Program Design, Evaluation Criteria, Timeline
There is a growing number of the homeless population who has served in the Armed Services. The Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation is designed to provide a clean, safe, and stable environment. It is also designed to provide transitional housing for the Veteran as he or she completes school and job training to return eventually to society as a productive citizen. One of several goals is to help break the cycle of homeless Veterans by giving these individual helpful options that may have been overlooked. These options are divided into four phases to set a more realistic goal for the organization to provide the very best service possible. These phases are transitional to permanent housing, medical care, training, and job placement, and counseling.
Phase one is designed to address transitional to permanent housing. Transitional housing will be provided for the homeless veteran and his or her family for a certain period in an effort to achieve stable and permanent housing. This phase allow the veteran to develop confidence and the coping skills needed to sustain permanent housing. The transition to permanent housing will help with self sufficiently and take that first step toward living independently.
Phase two is set up to address medical care for veterans who may have neglected his or her health because of homelessness or inability to afford care. Medical services will offer examinations, treatment, and referrals if needed to ensure the veteran is provided with the very best care. Immunizations and medications will be given to those in need of shots and necessary medications. During phase two periodic screenings will be administered to determine if rehabilitation and mental health services are needed to assist the veteran with transition from homelessness. These services will be provided regardless of the veteran’s inability to pay. This phase is committed to providing both short-term and long-term medical services to veterans to improve the health of these individuals.
Phase three is designed to counsel homeless veterans that suffer from Post Traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. Post traumatic stress affects Veterans who served in combat and counseling will provide support groups and programs. Veterans experience symptoms of flash backs, nightmares, and severe anxiety. Counseling can help with long- term post traumatic stress. Homeless Veterans deal with many issues, such as depression and mental issues that led to substance abuse. Homeless veterans will get the needed support in dealing with post traumatic stress and substance abuse.
Phase four is set up to address job training skills and job placement for homeless veterans. The program will provide the necessary job training skills and job placement to ensure homeless veterans can be productive citizens. The program will first assess the homeless veterans to see what skills he or she possesses. Once, the skills are determined the program will fit he or she needs with the appropriate job training or interest. The program has a composed list of job openings. The job training center will provide training for a particular job the homeless veteran is interested in. A job coach is provided to ensure the homeless veteran is keeping up he or she work standards. Providing these services to homeless veterans will put him or her back on track and become productive working citizens. This will change him or her status in society.
Evaluation Criteria
There are three evaluation strategies the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation uses to help establish important data for the growing rate of homeless veterans. The department’s Constitution, Standardized Post By-Laws, and Home Association guide. The object of the organization is to set forth and associate his or herself as a unity serving the individuals who have fought for the freedom of Americans over the country. The Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation work to foster Americanism and the Constitution of the United States of America.
Two of the evaluation methods used by the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation were amended at the organization’s 94th annual convention, and they are known as the “Department’s Constitution” and “Standardized Post By-Laws. The organization’s Constitution and standardized post by-laws allow them to define their organization as a group and the types of services needed for their members as well as recognizing each of their objectives, goals, and department officer’s duties. The corporation’s board of directors is the main entity responsible for creating and maintaining the conduct of all evaluations for the benefit of the organization and reaching out to various governmental and private community sectors.
The other type of evaluation the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation helps him or her gathers pertinent data to their mission and supports the department’s constitution and post standardized by-laws. This report comes directly from the Home Association guide and operation. It was publically noted, although home associations existed in the department’s structure they were not identified by the national organization. Thus, the Home Association acts like a liaison between the national and local level in favor of the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation mission from department and posts. Reports and recognition’s are made available at annual national and department conventions, monthly department executive committee meetings (DEC), and round up ceremonies.
The American Legion has gathered data through his or her handbook for homeless veterans and service providers. The guide was produced in collaboration with the National Coalition for homeless veterans of the United States of America. Experts believe the causes of homeless across the nation can be linked into three various groups: health issues, economic difficulties, and the ability to afford housing. These issues affect all aspects of homeless individuals, the United States veterans face something more challenging such as, distance from their loved ones, high pressured situations involving training and occupational hazards, and the inability to transfer acquired training into the civilian workplace.
According to recent reports in 2011 from the Housing of Urban Development (HUD) and the Veterans Affairs (VA) supplemental report and annual homeless assessment survey submitted to the United States Congress there was an estimated 144,842 homeless veterans from October 2009 to September 2010. The report made the following determination: California, Texas, New York, and Florida had accounted for almost 50 percent of all homeless veterans across the nation, but these four states made up only 28 percent of the total veteran population.
Structured housing programs and employment training opportunities offer homeless veterans the ability to make the transitions from active military lifestyles to when they become inactive and enter the civilian world. In addition to becoming productive citizens, veterans face the challenges of mental health, substance abuse, diseases, and dental care. Surveys and evaluation programs help to assist homeless veterans because of the lack of programs.
PROJECT TIMELINE
MONTH
ACTIVITY 1 2 3 4 5 6 77 8 9 10 11 12
- Obtain Funding ***************************************************
- Hire Staff ********************
- Prepare Mission statement and business plan developed around the organization’s mission. ********************
- Training and educate staff and volunteers ********************
- Community/government agency’s outreach ****************************************************
- Identify goals and objectives ********************
- Identify veterans and begin assessment and referral process ********************
8.Implementation of program *************************************************
- Implement treatment plans for clients that qualify for services *********************************8******8 **************
- Evaluation of programs progression *** *** ** ***
- Continuation of funding (fundraisers, donations, charity events, other organizations with similar mission, and grants) *********************************************************** (on-going)
Reference
http://pa-legion.com/about/constitutions-by-laws/