THE AMERICAN LEGIONTHE AMERICAN LEGION

American Legion VA Voluntary American Legion VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) Representative Service (VAVS) Representative

and Deputy Representative and Deputy Representative Volunteer TrainingVolunteer Training

VAVS- What is it?VAVS- What is it?

V = VeteransV = Veterans

A = AffairsA = Affairs

V = VoluntaryV = Voluntary

S = Service S = Service

www.va.gov/volunteerwww.va.gov/volunteer

The VAVS MissionThe VAVS Mission

•Provide a structured Volunteer Program under the Provide a structured Volunteer Program under the management of VA compensated employees in management of VA compensated employees in cooperation with community resources to serve cooperation with community resources to serve America’s veterans and their families with dignity America’s veterans and their families with dignity and compassion.and compassion.

•VAVS supports VA and VHA strategic goals by VAVS supports VA and VHA strategic goals by recruiting, supporting and retaining a recruiting, supporting and retaining a knowledgeable, diverse and engaged supplemental knowledgeable, diverse and engaged supplemental workforce of volunteers. workforce of volunteers.

•The volunteer programs throughout the country The volunteer programs throughout the country assist management in the delivery of VA health assist management in the delivery of VA health care by improving access to care, assisting with care by improving access to care, assisting with long-term care, improving patient satisfaction and long-term care, improving patient satisfaction and much more.much more.

American Legion FY American Legion FY 2007 Statistics 2007 Statistics

7,527 Regularly Scheduled (RS) 7,527 Regularly Scheduled (RS) volunteers contributing a total of volunteers contributing a total of 909,137 hours909,137 hours

Program Goals this year are to: Program Goals this year are to: -Implement State (VAVS) Chairmen, -Implement State (VAVS) Chairmen,

-Create a VAVS link on the National -Create a VAVS link on the National website, website,

-Distribute new VAVS Handbook and Flyer -Distribute new VAVS Handbook and Flyer

-Heroes to Hometowns VA Pilot Program-Heroes to Hometowns VA Pilot Program

Purpose of the VAVS Purpose of the VAVS National Advisory National Advisory Committee (NAC)Committee (NAC)

•The committee advises the Secretary of The committee advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters pertaining to Veterans Affairs on matters pertaining to the participation of volunteers in VA the participation of volunteers in VA medical facilities, assists in the medical facilities, assists in the recruitment and orientation of volunteers recruitment and orientation of volunteers and keeps the officers and members of and keeps the officers and members of participating organizations informed of participating organizations informed of volunteer needs and accomplishments.volunteer needs and accomplishments.

National VAVS National VAVS RepresentativeRepresentative

•Is the official liaison between VA Is the official liaison between VA Headquarters Headquarters and the organization in all aspects of the and the organization in all aspects of the VAVS VAVS ProgramProgram

•The Representative assists the State and The Representative assists the State and Department Commanders and the National Department Commanders and the National Certifying Official in the selection and Certifying Official in the selection and certification of local VAVS Representativescertification of local VAVS Representatives

•Is responsible for providing initial Is responsible for providing initial guidance and guidance and information to local Reps and Depsinformation to local Reps and Deps

Local VAVS Chief or Program Local VAVS Chief or Program Manager ResponsibilitiesManager Responsibilities

•Contact all newly appointed local Reps Contact all newly appointed local Reps and and DepsDeps

•Provide general orientation and training Provide general orientation and training to to include:include:

•Finger Printing, other local requirementsFinger Printing, other local requirements

•Providing hospital volunteer badgeProviding hospital volunteer badge

•Entering individual into the VSS systemEntering individual into the VSS system

•Providing calendar of VAVS Committee Providing calendar of VAVS Committee meeting datesmeeting dates

Local VAVS Rep/Dep Local VAVS Rep/Dep Responsibilities Responsibilities

•Contact the local VAVS Chief or designee Contact the local VAVS Chief or designee upon upon receiving certificationreceiving certification

•Complete the orientation at the earliest Complete the orientation at the earliest opportunity, to include getting registered in opportunity, to include getting registered in the VSS Systemthe VSS System

