How You Can Participate in CVC:
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Provide CVC with your contact
information
to receive meeting notices.
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Attend CVC monthly meetings. These meetings are held in different counties
throughout the state on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Check
calendar
for meeting logistics.
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Attend annual CVC conference.
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Participate in county and regional veteran program meetings.
Benefits of CVC Participation:
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Improved veterans’ assistance fund utilization through the sharing of data and
program information
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Enhanced communication & cooperation between veterans, counties and other
agencies
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Inclusion in a statewide organization made of peers where you can explore best
management practices and identify solutions that cross county lines
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Ability to contribute ideas and work jointly on objectives to improve services
and programs for veterans
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Collaboration with veteran service organizations and other providers
CVC Meeting Notes
Mission of CVC
CVC focuses on assessing and addressing the evolving
needs of indigent veterans and their families living in Washington State. In
addition, CVC assists counties to improve the quality of life for those who
have served our country by enhancing the delivery of veteran resources and
services.
On-Going CVC Goals and Objectives
Improve Relations among County Veterans’ Programs
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Host monthly CVC business meetings throughout the state
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Sponsor an annual CVC Conference
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Seek input from participants in each county
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Share what is learned with others
Facilitate improved community relationships
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Encourage cooperation and communication between local, state and federal
entities
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Promote the resources and services available to veterans
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Develop partnerships
Identify future service opportunities
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Monitor the evolving needs of the veteran population
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Encourage program development in areas of unmet needs
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Develop methods to collect service data and program information among counties
Be a resource for County Veterans' Programs and veteran service providers
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Encourage creative and innovative ideas
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Discuss similar problems and issues
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Identify funding opportunities
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Share best practices, summary data and demographics
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Create communication tools such as the CVC web site that identifies services
and contacts in each county
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Provide information on veteran issues including: legislative, funding and taxes
Background
In 1888 state law was enacted mandating that counties
collect revenues for providing assistance to indigent and suffering veterans.
This law, originally know as the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund, is now
called the Veterans Assistance Fund (VAF). It is the responsibility of each of
Washington's 39 counties to manage their own VAF; as a result there are 39
different ways of managing these funds.
Due to the ambiguity of this law, VAF workshops were requested by counties.
These workshops were provided throughout the state twice yearly by King and
Pierce County administrators between 1993 and 1996. At them, information was
presented on program administration, fund management and best practices. In
1997, as a result of these workshops, a group of VAF Administrators began
discussing ways to serve the veterans community through working together - the
concept of County Veterans Coalition (CVC) was born.
In 1998 several counties joined together as the CVC and planned the first state
wide conference. Now an annual event held in a different location each year,
the conference is attended by VAF administrators, legislative authorities,
veteran advocates and service providers.
The CVC web site was deployed in 2002 to address the communication needs of our
statewide audience. The CVC logo was also created in 2002 by Michael Martin, a
veteran living in Pierce County.
CVCs collective efforts produced a positive change with the passage of Senate
and House Bill 1189 in 2005 - providing relief for indigent veterans and their
families. The revised RCW puts many “veteran best practices” programs on solid
footing and enables the rest to move in a direction where the resources and
people’s will permit. In addition, each county is now required to have a
Veterans Advisory Board. More importantly each county will be able to design
and implement programs or services tailored to meet the emerging needs of
veterans.