In an effort to help San Mateo County veterans bridge military and civilian life, local agencies and organizations are focusing on how their programs can provide career advancement and connections with their local peers.
Representing everything from the county library system to local and national health services, dozens of organizations filled lines of tables at the American Legion Post 105 in Redwood City Friday to spread the word to county veterans about the resources they provide.
In addition to posting information for the county Human Services Agency’s third annual open house and resource fair on social media, county officials visited college campuses, community organization meetings and local Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics to reach veterans of all ages, genders and backgrounds, said county veteran service officer Norman Aleman.
Noting many coming out of the military service in recent years have a sense of what services are available to them, Aleman acknowledged it can be another story for veterans who ended their services in the 1990s or earlier, when the network of resources for veterans wasn’t as developed.
“It is a challenge because veterans weren’t necessarily in the highlight of the news reels,” he said.
Events like Friday’s are aimed at including all veterans in spreading the word about resources, said Aleman, who added that even though certain resources are designed for those who may have been injured during their service or faces challenges getting jobs after they return to civilian life, other factors — such as a reluctance to be associated with the military for those who served during the Vietnam War — may be at play when they choose not to pursue them.
Joanna Arteaga La Spina, communication learning program specialist at the San Mateo County libraries, said events like Friday’s open house are one of many she attends each year to spread the word about how library programs can help veterans young and old reintegrate with civilian life after their service.
“We don’t mind going wherever the veterans go,” she said.
As part of a statewide program called Veterans Connect @ the Library, the county libraries are focusing on making tutoring programs available to veterans applying for jobs as well as computer coaching for those who are not familiar with technology, said Arteaga La Spina.
By including a circulating book collection, updated information from service providers and access to computers in a new Veterans Resource Center at the East Palo Alto Library, Arteaga La Spina hopes the library, other branches and the county’s bookmobile become a resource hub for veterans.
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Having experienced homelessness in his transition out of military service, San Jose resident Jesse Woodiel knows how daunting entering the workforce can be for veterans. Now social support manager at npower, a nonprofit offering IT training and paid internships to veterans and underserved youth, Woodiel works with those facing similar challenges developing the skills and confidence to interview for technology jobs.
“The number one thing you have to do with a veteran is empathize with them,” he said.
By grouping veterans who ended their military service a month ago or decades ago in the same training classes, npower’s training and job placement services offer a path toward taking the next step in their careers with others who have had similar experiences.
Though ensuring veterans are connected with the resources that can help them maintain their health and support themselves is critical, Aleman said support for their families can also help integrate veterans into the community, especially if they have sustained injuries in their service. He said a state program waiving tuition at any state community college, California State University or University of California campus for children of injured veterans often flies under the radar but can make a big difference in a veteran’s ability to provide for a family after his or her service.
“The more we do these, the more we’re supported by our community to do these, I think it’s going to be a good thing for not only veterans but also their families,” he said.
San Mateo resident Tony Washington was encouraged by the breadth of the organizations represented Friday, but also noted the role it plays in bringing people who can understand each others’ experiences together. A retired Air Force veteran, Washington said the fellowship those active in the military share with each other is like no other, and giving them the opportunity to experience that once again can remind those who might feel isolated by their military experience that they are not forgotten.
“It’s really good to have everybody here so you can ask questions,” he said. “When you come to events like this, you see people just like you.”
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