VA’s Center for Women Veterans hosted a Veterans Experience Action Center (VEAC) in March for Veterans, family members, caregivers and survivors in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands. The program proactively assisted Veterans throughout the Pacific region with VA benefits, health care and resources. It was held in partnership with the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services, the Guam Veterans Affairs Office, local Veterans service offices, Got Your 671 and U.S. Vets.
VEACs are a collaboration to include representation from the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, National Cemetery Administration, Board of Veterans’ Appeals, state departments of Veterans affairs and community partners working together. They offer one-on-one personalized assistance for VA benefits, VA health care, crisis resources, memorial affairs, community services and more.
“The Pacific VEAC provided a connection to community resources and support systems—such as temporary financial assistance, employment, housing assistance, legal services, food banks, Caregiver services, one-on-one mentorship, local community peer-to-peer introductions and more—that assist in improving our nation’s Veterans’ quality of life, health and resiliency,” said Jim Wartski, executive director of Veteran, Family and Community Engagement in VA’s Veterans Experience Office.
`Such a helpful event for Veterans’
The Pacific VEAC connected 121 Veterans to VA services. More than 28% of attendees were female, making it the second highest female customer attendance to date (28.9%). The April 2022 Virginia VEAC was the highest, with 29.1% female customers served.
“It was really such a helpful event for Veterans,” said one female Veteran who participated in the event. “I was able to talk to all the people I needed to, and everyone involved was so good to me.”
Of the Veterans and families who attended their VEAC appointment, more than 70% completed the VEAC Community Signals survey. Nearly 90% of the attendees gave the event an overall positive score.
Veterans requested three services most frequently during the event. In order, they were general health care information and assistance, claim status and general counseling, and assistance submitting a new disability claim.
“VA is continually improving its services,” said Vivian Hutson, senior advisor for Pacific strategy in VA’s Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. “We are working hard to provide care and benefits that Veterans need and deserve. This is a great way to learn what is available and how to get access to these services.”
Visit the Experience Center website to learn more about VEACs.
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