•Regularly attend the local VAVS Committee Regularly attend the local VAVS Committee quarterly meetings and set up a VAVS Point quarterly meetings and set up a VAVS Point of Contact at every Post to distribute of Contact at every Post to distribute meeting information (i.e. Donation Needs meeting information (i.e. Donation Needs List and Volunteer Assignments) toList and Volunteer Assignments) to

•Conduct an Annual Joint ReviewConduct an Annual Joint Review

Local VAVS Committee Local VAVS Committee Purpose and StructurePurpose and Structure

•Purpose: To assist with the coordination Purpose: To assist with the coordination of plans and policies for community of plans and policies for community participation in the VAVS Programparticipation in the VAVS Program

•Chair: VA Medical Center Associate Chair: VA Medical Center Associate Director or other senior management Director or other senior management officialofficial

•Deputy Chair: VA Medical Center Deputy Chair: VA Medical Center Voluntary Service Program ManagerVoluntary Service Program Manager

•Membership: One American Legion VAVS Membership: One American Legion VAVS Rep and up to three American Legion VAVS Rep and up to three American Legion VAVS DepsDeps

•VAVS Committee Meetings held quarterlyVAVS Committee Meetings held quarterly

Local VAVS Reps and Deps Duties Local VAVS Reps and Deps Duties and Responsibilities and Responsibilities

Assist Assist with improving the with improving the VAVS ProgramVAVS Program

ProvideProvide input/feedback to VA input/feedback to VA staff and VAVS Committeestaff and VAVS Committee

Recruit Recruit volunteersvolunteers Promote Promote donations of donations of

financial and material goodsfinancial and material goods Advise Advise and inform The and inform The

American Legion Department American Legion Department leadership of VAVS and VA leadership of VAVS and VA issues and concernsissues and concerns

AttendAttend and participate in and participate in VAVS meetings and distribute VAVS meetings and distribute information to all Legion posts information to all Legion posts in the communityin the community

Assist Assist in the removal of in the removal of local Legion volunteers local Legion volunteers when necessarywhen necessary

Serve Serve on subcommittees on subcommittees and task groupsand task groups

Maintain Maintain Legion records Legion records (hours and donations)(hours and donations)

Coordinate Coordinate facility facility activities and projectsactivities and projects

Conduct Conduct Annual Joint Annual Joint ReviewReview

Register Register as a Regularly as a Regularly Scheduled VolunteerScheduled Volunteer

VAVS Reps and Deps VAVS Reps and Deps QualificationsQualifications

•A sincere interest in the welfare of hospitalized A sincere interest in the welfare of hospitalized veteransveterans

•A sincere interest in the welfare of veteran patients A sincere interest in the welfare of veteran patients and a desire to help themand a desire to help them

•The ability to work with othersThe ability to work with others

•LeadershipLeadership

•Knowledge of The American Legion and VAKnowledge of The American Legion and VA

•Ability to community and disseminate informationAbility to community and disseminate information

•And the most important qualification, the ability toAnd the most important qualification, the ability to attend the quarterly Regularly Scheduled VAVS attend the quarterly Regularly Scheduled VAVS MeetingsMeetings

Annual Joint ReviewsAnnual Joint Reviews

• Purpose: to assess The American Legion’s Purpose: to assess The American Legion’s participation in the VAVS Program during participation in the VAVS Program during the preceding year and to develop goals the preceding year and to develop goals for the next yearfor the next year

• VAVS Rep Responsibilities:VAVS Rep Responsibilities:• Know the month the AJR is scheduledKnow the month the AJR is scheduled• Make an appointment with the VAVS Make an appointment with the VAVS

Chief or Program ManagerChief or Program Manager• Discuss Legion’s achievements, Discuss Legion’s achievements,

issues and concerns and goals- make issues and concerns and goals- make suggestions for improvementsuggestions for improvement

Why VolunteerWhy Volunteer

•To gain work experienceTo gain work experience•To learn new skillsTo learn new skills•To meet new peopleTo meet new people•To give something backTo give something back•To be of service to othersTo be of service to others•Social InteractionSocial Interaction

