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Veterans Benefits Community Outreach Program

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Veterans Benefits Community Outreach Program

Contra Costa County Library

Advocacy & Awareness | 2023

Innovation Synopsis

A partnership between Veterans Services and the Brentwood Library to aid the men and women who served in the Armed Forces and their surviving dependents in obtaining benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense and California Department of Veterans Affairs with help from a local Veterans Service Representative.

Challenge/Opportunity

The program provides a private location at the library to educate veterans and their dependents on federal and local benefits and help them navigate the process. The service representative can assist with applying for benefits and provides case management while claims and applications are processed. Veterans that live in and around Brentwood can access this service at no cost, with minimum travel, as well as obtain a library card and learn about library programs and services all in one visit.


Key Elements of Innovation

Veterans and family members receive a private 30–45-minute appointment with an accredited representative. Subjects that are covered range drastically depending on the need of the veteran and can cover: compensation for service-related disabilities, education benefits and vocational rehabilitation, medical treatment at VA facilities, home loan benefits, government life insurance, burial benefits, medical benefits, the California College Tuition Fee Waiver Program as well as referrals to several additional services.


Achieved Outcomes

Since the program launched in July 2022, the program has helped 174 veterans connect with services and information. The service representative has helped all kinds of people from World War II veterans in their 100s to those who are currently transitioning out of the military. These veterans now have access to a person who can answer specific questions and follow up on claims and applications. Many veterans are not used to asking for help and the library setting is extremely welcoming and unintimidating.