Tag: veterans

Veterans Event – Operation Stand Down – Morristown, NJ – January 18 & 19

A number of veterans and community agencies will host Operation Stand Down at the Morristown Armory on January 18-19, from 8AM to 5PM. A Stand Down, according to the groups’ press release, is a community-based intervention program designed to bring together in a single location homeless or needy veterans to begin to address their individual problems and to rebuild their lives.

At Stand Down events – patterned after the initial event in San Diego, California in 1988 – hundreds of homeless veterans are provided with a broad range of necessities, including food, clothing, medical, legal and mental health assistance, job counseling and referral, and most importantly, companionship and camaraderie. It is a time for the community to connect with the homeless veteran population and address this crisis that affects each and every town, city and state in this country.

For further information visit the Operation Stand Down Morristown page at http://www.shrm-morrisnj.org.

The Morristown Armory is located at 430 Western Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey.

Veteran’s Homeless Resources

This is a short note based on an email I received today from a representative of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. His email reads as follows:
“I would like to thank you providing valuable resources and support to the people of New Jersey. I thought you and your visitors would be interested in VA’s initiative to end Veteran homelessness by 2015. The initiative showcases VA’s unprecedented commitment to ending homelessness by providing funding for and access to programs that aid homeless and at-risk Veterans.”

“I highly encourage you to learn more about the initiative. VA’s site www.va.gov/homeless contains information about resources for homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families such as: Housing Assistance, Employment Programs, Health Care, Mental Health Services.”

A short note but a very useful website for vets.

New Jersey Veterans Resource Manual Published

The New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, NASW-NJ, has published a “New Jersey Veterans Resource Manual for Social Workers”. It reads well and is a comprehensive guide for a veteran or their family members. Social workers should bookmark the guide.

In the 23 page guide are links to many agencies, programs, and services. You will find resources for service members and their family, support for families during military separation, information for those transitioning out of the military, addresses of veteran offices, clinic, and family assistance centers. Many other supportive services are listed as well.

You will find this valuable resource manual on the NASW-NJ homepage or by going to their page at http://www.naswnj.org/associations/5560/files/VetsManual-FINAL-%2008-2010.pdf . To the authors, yes this guide does make the process simpler so our clients can be connected to the services they deserve. Thanks.