CA - Best Practices to Share with Your TAA Colleagues

TAA Best Practices March 2009

CALIFORNIA (Nicole). Title of best practice: Timed, Audio TAA Benefits Presentations

Point(s) of contact: Nicole Townsend, 916-826-6549, J-6, Help Desk - Jeremy Hawkins, 559-347-5536 Concise description of event: Due to cuts in my travel budget, I’ve been trying to find ways to continue to reach out to the many service members that I normally brief. I recently created a Power-Point presentation that is timed for 12 minutes and pre- recorded. I used the presentation during the retention seminar and I was also available for questions and answers List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: N/A Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: 85 After action items: What went well? The presentation went very well because it was timed and focused on the three subjects that I needed to cover – VA Benefits, National Guard Benefits and CA DVA Benefits. I can also email it to units or individuals to use on their own time as a Computer – Based training tool. What improvements are needed: I may need to edit the slides to keep the audience focused. Lessons learned: This type of presentation is very useful when I am unavailable to attend events. I believe that it’s more useful for the retention seminars rather than the retirement seminars where the audiences prefer shorter presentations.

FLORIDA (Roger). Title of best practice: Pre-Yellow Ribbon provides an excellent opportunity to meet and greet SMs and their families prior to deployment.

Points of contact: Maj. Sarah McLevy, Chief of Deployment Cycle Support, Yellow Ribbon Coordinator, Lori Culberson, Family Assistance, and Col. Perry Hagaman, Commander of 83rd Troop Command Concise description of event: An event that allows TAAs, and other agencies or support groups to interface firsthand with SMs. Listing of specific coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: Roger Jarriel, FL TAA, Family Readiness volunteers and Tri-Care reps Total number of service/family members who benefited from this practice: Approximately 200 combined individuals After action items: What went well: The facility was adequate for briefing as well as a dining area. What improvements are needed: Need to improve on time allocations for presenters. Lessons learned: We need to spend time prior to opening up these events for the purpose of setting up and testing the public address (PA) system.

IDAHO. Title of best practice: Concern for Incarcerated Veterans

Point(s) of contact: POC Mike Moser, Jail Alternative and Program Manager Concise description of event: I have helped promote dialogue with folks from the Ada County Sheriff’s Department. They are open to setting up a program where veterans who have a brush with the law are recognized as veterans and consideration of their circumstances is begun. The VAMC and the Vet Center are also partners in this endeavor. It is hoped that when the program is established in Ada County, it can be exported to the rest of the counties in Idaho. We have had two meetings so far, and will continue meeting until the program is in place. The next meeting is for the groups involved to tour the Ada County Jail. List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: So far, the Coalition groups are folks from Ada County Law Enforcement, VAMC Mental Health and the Vet Center. Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: The concept is still being developed. After action items: What went well: Having the group together and beginning this dialog What improvements are needed: Nothing at this point Lessons learned: Each meeting brings a better understanding of what we are trying to accomplish. We will continue meeting until all is in place.

INDIANA. Title of best practice: Indiana National Guard Career Center

Point(s) of contact: SFC Angela America, Coordinator, 219-261-2147 Ext 17; SGM (R) James Hancock, Facilitator, 219-261-2147 Ext 18; SSG Jeffery Lauderdale, Admin & Logistics NCO, 219-261-2147 Ext 19 Concise description of event: Career Center is a place where INARNG Soldiers and their spouses come to receive information about benefits from serving in the Indiana Army National Guard. Soldiers can receive information regarding their 20 Year Letter, instructions on how to fill out their Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan Election, retirement information, entitlements to their Veteran Affairs benefits, education benefits, healthcare benefits, life insurance benefits, financial planning, exploring alternatives to separation, Family Programs, and transfer their military experience into college credits. We also cover items like Extend to Defend, Mobilization Kits, and Freedom Salute. List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: Guest speakers included representatives from Edward Jones Financial Group, Military Associations (EANGUS, NGAUS, NGAI), Family Programs, and ESGR. Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: The total number of people for Fiscal Year 2009 is: 159 soldiers, 40 Spouses, 8 Vincennes studies for a total of 207. All classes are run on Saturday and Sunday. After action items: Assisted 7 soldiers in choosing their Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan election, extended 1 soldier, helped 3 soldiers reset their CAC, assisted 1 soldier in requesting documents from the National Personnel Records Center, assisted 1 soldier with his military career plan to change his MOS, etc. What went well: Training and interaction from the students to include their spouses. What improvements are needed: Need more subject matter experts to teach classes, especially on VA benefits, TRICARE, and education benefits. Lessons learned: The process should have been started earlier.

MAINE. Title of best practice: Family Readiness Group Training – Getting to Know You

Point(s) of contact: Wendy Moody, TAA, 207-626-4221, Michelle Darveau, State FRG 430-2132 Concise description of event: The State FRG leader put together a two-day training session for new unit FRG volunteers of units scheduled for deployment in 6-12 months. The men and women met in a relaxed hotel setting in Bangor. As part of their training, several individuals, including the TAA, were invited to give a brief presentation of the types of services they offer. This gave them ideas for future unit FRG/Family Day/deployment /post deployment events.

List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: Family Program Coordinator, TRICARE rep, One Source, DMH, MFLC, TAA Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: 17 immediate families – unknown future through FRG meetings After action items: What went well: Well received by attendees, good questions, enthusiasm and idea sharing for future events What improvements are needed: Larger room needed. Lessons learned: Continue to educate FRG leaders. Getting families involved helps get the soldier involved.

