"Our Veterans, Our Neighbors"

By The Office

PannelistsSam joined over 125 community leaders for a summit to assist returning veterans with their reintegration back home. The higher-than-expected turnout attests to the clear resolve among leaders in our community to address the challenges and create solutions.

Sam and Commissioner Jeff Cogen, Commissioner Martha Schrader, Commissioner Desari Strader, Brigadier General Michael Caldwell and PBA Chair Sam Brooks convened leaders to come together to help veterans receive the resources they and their families need to return to their normal lives.

While each of the four sessions identified distinct challenges, they all found meeting and hearing from key point people highly valuable.

Community leaders involved in the jobs breakout session discussed ways to streamline hiring processes, creating job fairs for veterans and how best businesses and service providers can work together.

Those involved in the education breakout session identified a full time advisor on each campus as the ideal solution for helping veterans with the reintegration process. However, given the barriers to this solution for certain colleges, the session also discussed creative ways to reach returning veterans and support them once they've enrolled.

The family support session discussed ways to streamline access to information using web pages - with some participants volunteering immediately to post crucial links and information for families of deployed and redeployed veterans. Working closely with teachers to help them understand the challenges to children ranked high among follow up steps.

The health care session had a spirited discussion of challenges - including post traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, stigmas associated with mental health and the limitations of the VA and TriCare. The discussion raised awareness among the healthcare providers and solidified their desire to be a part of the solutions.

Many leaders will meet again in smaller groups and everyone will come together again in six months to follow up on the progress made. To learn more about how you can help, please visit hirevetsfirst.gov.