Veteran Service Representative (VSR) Outreach Program
2017 NACo Achievement Award Winner
San Diego County, Calif., CA
Best In Category
About the Program
Category: Human Services (Best in Category)
Year: 2017
The County of San Diego Office of Military and Veterans Affairs (OMVA) connects active duty military, veterans and their families with federal, state and local benefit programs. The OMVA also provides extensive outreach services to military and veterans in different locations throughout the county such as county and city libraries, VA facilities, community centers and vet centers. Providing convenient and accessible ways for veterans to access County Veteran Services has always been a priority for the OMVA. For the past three years, the County of San Diego Veteran Service Representative (VSR) Outreach Program has partnered with County and city libraries to provide face-to-face VA benefits counseling to veterans. The program involves a rotational schedule for County VSRs to visit County and city libraries to provide VA benefits counseling and assistance with completing VA and State benefits claim forms. This provides a convenient way to reach veterans in their own community. All VA and CalVet forms can be completed onsite with the assistance of an accredited VSR. This VSR outreach program contributes to OMVAâs overall outreach efforts and addresses the challenges of providing military and veteranâs services to those in the rural areas of the county. This program aligns with Live Well San Diego, the County of San Diegoâs vision for a region that is healthy, safe and thriving.