Vet Service Centers in San Diego, Redding & Bakersfield...

[boardman]

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.

[boardman]

CalVet, State Library Open Veteran Service Center In San Diego Library

EVENT: California Department of Veterans (CalVet) and California State Library Veterans Resource Center opening

WHEN: Tuesday, November 20, 2012

10:00 a. m.

WHERE: San Diego Public Library

Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library

3701 Voltaire Street

San Diego, CA 92107

WHO: Gerald Maginnity, Acting State Librarian

Lee Gutierrez, CalVet Deputy Secretary for Minority Veterans Affairs

Deborah L. Barrow, San Diego Public Library Director

Kevin Faulconer, City of San Diego Council Member, District 2

John Kraft, CalVet, Volunteer Trainer

Veterans Resource Center Volunteer

California Veterans seeking benefits assistance

BACKGROUND:

CalVet and the California State Library are opening a Veterans Resource Center at the Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library in San Diego. The Center is 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. Volunteers will answer basic benefits-related questions for veterans and their families, offer CalVet and other appropriate veterans’ benefits resources, and provide a checklist of specific documents and information needed when applying for benefits through County Veterans Service Offices. Some Center volunteers are veterans themselves and can easily relate to the veterans and families they will encounter.

Veterans Resource Centers are also opening in the Redding Library and the Beale Memorial Library in Bakersfield. 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.