Supporting CVEBs and building local partnerships to foster VeteranFriendly Communities Veterans Experience Office Overview Community Veterans Engagement Boards CVEBs CVEBs are independent communitybased organizations that are comprised of a collaborative network of Veterans adv ID: 686363
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Veteran-Friendly Communities InitiativeSupporting CVEBs and building local partnerships to foster ‘Veteran-Friendly Communities’
Veterans Experience
OfficeSlide2
OverviewSlide3
Community Veterans Engagement Boards (CVEBs)
CVEBs
are independent, community-based organizations that are comprised of a collaborative network of Veterans, advocates, resources, and other stakeholders who organize in the local community to improve outcomes for Veterans, Service members, and their communities to create
‘Veteran-friendly Communities’.
The
CVEB model provides a framework for local community leaders to begin having conversations with VA leaders about collaborating with existing community engagements or creating community collaborative networks where they don’t exist. Customizable --- Principles-Based
VA will look to community leaders to establish these across the country to foster ‘Veteran-friendly Communities’
VA may be the catalyst for community movements, but each community
owns and leads
the effort.
Inclusive Accessible Community-Driven Flexible IntegratedSlide4
4
Understanding the MyVA Community
Key Players
VHA/VBA/NCA
Other Community Resources
Veteran/Military Service Organizations
State/ local government
Veterans, transitioning Service members and their families
Communities
without
locally
coordinated, community-based support to Veterans, Service members, and their familiesCVEB ModelFostering ‘Veteran-friendly Communities’Veterans, transitioning Service members and their families
?
?
?
Service is disjointed and confusing
Service is inclusive and integrated
VA
Boards members meet regularly amongst themselves and with the community through “Public Forums”
VA
Private Companies/Nonprofits
Understanding the CVEB Model
Inclusive Accessible Community-Driven Flexible Integrated
CVEBSlide5
Inclusive Accessible Community-Driven Flexible Integrated
Creating a local ‘Veteran-friendly Community’
VA encourages communities to use the CVEB model to get the people who can make a difference or impact at the same table to create local
‘Veteran-friendly Communities’
that
…
State DVA
Enhance the Veterans experience
Improve outcomes
Develop local solutions
Ease access to all the resources available to VeteransEnable Veterans, Service members, and their families, caregivers, and survivors the opportunity to voice their opinions and provide feedbackEngage VA to better understand VA’s 5 priorities and implement ‘forward engagement’ strategies for local communities‘Veteran-friendly Community’Slide6
Inclusive Accessible Community-Driven Flexible Integrated
VA’s 5 Priorities
State DVASlide7
VA Support Slide8
VA Support for CVEBs
VA encourages the establishment of CVEBs, and provides support tools and access to local leaders across health, benefits, and memorial affairs to ease access, focus on local solutions, address gaps in services, build community-based partnerships, share information on VA priorities and initiatives, and host networking events.
VEO will thank local communities and CVEBs for fostering ‘Veteran-friendly Communities’ in coordination with our key State DVA and county VA partners, VSOs, MSOs, and non-profit/private organizations.Slide9
Appreciation Letter and Certificate
Veteran-Friendly CommunityAppreciation Certificate City, State
Community Veterans Engagement Board
Date
VA’s Veterans Experience Office will provide a
Letter of Appreciation signed by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs along with a certificate and coin to each CVEB.
Appreciation Event – VE will coordinate with senior VA leadership and SECVA travel team to facilitate an in-person presentation to the local community and CVEB demonstrating VA’s longstanding commitment to local communities, transitioning Service members, Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors.Slide10
Tools and Support
Veteran Experience team developed a recommended framework for local communities which includes tools to build a board or coordinate with an existing group, access lessons learned and best practices, hold public forums, communicate with media, share information, connect local resources and work together on key issues, e.g. homelessness, suicide prevention, community care, caregiver support, community partnerships, and medical-legal support for Veterans.
