Advisory commission says veterans center is priority in Stanislaus County
An advisory commission will present its annual report Tuesday and discuss goals for improving access to services for veterans in Stanislaus County.
The county’s Veterans Advisory Commission will deliver its report to the Board of Supervisors. The county created the panel in 2012 as a forum for discussing issues important to veterans, such as health care, transportation, and employment for soldiers who have returned from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
More than 27,000 veterans and their families live in Stanislaus County. The commission has set five priorities for this year:
▪ Develop a center for veterans organizations that would serve as a one-stop shop for connecting people with services.
▪ Expand outreach by holding commission meetings in different supervisorial districts every other month.
▪ Publish information about veterans services and social functions.
▪ Provide better access to transportation for veterans.
▪ Enhance education and job placement opportunities.
The Board of Supervisors appointed veterans from each district to serve on the commission. They include Richard Sylvester from District 1, Wardee Bruce from District 2, Richard Barboza from District 3, Chairman Richard Edgecomb from District 4, and Richard Gaytan from District 5. The two members appointed at-large are Joseph Madden and Lawrence Johnson.
The advisory commission hopes to expand education and job placement efforts by increasing visibility at local job fairs, publishing employment-related information online and connecting with other agencies.
One strategy for developing a veterans center for Stanislaus County is to create a nonprofit entity for accepting contributions from private donors. A report for Tuesday’s meeting says grant opportunities also need to be explored and the center will need a sustainable financial model.
Ken Carlson: 209-578-2321
AT A GLANCE
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the basement chamber of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St., Modesto. The following items will be considered:
▪ An agreement with Bertolotti Transfer Inc. for reduced tipping fees at the Fink Road Landfill.
▪ Benefit assessment rates for lighting districts.
▪ Defining the American Red Cross’ responsibilities for responding to disasters in Stanislaus County.
This story was originally published July 19, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Advisory commission says veterans center is priority in Stanislaus County."