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Q&A
Discussion of DVS report card findings
0:40:07
·
4 min
Council Member Holden and Commissioner Hendon discuss the seven key findings from the DVS report card. Hendon agrees with most findings but expresses some reservations about the gap between DVS's reported practices and veterans' experiences, as well as the need to rebuild trust with the veteran community.
- Hendon emphasizes the challenge of identifying and reaching out to veterans who don't self-identify
- The commissioner highlights DVS's efforts to create attractive benefits and offerings to encourage veteran engagement
- Hendon discusses the importance of continuity of care and DVS's 'cradle to grave' approach to supporting veterans
Robert F. Holden
0:40:07
Let's talk about the findings.
0:40:09
The final report offers seven key findings.
0:40:13
Would you give us a brief reaction to one commenting on whether you think each one is a fair representation of DBS's work?
0:40:23
So let's start with number one.
0:40:24
DVS made an effort to meet veterans where they are likely to be.
0:40:30
Do you agree with the findings on it?
0:40:32
Yes.
0:40:34
Do?
0:40:34
Okay.
0:40:35
Number two, DBS has tried to use its resources wisely, recognizing that it cannot do it alone.
0:40:42
Do you agree with that finding?
0:40:44
Yes.
0:40:44
Okay.
0:40:45
I'm gonna go through this, so it'll be, you know, be a lot.
0:40:48
Maybe I could ask them, but all at once, there is a gap, know, number three, there is a gap between DVS's reported practices and the experiences described by veterans and advocates.
0:41:00
Do you agree with that finding?
James Hendon
0:41:01
This is the one where, you know, the caveat to it is, a lot of the work for us is identifying the veterans.
0:41:07
You know, we always say at the hearings, roughly one out of four veterans self identify, it's like 24.1%.
0:41:12
And so, a lot of our effort is spent trying to go reach out to those folks who are in the shadows, to kind of get them into this.
0:41:17
So I think that's one piece of it.
0:41:19
Another piece of this is we've been spending ample time, and this is why I agreed that we want to put our short and long term plans out and make them public, just building the capabilities out here, putting different benefits or offerings out there for the veterans to know about.
0:41:32
If you don't have much to offer people, way of benefits and offerings and supports, they're not gonna show.
0:41:37
And so for us, it's been, be it through housing, through health care, benefits, culture, education, employment, it's been setting up the all the different accoutrements, if you will, that can be attractive so we can get our veterans to come into the light, so that then more of them can identify.
0:41:51
And then you have that stronger relationship, the report is suggesting.
Robert F. Holden
0:41:55
Number four, continuity of care is critical to the long term health stability and financial well-being of veterans.
0:42:04
Do you agree with that finding?
James Hendon
0:42:05
I agree with the caveat that for us it's you become a member of this community when you first take the oath to serve, protect and defend.
0:42:13
You stay a member of this community even into the grave and beyond.
0:42:16
And so for us, it's about how do we start to identify these service members as soon as they join the tribe.
0:42:21
And so that's why we've been so heavy with tying in with our friends at the defense department to learn who our veterans are.
0:42:26
We're even working to have an event where we see class of twenty twenty five high school graduates who enlisting in the military to kinda connect with them before they even go off the basic training so they know, hey.
0:42:36
We're here, but then to stay with them throughout all their endeavors in life and to look at it as that continuity of care on housing issues, continuity of care on economic issues, be it employment, be it education, continuity of care on health care issues.
0:42:48
So for us, it's really this holistic approach of cradle to grave, you know, as soon as you take the oath, you're one of us and we're with you even when you're in the ground and beyond.
Robert F. Holden
0:42:56
Okay.
0:42:57
Number five is DVS has created various support channels for veterans to access its services and also collaborates with several government and nonprofit agencies on a number of initiatives.
0:43:09
Do you agree with that finding?
0:43:10
Yes.
0:43:11
Okay.
0:43:11
So number six is DVS needs to rebuild trust with New York City with the New York City Veteran community.
0:43:20
Do you need do you agree with that?
James Hendon
0:43:21
I don't.
0:43:22
Once again, it's the the adaptive challenge for us is finding our people and attracting them to what we have to offer.
0:43:28
That's step one.
0:43:29
And that you you can't even have the trust discussion if you don't know who I am and vice versa.
0:43:34
So that's where a lot of our energy's been focused.
Robert F. Holden
0:43:36
Right.
0:43:37
Finally, on number seven, DVS must do better in leveraging other New York City agencies to reach and serve more veterans.
0:43:46
Do you agree with that finding?
James Hendon
0:43:47
I think we can always do better.
0:43:49
So we're doing a lot.
0:43:50
We play very, you know, we play in the foxhole hard, so to speak, with partners like Department of Small Business Services, Department of Social Services, to include that's HRA, that's Department of Homeless Services, with the mayor's office of people with disabilities, you know, we and others.
0:44:06
We do a lot working with them, and that's city side.
0:44:09
On the state side, not only working with the Department of Veterans Services at the state level, but working closely with the Higher Education Services Corporation that runs special scholarship programs for veterans, working with the state of New York Mortgage Agency as far as veteran home buying opportunities, and, you know, just doing what we can to tie in, including something as far as the New York State Education Department and looking at access VR or voc rehab and that nexus between these two as far as vocational rehab.
0:44:33
At the federal level, it's not just working with the VA, but also working with our good friends at the Department of Labor when it comes to different employment opportunities.
0:44:39
And, of course, the Department of Defense recognizing roughly 13,000 veterans in this city are people like me who are reservists or active duty or guards.
0:44:46
So we do what we can to tie in and Department of Housing and Urban Development, let's not forget.
0:44:51
So we do what can to tie in city, state, federal with our government partners.
Robert F. Holden
0:44:55
Alright.