If you have been paying attention this summer, you have seen an increase in National recognition of Veterans' service and contributions to our Nation through various America 250 commemorations. Honoring Veterans’ service is always a positive trend. Taking it a step further, extensive VA outreach efforts continue emphasizing the importance of connecting Veterans to services rather than waiting for Veterans to find them. America continues to improve their focus and attention on Veteran issues more than ever before in the history of our Nation. However, the need for assistance with employment, benefits, healthcare, and mental health conversations continues to dominate Veteran communities.
The good news is that it seems like America has never had more organizations serving Veterans. From the VA to State Veteran Agencies, accredited Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), Veteran focused Nonprofits, faith-based organizations, Veteran focused employment programs and housing programs; it seems the challenge is not availability. It is either the daunting task of navigating these resources or the unwillingness of Veterans to lean into vulnerability and ask for assistance.
I think it is important to ask why Veterans, or anyone for that matter, can get overwhelmed with seeking assistance. Many times, our needs rarely occur one at a time. Abundant examples exist that exemplify this challenge for many Veterans. For example, finding employment can often be hindered by a VA disability. Mental health is often a foundation of unhoused individuals and homelessness. Transition from the military often has significant implications for both lack of family support and health care costs in the civilian sector. As a result, problems compound and often overwhelm our Veterans and their families with the sheer volume of issues they are dealing with at one time. Additionally, in many cases where the focus is treating immediate symptoms instead of addressing the root causes, the Veteran and family never get out of the cycle of immediate support.
This is why human connection and conversations matter. The more that Veterans lean into vulnerability and reach out for assistance, the more they learn about the options and programs available to them. A simple conversation can often uncover needs they had not yet considered, although the root source of their problems. This is where trusted conversation and navigation of resources make the biggest difference.
It seems like no single nonprofit can solve every problem. Nonprofits are usually bound by mission parameters, donor requirements and founding charters outlining the purpose of why they were founded and how they must operate. This is not a bad thing. Clear boundaries are often essential to running nonprofits to ensure priorities and limited funds are used according to the mission, purpose and vision for which the organization was founded. This is where the power of collaboration comes into play. The strongest Veteran communities are built through partnerships. To illustrate this, I recently moved to Victor, Montana. Upon my first week in the county, the county Sherriff’s office hosted a Ravalli County Veteran Resource Fair for Veterans and their families. I was amazed at the sheer volume of government and nonprofit organizations available to Veterans in this county of only ~44K people. The presence of various departments and organizations present covered the topics of employment, VA benefits & healthcare, other state benefits, housing, mental health and more. I later learned that Ravalli County is well known in the state of Montana as having the best partnership and collaboration programs that services Veterans and their families. Based on what I personally experienced, I have no doubt that is true. As I previously stated, the strongest Veteran communities are built through partnerships and the power of collaboration.
The Your Next Mission® Veteran Community Support Program is not only built upon this model of Veteran partnerships and collaboration; but also, the power of conversations with Veterans or Veteran Spouses to ascertain their immediate and secondary needs. Then, through our partnerships and extended resources, we put them in contact with the VSOs and nonprofit organizations that can best assist with their unique needs and circumstances. If you are unsure where to begin, do not wait until your situation becomes a crisis. Start with one conversation with Your Next Mission® VCS and let us get you pointed in the right direction.