What the program addresses:
Montgomery County has the 2nd largest, and soon to be largest, population of veterans, as well as the largest number of 100% wounded warriors. This means that our county has unique issues that require a local advocate to be a voice for area veterans. It is important that veteran needs and desires are represented at every level of our community. While policy change is a part of advocacy, it is a last measure. Advocacy is not just being the voice for veterans, but also empowering others to find their own voice. Being a community advocate includes being a liaison to represent veterans with decision makers such as legislators, community leaders, the business community, non- profits, and various other areas of influence. It includes ensuring veterans are being recognized for the sacrifice they have made, as well as, the contribution they continue to make in our community. It requires an ultimate goal of empowering veterans and their families to advocate for themselves.
In 2015, MCVC partnered with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) to create the first all-inclusive Veterans Day on the Hill since after World War II. Over a three year period we passed 7 out of 8 pieces of legislation. Also, during that time we committed to the creation of Tennessee Veterans (TVET), which is an umbrella organization whose sole purpose is to create recommendations and ensure passage of veteran focused legislation for the entire state. Once TVET was established, MCVC stepped down from that part of our state level work and turned its focus back to advocating for our county veterans and those counties that depend on Montgomery County.
Goals
To facilitate change and promote the interests of our veteran community, in order to tackle unmet needs or deal with emerging needs. To represent the voice of our veteran community by championing, recommending, or supporting what brings enrichment to and increases the quality of life of our veterans and their families living in our community through addressing the three types of advocacy.
1. Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy refers to an individual's ability to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate or assert his or her own interests, desires, needs, and rights (VanReusen et al., 1994).
Self-advocacy means understanding your strengths and needs, identifying your personal goals, knowing your legal rights and responsibilities, and communicating these to others.
a. Educating the general public on veteran cultural competency and issues veterans face
b. Educating community workers and veterans as to their rights, benefits, and how to navigate systems
c. Stay up to date on veterans information and research
d. Maintain trust and credibility
2. Individual Advocacy
Advocacy is having someone to stand beside you, if you think something is unfair, or that someone is treating you badly and you would like to do something to change it.
There are two common forms of individual advocacy - informal and formal advocacy. When people like parents, friends, family members or agencies speak out and advocate for vulnerable people this is termed informal advocacy. Formal advocacy more frequently involves organizations that advocate for someone or for a group of individuals.
a. Assisting our members in advocating for their veterans
b. Advocating for individual veterans when the need arises
c. Assisting our members or veteran navigating through “red tape” or complicated systems
d. Assist in creating goals and strategies
e. Maintain trust and credibility
3. Systems Advocacy
Systems advocacy is not only about changing policies, laws, or rules that impact someone's life at a local, state, or national level. It also creates societal change such as unwritten rules or barriers in equality or quality of life. Systems advocacy can change misconceptions and stereotypes that impede or oppress a population.
a. Ensure civilian community members and local leaders understand what issues active duty, transitioning soldiers, veterans, and their families face and what solutions are needed to address them.
b. Identify community veteran issues and gaps in services and create solutions while reducing the duplication of services
c. Use surveys and meeting open discussion times to identify issues and create solutions
d. Serve as a liaison between organizations to assist in working together to implement solutions without creating unnecessary duplications, thereby being good stewards of community resources.
e. Ensure the Executive Director stays up to date on current advances in physical and mental health, prospective legislation affecting veterans, new benefits available, etc.
f. Create and join multidisciplinary teams with multi-mission driven organizations to address complex veteran community issues
g. Cultivate and maintain relationships with decision makers, such as legislators, community leaders etc.
h. Advocate for veteran friendly legislation
i. Help ensure veteran consumers have culturally appropriate services delivered in ways that respect their beliefs and values.
j. Attend meeting, public hearings, conferences, community listening sessions
k. Create, attend, or assist in community events that honor and/ or advocate for veterans
l. Evaluate organizations and businesses to ensure current practices are not detrimental to our veteran community
m. Create systemic change through education, communication, and collaboration.
n. Consult to the community on veteran issues
o. Create and join multidisciplinary teams with multi-mission driven organizations to address complex veteran community issues
p. Maintain trust and credibility
Measurable Outcomes
1. Beneficial veteran legislation passed
2. Numbers at events
3. Number of committees and boards a member of and what they accomplish
