07/10/2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

B. Organizational Capability 1. Provide the mission statement and vision of your organization: Mission Statement: To support all Indian River County veterans and families while raising awareness of veterans' needs and of their contributions to society. Vision: To be recognized as the leading Indian River County agency for veteran support. 2. Provide a brief summary of your organization, ►nciva►ng areas of expertise, accompusnments ana popu►avon servea. The Veterans Council of Indian River County (VCIRC) is a 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to supporting veterans residing in Indian River County (IRC) and their dependent families. Veterans Council Programs include: • VETERAN TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: Provides free transportation to veterans & caregivers to appointments at the West Palm Beach (WPB) VA hospital and to local medical appointments. • CASE MANAGEMENT AND DIRECT FINANCIAL AID: VCIRC conducts an intake interview to qualify the veteran for VCIRC direct aid and to assess the need of the veteran. Once determined, the best course of action for the veteran to achieve sustainability is established by creating a personalized action plan. Action plans consist of community resource referrals, direct financial aid provided by VCIRC, or a combination of both. These services are provided at no cost to the veteran. With over 130 community partnerships established, we can connect the veteran to a wide range of support services. o Direct aid includes emergency living expenses for qualified veterans and their immediate dependent families. o To qualify for direct financial aid, the veteran must be honorably discharged and reside in IRC. o Direct aid also includes home modifications and repairs for veteran homeowners who can't afford or who are unable to complete on their own. o In FY2023, VCIRC saw an increased demand for financial assistance and case management and is currently managing over 257 active veteran cases at this time. Since 2012, VCIRC has provided over $940,000 in direct aid. • VETERANS OUTREACH: provides liaisons and engages volunteers in activities that reach out to veterans and others that may support veterans in the community. We strive to raise awareness about challenges faced by veterans, and to build community relationships with partners that can provide additional veteran support. • HONORING VETERANS: Memorial and Veteran's Day ceremonies hosted on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary, participation in the Independence Day parade in Sebastian, and facilitating Honor Guard for veteran memorial services. • VETERANS IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM: veteran volunteers teach students about patriotism, flag honors, military service, and citizenship. f. tinily list any certmcat►ons anaior accrea►tat►ons oma►nea Dy your agency. VCIRC office staff and drivers have completed The Firewatch training with 100% participation and is considered a Veteran Safe Place. The Firewatch is a Florida state-wide initiative to end veteran suicide. The Firewatch has trained and built a network of community members and organizations to identify the warning signs of veterans in crisis and direct those veterans to the help they need. Additionally, the drivers responsible for transportation to and from WPB are required to maintain a Class C driver's license, meet VA background screening requirements, maintain CPR certification, and are subject to random drug testing. VCIRC complies with the Florida Statute regarding Contributions (Document #N19288). Our Florida Certificate of Tax Exemption number is #85-8012708155C-8 212