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Building a Military Affairs Initiative

Learn how to build a veterans initiative in your community by leveraging information and referral services and establishing partnerships. Engage veterans through community conversations to define the direction of your initiative. Presented by United Way of Greater Houston.

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Building a Military Affairs Initiative

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  1. Building a Military Affairs Initiative United Way of Greater Houston June 2014

  2. Presenters Cornelius Blackshear 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE Curtis McMinnUnited Way Community Impact

  3. Objectives Identify ways you can build a veterans initiative in your community Leveraging I&R and established partnerships to address veterans gaps Using Community Conversations to engage veterans and define a direction for your initiative

  4. United Way of Greater Houston • More than 90 years serving our community • 50+ million a year in programs • Seniors independence • Strengthen families and neighborhoods • Individuals rebuilding their lives • Developing children and youth to their full potential • Key role in convening organizations and building collaboration across the community

  5. Background • Growing population of military personnel in Harris County • Increasing numbers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) conflicts • Unique needs for this generation of veterans

  6. United Way’s Military Affairs Initiative Timeline Collaboration and Capacity Building Hired Veteran Call Specialist Continued building knowledge Education & Outreach Hired additional Veteran Call Specialist 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Awarded Triad Grant San Antonio Area Foundation Veterans’ Study and Response

  7. BACKGROUND (2008 -2010) Awarded Triad Grant San Antonio Area Foundation • Hired a2-1-1 Veteran Specialist • Provided military specific services and advocacy in Harris County • Created Returning Veteran’s Guide (RVI Guide) • Participated in Gulf Coast Veteran Initiative • 2-1-1United Way • Gathered military specific data • Increased knowledge of 2-1-1 workforce on military needs and available services

  8. BACKGROUND (2011-Present) • Hired Additional 2-1-1 Veteran Specialist • Increase military specific services and advocacy to include all of the Gulf Coast Region • Address information gaps, make appropriate referral connections and strengthen collaborations with veteran service providers • 2-1-1 United Way • Education and outreach training for service providers • Utilize United Way’s convening expertise to bring veteran service groups together

  9. Military Statistics (2013)

  10. Community OS Taxonomy (2013)

  11. United Way Military Affairs Initiative • 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE • Benefits • Employment • Education • Housing & Homelessness • Female Veterans • Post 9/11 • Military Components • We Remember

  12. United Way Military Affairs Initiative • 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE • Boots on the Ground • Increase awareness of 2-1-1 in 13 Gulf Coast Counties • “Serving Those Who Serve” educational series for providers • Identify Community Resources to enhance I&R • First point of contact with UW

  13. Pre Veterans’ Study Donor Relations-Donors interested in veterans issues - Limited ways to connect with veterans work 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE- Reintegration - outreach-Follow ups Community Impact-Programs serving everyone -Not tracking veterans - Little program focus on veterans

  14. More needed to be done!…but what?

  15. Veterans’ Issue Study • August 2012 – December 2012 • Four Components • Provider online survey • Community Conversations with veterans • Employer focus groups • Targeted conversations with key agencies Serves as the foundation for our future work!

  16. Community Conversations Kitchen-table style conversations Often had snacks/meal Used staff and volunteers to conduct Facilitator and note taker Same questions asked everywhere Identified common themes

  17. Conversation Activity Conversation Leader Conversation Note taker Participants

  18. What were your conversation themes?

  19. Striking Consistency in Findings Transition from structured military life to unstructured civilian life difficult Difficulty translating military skills to civilian workplace Perception that service is not valued Access to services in a timely way difficult Ability to interact with other veterans is critical

  20. Conversation Quotes “I spent two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.  I helped spread democracy and gave people a chance at freedom.  Now, I’m a junior analyst looking at spreadsheets every day.  I’m grateful, but it just can’t compare.”  - Afghanistan veteran

  21. Conversation Quotes “In the military, your resume is pages long.  You list every project you had a role in.  In the civilian world, employers think a shorter resume is better.  It is hard to translate what I learned in the military to some of the job openings I see online.  When I do get an interview, I feel like all I can talk about is my military experience, and it seems like the interview goes downhill quickly.”    - Iraq veteran

  22. How did we respond? Connected Community Impactand Donor Relations with our established veterans work in 2-1-1 Created the Veteran Services Grant, a small dollar grant to address common themes through collaboration and innovation; donors decided approval Convened veteran serving and interested organizations together to begin breaking down barriers

  23. How did we respond? Quarterly Veteran Service Provider Meeting with average of 40 participants Nine veteran service grants in 2013 More than 15 applicants for 2014 with focus on collaboration

  24. Training and Collaborating Serving Those Who Serve Educational Series Strengthening the safety net for veterans and their families Preparing for increase of veterans in the Harris county area due to military downsize

  25. Donor Relations- Communicating veteran issues to donor companies • Veteran-specific volunteer opportunities • Marketing materials 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE- Reintegration - Outreach-Follow ups Community Impact-Investing in veteran grants -Working with all partners to serve veterans - Strengthening veteran serving nonprofits

  26. 5 Tips to Success Stay true to your mission and services Identify ways to incorporate veterans into your established work Even if a community partner hasn’t served veterans doesn’t mean they can’t serve veterans! Don’t assume you know the problems…ask first!

  27. Questions?

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