The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University is transforming community-based approaches serving returning service members, veterans and their families by building coordinated networks of care, services and resources in growing markets across the United States. Collective impact initiatives are in different phases of being resourced, designed and deployed in New York City (NYCServes), Charlotte, North Carolina (NCServes), and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PAServes), all part of the AmericaServes initiative.

Our mission for PAServes is to empower a coordinated network of service providers in the Southwestern Pennsylvania (PA) region, and equip them with the technological and informational resources needed to both efficiently and effectively guide veterans and their families to the most appropriate services and resources. This collective impact initiative intends to spotlight and strengthen existing veteran and military family statewide employment and supportive services through strategic and tailored support to local stakeholders and through leaders from the public, private and independent sectors. Additionally, this effort intends to make a meaningful difference in quality of care, services and resources for the large population that identifies themselves as “military, veteran, spouse, parent or dependent of someone serving in the military.” The precepts of this initiative include designing an improved system that coordinates services from the public, private and independent sectors to ensure service members, veterans, and their families are better connected with service that will help them successfully reintegrate within the community.

Our vision is twofold: First, our vision is that every veteran and their family can easily access the full range of comprehensive, networked services required to achieve their unique goals associated with individual health and wellness, and to provide a first-class service experience in order to mimic or match our veteran families’ first-class military service experience. Second, our vision is that all public, private, and non-profit organizations and entities working together in coordinated networks serving veterans and their families are accountable to one another and embrace formalized communication, coordination, and transparency.

PAServes recognizes each service region must be uniquely designed and deployed at community levels in order for a collective impact model to be successful statewide. The PAServes team chose the Southwestern PA service region, consisting of Allegheny, Butler, and Westmoreland counties, as a starting point to capitalize on existing progress made towards better coordinating veteran services.

For the purposes of a 24-month pilot demonstration, and through coverage mapping, planning and analysis, IVMF has identified approximately 44 service providers across the service region that adequately cover the spectrum best characterized as the leading social determinants of well-being, supporting veteran and their family members’ needs (e.g., employment, housing, legal mental health). This is an adequate size and time frame to effectively measure the Coordinated Network’s results and maximize potential. During the Pilot Phase, the PAServes Coordinated Network will strive to serve 2,700 unique veterans and veteran families.

The veteran-owned technology provider Unite US will provide the software that enables PAServes Network Providers to make and receive referrals. This platform enables a 360 degree view of the Coordinated Network’s Performance with its robust reporting capabilities. Focal areas include: web traffic, demographics, requests for services, service request correlations, service lifecycle and customer satisfaction.

About the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)

The IVMF is the first national center in higher education focused on the social, economic, education and policy issues impacting veterans and their families post-service. Through our focus on veteran-facing programming, research and policy, employment and employer support, and community engagement, the institute provides in-depth analysis of the challenges facing the veteran community; best practices and serves as a forum to facilitate new partnerships and strong relationships between individuals and organizations committed to making a difference for veterans and military families. Learn more about IVMF at http://vets.syr.edu

 

Contact Information:

James McDonough

Managing Director, Community Engagement and Innovation

150 Crouse Drive

Syracuse, NY 13244

jdmcdono@syr.edu

(315) 415-4050

Organization Information:

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

150 Crouse Drive

Syracuse, NY 13244

Executive Director: Dr. J. Michael Haynie

Organization Detail

Website Address: vets.syr.edu

Organization Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IVMFSyracuseU