warriors. This means that our county has unique issues that require local advocates to be a voice for area veterans. It is important that veteran needs and desires are represented at every level of our community. While policy change is a part of advocacy, it is a last measure. Advocacy is not just being the voice for veterans, but also empowering others to find their own voice. Being a community advocate includes being a liaison to represent veterans with decision makers such as legislators, community leaders, the business community, non- profits, and various other areas of influence. It includes ensuring veterans are being recognized for the sacrifice they have made, as well as, the contribution they continue to make in our community. It requires an ultimate goal of empowering veterans and their families to advocate for themselves.
Category
Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy - Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, General/Other
Beneficiaries
Economically disadvantaged people
Adults
People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Long-term Success
Educate the general public on veteran cultural competency and issues veterans face
Educate community workers and veterans as to their rights, benefits, and how to navigate systems
Empower the average veteran through the education of the veteran community to advocate for themselves.
Stay up to date on veterans information and research
Maintain trust and credibility
Short-term Success
To facilitate change and promote the interests of our veteran community, in order to tackle unmet needs or deal with emerging needs
To represent the voice of our veteran community by championing, recommending, or supporting what brings enrichment to and increases the quality of life of our veterans and their families living in our community through addressing the three types of advocacy.
To reduce the suicide statistics for SMVF
Program Success Monitored By
Numbers of attendees at events
Program Areas Served
Montgomery County, Tennessee
$16,211.00
Description
Montgomery County has the 2nd largest, and soon to be largest, population of veterans, as well as the largest number of 100% wounded warriors. This means that our county has unique issues that require local advocates to be a voice for area veterans. It is important that veteran needs and desires are represented at every level of our community. While policy change is a part of advocacy, it is a last measure. Advocacy is not just being the voice for veterans, but also empowering others to find their own voice. Being a community advocate includes being a liaison to represent veterans with decision makers such as legislators, community leaders, the business community, non- profits, and various other areas of influence. It includes ensuring veterans are being recognized for the sacrifice they have made, as well as, the contribution they continue to make in our community. It requires an ultimate goal of empowering veterans and their families to advocate for themselves.
Category
Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy - Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, General/Other
Beneficiaries
Economically disadvantaged people
Adults
People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Long-term Success
Educate the general public on veteran cultural competency and issues veterans face
Educate community workers and veterans as to their rights, benefits, and how to navigate systems
Empower the average veteran through the education of the veteran community to advocate for themselves.
Stay up to date on veterans information and research
Maintain trust and credibility
Short-term Success
To facilitate change and promote the interests of our veteran community, in order to tackle unmet needs or deal with emerging needs
To represent the voice of our veteran community by championing, recommending, or supporting what brings enrichment to and increases the quality of life of our veterans and their families living in our community through addressing the three types of advocacy.
To reduce the suicide statistics for SMVF
Program Success Monitored By
Numbers of attendees at events
Program Areas Served
Montgomery County, Tennessee