Traditional Volunteer AssignmentsTraditional Volunteer Assignments• Patient EscortPatient Escort• Volunteer DriversVolunteer Drivers• Clerical PositionsClerical Positions• Information DeskInformation Desk• Ambassador ProgramAmbassador Program• Chaplain ServiceChaplain Service• PharmacyPharmacy• Nursing Nursing • Guest Relations ProgramGuest Relations Program• Outpatient AssistanceOutpatient Assistance• New assignments based on needNew assignments based on need

What Volunteers Do What Volunteers Do

What Volunteers What Volunteers DoDo

Non-traditional Volunteer AssignmentsNon-traditional Volunteer Assignments Virtual VolunteersVirtual Volunteers FundraisersFundraisers ManagersManagers RecruitersRecruiters Corporate RepresentativesCorporate Representatives Trainers and EducatorsTrainers and Educators Writers (newsletters, recruitment Writers (newsletters, recruitment

ads)ads) Community LiaisonsCommunity Liaisons Respite/Hospice VolunteersRespite/Hospice Volunteers

VA Medical Centers- www.va.gov/volunteerVA Medical Centers- www.va.gov/volunteer VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic VA Poly Trauma Centers- http://www.polytrauma.va.govVA Poly Trauma Centers- http://www.polytrauma.va.gov Fisher House Foundation- http://www.fisherhouse.orgFisher House Foundation- http://www.fisherhouse.org State Veterans Homes- State Veterans Homes-

http://www.nasvh.org/home/index.cfmhttp://www.nasvh.org/home/index.cfm Vet Centers- http://www.vetcenter.va.govVet Centers- http://www.vetcenter.va.gov VA Youth Volunteering- VA Youth Volunteering-

www1.va.gov/volunteer/studentprgm.cfmwww1.va.gov/volunteer/studentprgm.cfm

Where to VolunteerWhere to Volunteer

Types of VolunteersTypes of Volunteers

Regularly Scheduled (RS) volunteers- Regularly Scheduled (RS) volunteers- work for the VA on a scheduled basis. RS volunteers are considered work for the VA on a scheduled basis. RS volunteers are considered employees who work on a “without compensation” basis. These volunteers go through a formal VA orientation employees who work on a “without compensation” basis. These volunteers go through a formal VA orientation and receive individual rewards for hours and service given.and receive individual rewards for hours and service given.

Occasional Volunteers- Occasional Volunteers- work with VA on an infrequent basis and do not have a regular schedule. The work with VA on an infrequent basis and do not have a regular schedule. The American Legion receives credit for volunteer service given, rather than individually. American Legion receives credit for volunteer service given, rather than individually.

VA Special Event Volunteers- VA Special Event Volunteers- VA has many annual events that volunteer support is needed. Some of these VA has many annual events that volunteer support is needed. Some of these include: National Wheelchair Games, National Golden Age Games, National Creative Arts Festival, National include: National Wheelchair Games, National Golden Age Games, National Creative Arts Festival, National Winter Sports Clinic, Homeless Stand Downs, Annual Red Cross Blood Drive and Operation Enduring Freedom Winter Sports Clinic, Homeless Stand Downs, Annual Red Cross Blood Drive and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Welcome Home Event Celebrations.(OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Welcome Home Event Celebrations.

Volunteer Now Volunteer Now

For information concerning individual or Post For information concerning individual or Post Participation, contact the Chief of Voluntary Participation, contact the Chief of Voluntary Service at your nearest VA Medical Center.Service at your nearest VA Medical Center.

The Chief of Voluntary Service will arrange The Chief of Voluntary Service will arrange an initial screening and help you in choosing an initial screening and help you in choosing the program that best meets your time and the program that best meets your time and interests.interests.

Information is also available on the Internet Information is also available on the Internet at www.va.gov/volunteer.at www.va.gov/volunteer.

If you have any Legion Volunteering If you have any Legion Volunteering questions, please contact Jacob Gadd, questions, please contact Jacob Gadd, Deputy National VAVS Representative at Deputy National VAVS Representative at jgadd@legion.org.jgadd@legion.org.

THE AMERICAN THE AMERICAN LEGIONLEGION