VA social worker receives Salute to Service Award from Code of Support Foundation

Judith Foster, a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) social worker at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia, received the Code of Support Foundation’s (COSF) prestigious national “Salute to Service” award at the COSF’s recent ceremony in Washington, DC, in recognition for exemplary service to Veterans and their family members.

The award was presented to Foster in April as part of COSF’s “Toast to our Troops” ceremony by COSF co-founders Maj. Gen.(retired) Alan Salisbury, who also is COSF’s chairman; and Kristy Kaufmann, chief executive officer for COSF. The award was co-presented by Dr. Lynda Davis of the Veterans Experience Office and Cassandra Law, Associate Chief Patient Care Services Officer for the Veterans Health Administration.

Judith Foster, a social worker with the Dublin VA, talks with a Veteran. Judith was awarded the Salute to Service Award from the Code of Support Foundation.

The COSF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has grown to serve more than 3,000 of our nation’s Service Members, Veterans, and their families by providing essential one-on-one assistance.

“Code of Support is proud to be working with the VA. Judith Foster has been collaborating with our case coordination team for two years really making sure the system serves Veterans and to leverage Code of Support to get all the resources they need,” said Kaufman.

“It’s all hands-on deck – Judith is one of the exemplary employees at the local VA level who does this every day, and together our team has changed lives.”

“At the national level, we often talk about the importance of collaboration and partnerships between the Department of Veterans Affairs and non-governmental organizations. While this is key, it is at the field level, where our dedicated VA providers illustrate their commitment and true power of these partnerships,” said Law. “Judith’s work with the COSF’s Veteran Peer Navigators, is a shining example of how collaboration, dedication and can-do attitude improves the lives of our nation’s Veterans and their families. We were very proud to join the Code of Support in recognizing Judith for her outstanding contributions.”

In her current job at the Dublin VA Medical Center, Ms. Foster is responsible for assessment of psychosocial problems that cause distress, which often create barriers to care. Stressors can include adjustment to a current medical condition, untreated or under-treated medical and mental health or substance use conditions, economic instability, legal problems and inadequate housing and transportation.

“I have worked with many Veterans in suicide prevention, HUD-VASH and most recently the PACT program,” she said. “I am honored to serve Veterans and their families, and it is great to hear from Veterans and their families how thankful they are for what we do.”