Dozens of organization that provide services to Veterans and their families throughout Florida met in Orlando, Florida on Aug. 3 united by a common goal – to provide extraordinary service to Veterans and their families.

Veteran Advocates in Florida met for two days to improve Veteran outcomes in their communities

Veteran Advocates in Florida met for two days to improve Veteran outcomes in their communities

The Florida Veteran-Friendly Communities Symposium was hosted by Mission United as a public, private, non-profit partnership. Mission United is a Veteran focused non-profit founded by the United Way improves Veteran outcomes by mobilizing the power of communities.

Community leaders from Veteran support organizations across Florida met to discuss best practices, but also build consensus on collaborative initiatives serving Veteran and their families.

Many of the attendees also serve on Community Veteran Engagement Boards (CVEB), a VA community effort to enable Veterans, Veteran advocates and service providers to work to resolve issues at the local level to improve service delivery for Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors. VA leaders participate in these efforts to maximize the collective impact of local services, stakeholders, and federal/state agencies working together to improve Veteran outcomes where they live, work, and raise their families.

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During the symposium, Peter O’Rourke (Special Assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs), Jim Wartski (Veterans Experience Office), and Dr. Miquel LaPuz (Director of the VA Sunshine Healthcare Network) thanked several of these Community Veteran Engagement Board’s efforts, naming them Veteran-Friendly Communities.

Heart of Florida Mission United Orlando, Florida
Bay Pines Community Engagement Board St. Petersburg, Florida
Pensacola Veterans Support Organizations Network (PVSON) Pensacola, Florida
Mission United of Broward County Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Mission United of Tampa/ Hillsborough County  Tampa, Florida


These communities have maximized their collective impact of local services, stakeholders, and federal/state agencies working together to improve Veteran outcomes where they live, work, and raise their families.

Learn more about Veteran-Friendly Communities and find the Community Veteran Engagement Board nearest you.

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3 Comments

  1. George August 23, 2018 at 07:47

    Under TRICARE FOR LIFE we’ve earned formulary Rx’s at no cost from any MTF. Where SecDEF & SecVA both have federal pharmacies, why does the VA withhold the ability to fill my wife’s Rx’s under one federal government standard and according to the veteran centric desire and “entitlement.”

  2. DAVID YONTS August 21, 2018 at 22:54

    YOU COULD BE LIKE MYSELF AND GET 100%, I HAVE TAKEN MY HOLE CLAIM BACK PAY OF 138,000 AND INVESTED IT IN A SOUP KITCHEN. TO FEED THE HOMELESS AND VETERANS A FREE LUNCH. ONLY TO GET THE CITY TO PUT ALL KIND OF RESTICTION ON ME AND WANT ME TO SPEND MOORE MONEY. ON A 7000.00 FENCE AROUND THE PROPERTY. BUY THE WAY WE LIVE IN THE POOREST COUNTY IN FL. SP.4 DAVID YONTS INTERLACHEN ,FL. 32148 386-972-1045

  3. JAMES CONTARINO August 16, 2018 at 16:28

    this is all very good. but a a totally disabled veteran. please address the biggest issue i’m sure to most veterans and especially vietnam veterans.why still such an appeals back log.why does no one demand the accountability of the veterans affairs to properly and sufficently come to decision on granted appeals and quicken the time on rating issues.perhaps you could address that fact and related issues to it.not a year from now. but tomorrow and everyday forward.thank you.

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