Improving veterans experiences
According to the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, 60 percent of veterans don’t know, or fully understand, their benefits.
Wednesday night, IDVA worked to change that by holding a community forum at Idaho State University.
Veterans and their families could come together and get information about veterans benefits, programs and services.
There was a panel of representatives from different veterans services groups such as the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center, Idaho Department of Labor, Veterans Treatment Court, Boise VA Regional Office and the Pocatello Veterans Center.
They could ask panel experts questions and address individual concerns.Some topics discussed were health care coverage, veteran suicide prevention and job placement.
They also discussed burial rights and the new state veterans cemetery coming to Blackfoot. A representative form the Salt Lake City veterans hospital also spoke about concerns and problems veterans had with treatment. He also mentioned a new clinic that will be opening in Pocatello at the end of August.
David Brasuell, administrator with IDVA, said Idaho has more than 132,000 veterans and it wants to make sure they are all being taken care of. The goal of the forum was to connect veterans with needed resources.
“We’re reaching out to our wonderful veterans here in Eastern Idaho along the I-15 corridor and it’s important that they know that we care about them and that we are here for them to provide services for them and that we’re here to listen,” Brasuell said.
He added that by being able to hear veterans concerns and struggles, it helps veterans services to be able to make the proper changes to better help veterans.
“I think it was very helpful,” said James Williams, a Vietnam veteran. “Each member on the panel here was able to explain their own positions, what they had to offer as far as as the VAs. Some of the misunderstandings that some of the people may have they were very clear about what they could provide and what was necessary for you.”
Williams said he felt like his questions were answered pretty well by the panel.
This is the second community forum that IDVA has held in Idaho.
If you or a veteran you know needs any type of help, you can reach out to local veterans services organizations.
For Pocatello, you can contact Bannock County Veterans Services at 208-236-7411 or the Department of Veterans Affairs at 208-478-9866. You can also contact the IDVA at 208-235-7890.
