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Extraído del Informe Consolidado
Esta investigación fue publicada originalmente como parte de un informe consolidado más amplio que contiene múltiples investigaciones. Consulte el PDF consolidado para ver el documento completo.
Nevada County Grand Jury
• 2007-2008
Nevada County Veterans Service Office Reason for Investigation The Nevada County Grand Jury (Jury) received numerous
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 11 findings
F1
There are two permanent Veterans Service Representatives who handle claims. One of these is the Veterans Service Officer, the other is the Assistant Veterans Service Officer. There is also a permanent, part-time office assistant, who effective in April 2008 works 10hrs./week for the VSO; previous to that, the office assistant was a temporary employee who was utilized approximately 30 hrs./week
F2
Since 2006 the VSO, on occasion has given incorrect and misleading information to veterans and their families, and has not always been timely in the handling of claims.
F3
Van service, originally established by a previous Veterans Service Officer has been reduced from three to two times per week, between the Auburn Medical Clinic and the Reno Veterans Administration Hospital.
F4
Placing the VSO under the Social Services Department was intended to enhance intra- county agency co-ordination of services for veterans and their family members.
F5
Since 2006 disharmony among the VSO employees has had a marked effect on the ability of the office to provide services to Nevada County veterans.
F6
Only a small percentage of the 12,000 veterans living in Nevada County seek assistance through the VSO. There are pockets of under-served and housebound veterans living in Nevada County who are currently not being adequately served by the VSO.
F7
The anticipated return of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and expanded outreach services will exceed the current capacity of the VSO.
F8
In 2007, because of disharmony in the VSO, the Social Services Director engaged a Veterans Affairs Consultant to analyze the operations and staffing of the office. Nevada County Veterans Service Office P ag e 2
F9
The Social Services Director is addressing the issues identified in the Consultant’s report and is implementing a number of the recommendations including those relating to staffing, training, and co-ordination of services.
F10
The Nevada County veteran’s community is unaware of the VSO’s organizational structure, and in particular, the roles played by the Social Services Department and its Director in the support and oversight of the VSO mission. Conclusions
F11
The BOS treatment of the Fire Plan on April 8, 2008 significantly reduced the importance of the Fire Plan, shifting its focus from mandates and requirements to persuasion and cooperation. Conclusions
Recommendations 11
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R1The BOS should support the Social Services Director’s ongoing efforts to resolve the problems that currently exist at the VSO.
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R2The BOS should authorize funds for the Social Services Department to enable the VSO to extend veteran out-reach services and provide a mobile-assisted office to effectively aid hard-to-serve and housebound veterans.
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R3The BOS should authorize funds for the Social Services Department to enable the VSO office assistant position to be a permanent, full-time position. Nevada County Veterans Service Office P ag e 3
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R4The BOS should direct the staff to study whether co-ordination of veteran service referrals for other County benefits is adequate to meet the needs of veterans and their families.
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R5The BOS should direct staff to request the Veterans Administration to restore van service to its previous level.
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R6BOS should direct the staff to update the VSO website. It should include the departmental structure with contact information for the Social Service Director and an organizational wall chart with this information should be posted at the VSO.
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R7The BOS should direct staff to periodically determine the satisfaction of services provided by the VSO. These surveys should originate from and be mailed back to the Social Services Department to assure confidentiality. Required Response: Nevada County Board of Supervisors October 20, 2008 Nevada County Veterans Service Office P ag e 4
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R8In 2007, because of disharmony in the VSO, the Social Services Director engaged a Veterans Affairs Consultant to analyze the operations and staffing of the office. Agree.
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R9The Social Services Director is addressing the issues identified in the Consultant's report and it is implementing a number of the recommendations including those relating to staffing, training, and coordination of services. Agree.
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R10The Nevada County veteran's community is unaware of the VSO's organizational structure, and in particular, the roles played by the Social Services Department and its Director in the support and oversight of the VSO mission. Partially agree.
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R11The BOS treatment of the Fire Plan on April 8, 2008 significantly reduced the importance of the Fire Plan, shifting its focus from mandates and requirements to persuasion and cooperation. Conclusions
Conclusions 8
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CL1 Page 3Veterans need a VSO they can trust and have confidence in when working with that office.
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CL2 Page 3The complaints concerning the VSO received by the Jury were found to have merit.
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CL3 Page 3There are pockets of underserved and housebound veterans living in Nevada County who would greatly benefit from an expanded out-reach program and a mobile VSO unit.
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CL4 Page 3The part-time office assistant position does not allow sufficient time to meet the needs of the VSO clientele.
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CL5 Page 3The current staffing of the VSO may well prove insufficient to adequately address the needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
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CL6 Page 3There is a lack of awareness by veterans as to where to go to resolve issues regarding the VSO.
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CL7 Page 3Elimination of the current disharmony within the VSO is necessary if that office is to effectively meet its responsibilities.
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CL8 Page 3The Social Services Director is taking an active and continuing role in resolving the issues within the VSO.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Nevada County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office