CVEB Toolkit and map of CVEBs with notation that will highlight the recognized ‘Veteran-friendly Communities’:
https://www.va.gov/ve/communityEngagement.asp
Contact:
Vet-friendlyCommunities@va.gov
Slide11
Veteran-friendly Communities InitiativeSlide12
VA ‘Veteran-friendly Community’ Initiative
State DVA
Recommended CVEB Best Practices Framework
Follow best practices and proven success factors of collective impact and community engagement principles
Integrate local service providers and stakeholders with local VAMCs, Benefits Offices, and Cemeteries to address gaps in services
Identify goals on key local and national issues impacting the local community
Share information on community engagement activities, charter, membership, reach, impact, actions, and goals
Inclusive and accessible to all stakeholders and share information on public websiteSlide13
Recommended CVEB Best Practices Framework
VA encourages CVEBs to engage in best practices that will support their local efforts and the community. The recommended CVEB best practices framework suggests an overall structure for how CVEBs might operate and succeed through adoption of best practices that have proven effective across local communities. It is up to each CVEB to determine how to structure its public forums, but these best practices may be helpful.
Community Driven
Help to shape broader community efforts
Chaired by two respected community leaders and includes identified local stakeholders
Local VA leaders serve on the board but do not form a majority of the board’s membership
Inclusive
Inclusive
of all local Veteran-focused resources and open to Veterans, Service members, stakeholders, resources, advocates and existing community engagements/effortsEstablish a collaborative network within the community and provide the opportunity for education and networking with a holistic approachAccessiblePublic forums are held regularly throughout the yearForums are held in geographically diverse public venues to encourage broader participationForums are actively promoted to involve the public on local Veteran issuesFlexibleCharters define term appointments for board members to allow for flexibility
Customized to reflect the unique characteristics of the communityCommunity demographics inform geographic boundariesIntegratedRequests Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and National Cemetery Administration (NCA) leaders participate and actively engage in meetings and public forumsPromotes and leverages local capabilities and resources for VeteransNetworks with other communities to share best practices.
Inclusive Accessible Community-Driven Flexible IntegratedSlide14
Suggested Success Factors
Suggested Success Factors
Each
CVEB
has local community Co-Chairs who serve as founding leaders that work to implement and demonstrate practices that lead to successful activities, engagements, events, outcomes, and impact. The following suggested factors may be useful for local CVEBs to consider for successful community engagement.
Note: Co-Chairs are not VA employees. Although VA leaders encourage and participate in CVEBs, CVEBs are independent community organizations and it is up to each CVEB to determine how to structure its public forums. VA does not establish, manage, or control these boards.
Community-driven
Improves access to resources and serves as coordinated point of access for local community
Solution-oriented
Results driven
Flexible to meet local needsHears voice of Veteran, families, caregivers, and survivors and has feedback mechanismHosts public forums/eventsEstablishes public/private community-based partnershipsTargets key national and local issues relevant to the local communityIntegrates with Veteran family, caregivers, and survivorsCoordinates with transitioning Service members and reserve componentsCoordinates with MSOs/VSOsSlide15
Unemployment
1
Education
4
Homelessness
25
Suicide Prevention
3
Caregiver and Survivor Support Programs
6Outreach, access and navigation of services
Focused Goals
Recommended Best Practice: CVEBs have focused goals related to key local and national issues impacting transitioning Service members, Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors in their local community.
May include, but not limited to:
Each community’s goals will be unique and local to their landscape
Transportation
78Finances9Legal ServicesSlide16
Recommended Community Veterans Engagement Board (CVEB) Best Practices
Conducts frequent public forums/resource fairs/stand downs/job fairs/listening sessions (# per year)
Holds regular board meetings (# per year)
Key stakeholders (state/ local government officials, private/non-profits, faith-based, tribal, minority and women groups, state VA, MSO/VSO leaders, academia, DoD, DOL, nearest military installation) participate with the board and CVEB events (list org. type and confirm partnerships)
Coordinates with Governor, State DVA, Mayor, and other high level officials for support. (list names/titles)
Promotes activities widely through use of press releases and media alerts (# of releases/press coverage/social media messages)Maintains a record of governance or charter to organize its structure (attach doc)Maintains action plan with targeted goals, metrics, and outcomes (attach plan)
Confirms community resources available and community-based partnerships in action
Confirms # Veterans impacted through outreach and activities
Confirms # of service provider attendees at eventsSlide17
Accessible
VA recommends that each CVEB in the network be accessible to the public with contact information posted on the VA website.
https://www.va.gov/ve/engagement/communityBoards.asp