Veterans
Strategic Plan
Long Beach City Council Meeting
March 15, 2022
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HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Long Beach Veterans Commission —
Ryan Antes, Chair
Josh "Smitty" Smith, Vice Chair
Jesse Blanco
Sylvia Contreras
Juanita Doplemore
Ricky Fernandez
Gus Orozco
Lance Santiago
Mike Shaknovich
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Methodologies and Sources of Data
1. Structured and informal interviews with 46 key
Veterans' community stakeholders
2. Literature Review on the challenges and
opportunities Veterans face
3. Demographic data research and analysis
Community Input Sessions held at places where
Veterans gather - engaged nearly 200 Veterans
Commissioners and their experiences, knowledge
and deep involvement in the Veterans' community
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Goal 1
Long Beach recognizes Veterans for their strengths,
as valued members of our community, and regularly
celebrates and honors them.
Implement the following recognition opportunities:
1. Light pole banners program
2. Interactive digital map that tells the stories behind the City's parks named for Veterans, and Vet-related monuments and public art
3. Veterans Work Detail program - volunteer service
opportunities for Veterans (e.g., beach clean-ups, park improvement projects) I don't want to be honored with hoopla.
4. New forms of celebrating Veterans - multi-generational values I don't need a plaque or parade. I want a purpose or a project. I want a job to do.
and interests bringing Veterans and non-Veterans together
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Goal 2
Veteran-serving organizations and agencies
coordinate well to ensure that Veterans successfully
transition from military service to civilian life.
1. Establish mechanisms to connect and coordinate local organizations that provide transition-related resources and services for Veterans.
2. Start with a summit that brings local organizations
together to envision a more coordinated response.
3. Focus on organizations that address employment,
workforce development, education, mental and physical
health and well-being.
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Goal 3
Veterans readily access the resources and services they need in the areas of housing, education, employment,
and mental and physical health and well-being post-
transition and throughout their lifetimes.
1. Lead a summit that brings local providers of resources and services throughout Veterans' lives (post-transition).
2. Ensure services and supports are accessible to underserved Veteran populations (LGBTQ, women, seniors, low-income, Veterans with disabilities).
3. Bring together organizations and agencies that focus on Veterans mental health and suicide prevention to explore options for improving It was refreshing to engage access for Veterans under 40. with other service providers, and we need to communicate
Veterans under 40 have suicide rates nearly 3X higher than the non- with each other more often. 99 Veterans population.
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To accomplish both Goals 2 and 3, which focus on improving access to resources and services at transition, and throughout Veterans' lifetimes:
Leverage an existing technology platform such as Unite Us as a knowledge base to connect local Veterans to the
resources and services they need more quickly.
Local organizations join the platform to communicate with each other to pinpoint what services a Veteran needs, refer them to the provider, and to track the outcomes.
Websites connect people to information, not
to people. They can point you in the right
direction, but you still have to dig around to
get connected to an actual person who can
help you with what you need.
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Goal 4
Veterans who are precariously housed or who are
experiencing homelessness have access to affordable
housing and the supportive services they need to
remain housed.
1. Coordinate with the City's housing and homeless services providers to make and support policy recommendations that increase access to affordable housing and prevent
homelessness.
2. Support innovative strategies programs and policies to reduce barriers to housing Veterans.
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Goal 5
An Office of Veterans Support is established in the Health and Human Services Department to serve as the infrastructure to carry out the goals, objectives and strategies outlined in the strategic plan.
1. Plans, oversees and manages the City's efforts to 6. Connects Veterans to volunteer opportunities uplift and support Veterans including Veteran-to-Veteran support programs
2. Coordinates City-wide efforts to recognize Veterans 7. Develops the referral platform, Unite Us, for Veterans
3. Connects Veterans to resources and services 8. Establishes a Veterans resource warm line
4. Engages local organizations and agencies that serve 9. Acts as a clearing house of information on "all things Veterans communicate, collaborate and coordinate Veterans" in Long Beach well
10. Collects and disseminates Veterans' demographic data
5. Connects Veterans to employment, job training, and for the City of Long Beach career-building opportunities
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Thank you
Kelly Colopy Gina Overholt
Director Veteran Commission Program Manager
tealth and Human Services Department Health and Human Services Department LONGBEACH (i| LONGBEACH
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