In this series, we highlight those working in the Veteran and Military communities to help make reintegration and life a little better for everyone. We wanted to ask some of the common questions about how they got to where they are and how they inspire others to do more.
Interviewer: Stacey Ebert, Veteran Support Network
Organization: Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veteran Affairs
Title: Regional Program Outreach Coordinator
Why Veterans? (if you're a veteran, please include how you found the process of re-entry into civilian life) Both of my parents served in the Air Force; my mom served 4 years and my dad, 20 years. My dad flew with AWACS in part with NATO, and served in Operation Desert Storm. Growing up as a kid in a military family is a unique experience; if you're lucky as we were, you got to travel abroad and throughout the U.S. With this different experience, than that of many other American children, came a great deal of sacrifice. My father missed a lot of holidays, birthdays, and important moments; he was on TDY often in places he couldn't openly share with us. As a kid, it was terrifying to watch news coverage of missiles being launched at air and ground troops knowing your dad could be there. At the time of his retirement in 1999, while it was going to take about a year before for the new position to begin, Dad was working his way toward a new career with the DoD. In the meantime, he would need to find temporary work. It was the first time that not only my mom and I, but my dad struggled to find support services we needed and to find a community where we felt like we belonged. This is why I serve Veterans and Veteran families. While there are far more services available for Veterans and their families than when my dad retired, there remains a dire need for improving the advocacy support. As someone who has worked in community development for more than 10 years, I understand that most public nonprofit organizations do not have the proper training or understanding to support Veterans (especially when it comes to asking for help).
What got you interested in this organization? With the combined experience, both personal and professional, of exposure to and working with Veterans and their families, I wanted to work in a place where I could make an impact on the way organizations provide resources to and engage with Veterans on a large scale. Today, I specifically work on a state-wide outreach initiative called PA VetConnect. I am one of five individuals who covers a region of counties geared toward improving the connection of reliable resources to Veterans throughout the Commonwealth. Any Veteran who has tried to navigate available resources on their own knows it can be not only overwhelming, but discouraging - especially when the information hasn't updated, or there is a misunderstanding of what the Veteran needs or worse, when no one calls back or follows up. We not only work on improving relationships with nonprofit organizations and other service providers as a Veteran advocate, but we also provide support to local level Veteran service organizations (including state and federal agencies) by navigating reliable resources that will support a Veterans need through a warm hand-off, and enable Veterans to get to the resource they actually need and speak with someone who will actually help them.
What's your favorite thing about working in this field? I don't know if I have one favorite thing - I love what my role is able to accomplish as a whole. My role is to be in the communities of my region - 13 counties in Pennsylvania. Every day I get to engage with people from different communities on Veteran issues. Regularly, I am able to support Veterans with connections to resources, some that are literally life-changing for them and their families. Through this role, I've been able to educate other service providers, county commissioners, and other local agencies on the needs of Veterans in their communities, and in turn brought visibility for the need of program support/expansion for topics such as Veteran suicide prevention, Veteran’s Court/Veteran’s track for specialty courts, Veteran’s health education and complex health support needs, etc.
How has community service involvement impacted your life? Community service has likely impacted all facets of my life; from deciding where I have chosen to work, where I went to school, and how I am involved in my local community. I feel like working in community service most closely aligns with who I am as a person; to be adaptable and work with great empathy for others; and to care deeply about social equity, especially for those facing the greatest barriers to achieving it.
Why should veterans and families use these services? Should PA become the home of record for a service member transitioning out of the military or if they are a Veteran, but are moving to the state for the first time, I would highly recommend utilizing us as a starting point to get connected to local support. The PA Department of Military and Veteran Affairs has an abundance of local resources, not only through PA VetConnect, but as the first line of contact for local Veterans support, we can connect Veterans and their family to any accredited VSO or county-level Veterans Affairs office in all 67 counties. These offices are very in tune with community events, community support services, as well as navigating and filing state and federal Veteran benefits. In addition, our department distributes a weekly Veterans Digest e-newsletter that goes to all veterans and family members across the Commonwealth, and features upcoming events, job opportunities specifically for Veterans, and updates on available benefits offered by the state.
What, in your opinion, is the most important thing soon-to-be-Veterans and their families should consider before leaving military service? Speaking specifically to those transitioning to Pennsylvania - it's never too early to reach out to our office or the county-level Veteran Affairs office for where you plan to go. You don't need to wait until you've transitioned out of service to see what resources are available to you and your family; use us as a means of vetting while you're trying to decide where you will live and with what you and your family may need support. Universally, I would give similar advice; know that there are Veteran advocates in every state, and while it may feel like a big transition, especially for those who spend a long time in service, you don't have to do it alone.
Why this person? Jennifer has worked in the veteran community space for years. After 2012's Hurricane Sandy, she spent time as the Program Manager of Rebuilding Together, NYC sharing her passion for veteran assistance, rebuilding, and providing a path forward. With a giant smile and passion for veterans and volunteer service programs she continues to use her kindness and skill to advocate for and ease the transition for countless individuals.