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Council Member Holden introduces oversight hearing on DVS report card
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4 min
Council Member Robert Holden, chair of the committee on veterans, introduces an oversight hearing on implementing recommendations from the city council's report card initiative for the Department of Veterans Services (DVS). He provides an overview of the report card process, DVS's grade, key findings, and recommendations.
- DVS received a grade of C in the City Council's report card initiative
- The report offers 7 key findings and 15 recommendations for DVS
- Holden acknowledges his colleagues and staff present at the hearing
Robert F. Holden
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Thank you, sir.
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Good afternoon.
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I'm council member Robert Holden, chair of the committee on veterans.
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Welcome to our oversight hearing on implementing recommendations from the city council's report card initiative.
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The Department of Veterans Services was chosen as one of the first three agencies to be reviewed as part of the City Council's City Agency Report Card Initiative.
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City Council speaker, Adrienne Adams, first introduced the initiative at her twenty twenty four State of the City address, noting that the council would be conducting its own evaluations of city agencies in order to judge their delivery of services to New Yorkers.
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The council's compliance division conducted an assessment of DVS's operation and performance between June 2024 and March 2025 using three sources of information: DVS staffers, advocates for veterans in New York City, and independent research, including on the DVS website and in DVS produced documents, as well as in documents produced by the Organization of for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the U.
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S.
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Government's Accountability Office.
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The assessment looked at seven pillars of the agency's structure and operations.
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One, leadership strategy and direction.
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Two, service delivery for New Yorkers.
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Three, relationships and collaboration.
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Four, workforce development.
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Five, financial and resources management.
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Six, digital government and seven, measurements analysis and knowledge management.
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The findings and recommendations regarding DVS's operation and performance were published in a report earlier this month.
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The report notes that DVS is now celebrating its tenth anniversary, which is an appropriate time to look back and evaluate its work in its first decade, as well as to look forward for its work for the next ten years.
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Based on the analysis presented in the report, DVS was awarded a grade of C for its current level of performance.
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A grade of C is defined as adequate performance and capability, some evidence of continuous improvement activities, sufficient evidence of internal assessments of performance, and or capability gaps.
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The internal process needs improvement.
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The report also offers these seven key findings.
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DVS makes an effort to meet veterans where they are likely to be.
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DVS has tried to use its resources wisely, while recognizing that it cannot do it alone.
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There is a gap between DVS's reported practices and experiences described by veterans and advocates.
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Also, way the continuity of care is critical in the long term health stability and financial well-being of veterans.
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DVS has created various support channels for veterans to assess its services and also collaborates with several government and nonprofit agencies on a number of initiatives.
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DVS needs to rebuild trust with the New York City Veteran community, and DVS must do better in leveraging other New York City agencies to reach and serve more veterans.
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Finally, the report provides 15 recommendations.
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They cover short term and long term planning, the operations of the Veterans Resource Centers, and communication methods to use with veterans.
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Continuity of care, call tracking and monitoring, relationships with veteran advocates and veteran service organizations, DVS staffing, contracting, digital strategy, and more.
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I look forward to the hearing with, hearing the commissioner's response to the 15 recommendations at this hearing.
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At this time, I would like to acknowledge my colleagues who are here.
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Councilmember Ariola to my left, Councilwoman Nurse who's far right, and Councilwoman Marmarado to my right.
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I'd also like to thank the committee staff to work to prepare this hearing.
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Regina Paul, our senior policy analyst, to my right.
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And Farah Raman, our financial analyst, and finally my Chief of Staff, Daniel Cozzina, sitting over to the far right.
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I would like to now turn it over to Regina Paul to administer the oath for the witness from the administration.