MICHIGAN. Title of best practice: Road to Integration

Point of contact: Mr Raymond Ladd, TAA MI (517) 481-5764 and Mr Minor Roth (517) 481-7986 (member of the Yellow Ribbon Team) Concise description of event: Entertaining in sequence of events after deployment: TAPS, Veterans Job Fair, Road to Integration List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: Yellow Ribbon, ESGR, USERRA, DOL, Michigan Works, HRO, DELEG, R&R Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: 600 After action items: What went well: Building relationships with ESGR/DELEG/R&R/HRO What improvements are needed: More communications to our employers, ESGR, USERRA, LVERS,DVOPS, & DOL. Find more employers who want to hire the veteran/spouse or both. Lessons learned: Providing better support to our returning veterans and spouses

NEW MEXICO. Title of best practice: Working with our employment agencies: Work Force Solutions and State of New Mexico Veterans Service Office to assist our veterans, soldiers and families to find Jobs

Point(s) of contact: Concise description of event: List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: PDHRA Event: Vet Center Rep, State of NM Dept of Veterans Services: All of our Yellow Ribbon Events Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: 300 After action items: What went well: Continue follow-up with our OEF/OIF soldiers VA Claims: Strong communications with the OEF/OIF VBA Rep. and VA Med Center What improvements are needed? Make sure follow up with soldiers you are assisting in their claims: Lessons learned? Fellow up with your community agencies that support your mission and thank them for helping out our soldiers and families

VIRGINIA. Title of best practice: TAA Role in Yellow Ribbon(YR) well as teaching the YR Staff

Point of contact: Dorian M. Bell, TAA VA

Concise description of event: Here in the Virginia National Guard, as I am sure it is the same in all states, we have hired our YR contractors to plan and execute the YR events for our returning soldiers. As such, it has always been a blurred line as to what the TAA role in YR actually is, since we do not plan or deal with contracting, but I feel we should do more than just have a booth at the event.

Our YR contract manager who was hired has placed one of her people to be a kind of shadow to me. This was brought about because I have always played a role in the YR, despite what others say that we should do no more than just being a vendor. This person has trained under me for several weeks, not to become a TAA or an expert in VA issues, but to gain knowledge and understanding of what my partners bring to the table at the YR events. She has been present with me during phone calls and teleconferences and is gaining knowledge from me what the main issues our veterans face once they return home. She will be an asset to me when I cannot attend an event--she will have the knowledge to make sure our partners know what is going on and can direct veterans where to go at events as well as knowing where to send all questions.

I have been an integral part of the YR program for awhile now and have also helped the YR manager to understand the veterans’ needs to get out of these events. By working with her and giving her not only my knowledge of having worked YR events before, but also my first-hand knowledge of coming home from deployment, we have been able to create agendas that will cater to all returning vets and their families. An example of this is that a single soldier with no children does not need to take the Reconnecting with Children class and can instead attend a single soldier class. The same can be said about a married soldier and spouse that don’t have children. By thinking about the multitude of different scenarios that will be present at a YR event, we have been able to produce classes that will cater to everyone and in ways convey the same info on different levels. We need to remember that as TAA we have been doing this for a very long time and need to continue to pass on our knowledge to we can best execute our mission.

We also make sure that the soldiers are not receiving the same info that they are hearing over and over again in country and at the DEMOB site. I was able to obtain both the slide presentations from MOB and DEMOB from Camp Atterbury and I would not want to sit through it. It is 136 slides long and that is just the VA portion, which is not including everything else. I am able to make sure that the soldiers are not receiving the same info that they are getting at the DEMOB and also that they do not have to sit through that many slides. Every partner at every event will brief on something new and not give the same info. If we keep it fresh and new we will continue to have a grasp on our audience’s attention.

Lastly, at the events I am not inclined to just sit at a table for hours and say, “Hi, I am your TAA--here is my number. Call me if you have questions.” To me, that is not who we are, and not how we should be utilized. Here in the VANG, I am the conduit to all aspects of reintegration such as VA benefits, state benefits, employment, etc. It is my duty at these events to not just sit and do nothing. I am up briefing the crowd, directing them to the proper VSO to handle their issues, and if the need calls for it, and it has in the past, sit in on a VSO or VA table in the event someone gets sick (and yes this did happen.) I had to sit in on the Vet Center table due to the presenter getting ill. I took charge and gave briefings on the Vet Center and handed out material and took down names and numbers for my partner. As a TAA, we are knowledgeable in all aspects of VA and VSO goings on. We can easily step in if needed, and as the POC of the VANG, it is my duty to be out there with the soldiers.

My way of looking at it is the first YR event is where we need to be and to use that time to the best of our abilities. I do not go to DEMOB sites because the soldiers there just want to go home. The info provided more times than not goes in one ear and out the other, so the DEMOB site may not be as fruitful for the time and money in my eyes. The first YR event is where the info can be given and the vendors and I can do our job.

List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: Will be all the VANG After action items: What went well? Our YR program is growing strong and many great ideas and people are at our table. What improvements are needed? N/A Lessons learned? Use your resources, be productive and bring forth new ideas.

VERMONT. Title of best practice: Camp for the Kids

Point(s) of contact: Ron LaBounty (802) 338-3354 Anne Gorrigan (802)338-3369 Concise description of event: We will be taking the kids to scheduled events like bowling, arts and crafts, museum visits and many other fun things. Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: Many soldiers and their family members After action items : What went well: I think this event coming up is going to be as good as or even better than the last time. What improvements are needed: This time we have more adult participation. Lessons learned: There is nothing more gratifying than the smile on a kid’s face because you chose to spend time with them. I highly recommend that all the TAA’s get involved in the youth program, not only does it help service members and the kids, it will make you feel like a million bucks. If you call Anne, I am sure she will tell you how to get this program off the ground (802)-338-3369.