A new program called NYServes Upstate promises veterans they'll have an easier time with access to resources. The initiative will be housed at the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester but will focus on 14 counties in upstate NY.
"Instead of just picking up the Rolodex and calling a friend and saying 'Hopefully you’ll take care of this veteran I’m sending your way.' We now will be able to track that referral and when the referral is accepted to when the referral is completed. That’s all measurable data that we’re able to use," says Todd Baxter, executive director of the Veterans Outreach Center.
The coordination center will sync veterans up with services they need through a referral system. Twenty-seven providers have joined the NYServes Upstate network so far. It's an eclectic group, including legal services, education, employment and money management. This will be second center of its kind in New York state and the sixth operating location in the country.
"In traditional case management, from a client's perspective, it can be really frustrating when you're looking for services. Maybe you go to this provider and then they send you to that provider and then by the time you get to the fifth one, you're so overwhelmed and stressed out," says Rachel Volpe, team leader of the NYServes Upstate program.
This program, Volpe says, will take all of that away since they'll be doing all of the background work and research on behalf of veterans.
NYServes Upstate is a partnership between the Veterans Outreach Center and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.