Veteran Benefits Coach - Veterans Connect @ the Library

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The Inglewood Public Library is seeking volunteers to work in the Veterans Resource Center, a facility established in partnership with the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to provide Veterans with helpful information and services for life after the military.

As a Veterans Benefits Volunteer, you will serve as a point of contact to ensure that Veterans and Veteran families of every era know how to get connected to the state and federal benefits and services they have earned through military service.

Impact of Volunteering

• Improving the lives of Veterans and their families.
• Lowering the local cost of Veteran healthcare.
• Reducing Veteran homeless numbers.
• Reducing Veteran unemployment numbers.
• Increasing Veteran enrollment in California colleges and universities.

Benefits of Volunteering

• Opportunity to honor Veterans’ service by providing important information and referrals for them and their families.
• Training and experience in interviewing, needs assessment, and information and referral.

Key Responsibilities

• "Staff" a Veteran Resource Station in the library for a minimum of one 2-hour shift per week to meet with Veterans and/or family members. Serve as expert listener and initial problem solver.
• Help each Veteran or Veteran family member complete the My CalVet online form at www.calvet.ca.gov, or complete the print version of the "Veterans Reintegration Form." Either of these forms enters the individual into CalVet’s database and helps identify the benefits and services they need and for which they may be eligible. Once in the system, CalVet or a designated representative, will make contact with the Veteran.
• Guide the Veteran toward those benefits that are likely to enhance their particular situation and, using the California Veteran’s Resource Book, provide contact information for the County Veterans Service Office in their county of residence so they can make an appointment. Also, provide a checklist of the basic documents the Veteran should take to their appointment in order to expedite their access to services.
• If, during the conversation, additional service needs are identified, provide contact information to other library or community services. If a Veteran is in a crisis, refer to the list of emergency service numbers provided.
• Maintain data on number of Veterans/family members served, types of questions asked, referrals made, and issues/topic areas needed but not covered in the library’s collection.

Qualifications

• Interest in helping and serving Veterans and their families.
• Patience, empathy, and good listening and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with military life, Veterans’ issues, and reintegration challenges, or willingness to learn about them.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect personal boundaries.
• Basic computer and Internet skills required; smart phone experience helpful.
• Successful completion of all training for this position (provided at the library).
• All applicants must possess valid California identification and tuberculosis clearance from within the past five (5) years. Applicants must also complete Live Scan fingerprinting and agree to a background check.

Training and Support Provided
Required training is provided via training modules presented by the library supervisor. Additional training is offered by via webinars and workshops from CalVet and other Veteran Service Organizations on an as-needed basis.

Time Commitment
The minimum time commitment is one 2-hour shift per week. Commitment to six months of service is requested.

Library Contact
Opetoritse "Ritse" Adefolalu
oadefolalu@cityofinglewood.org

CalVet Contact
(877) 741-8532