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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Shasta County Grand Jury
• 2015-2016
Investigative Reports Shasta County Veterans Services Office – Veterans’ Lives Matter .......................... 1
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 11 findings
F1
Page 15
The VSO is open limited hours and does not make appointments, restricting public access.
F2
Page 15
The VSO website lacks useful links and detailed and relevant information. 6
F3
Page 16
Veterans potentially fail to receive benefits because some files in the VSO have not received follow-up from the VSO.
F4
Page 16
Veterans are not receiving all eligible benefits because there is not a comprehensive case management process in place.
F5
Page 16
VSO staff performs tasks once done by Work-Study Program participants, limiting available time to help veterans with their claims.
F6
Page 16
The VSO eliminated outreach to Burney, causing Northeastern Shasta County veterans to travel to Redding for assistance.
F7
Page 16
Veterans potentially received reduced level of service as a result of the previous Veterans Services Officer’s time spent out of the office.
F8
Page 16
Hiring Veterans Services Officers from outside Shasta County has created misgivings among local veterans.
F9
Page 16
Currently, only one employee in the VSO is accredited, limiting ability to assist veterans with claims.
F10
Page 16
Failure of VSO staff to attend State of California training has resulted in decreased reimbursement to the County’s General Fund.
F11
Page 16
The Shasta County - County Executive Officer failed to provide adequate oversight of the VSO during changes in leadership, potentially contributing to substandard caseload follow- up and a poorly managed office.
Recommendations 12
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R1Page 16The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to stagger current VSO staff start, end, and break times to allow hours of operation to include lunch, evening, and an occasional weekend day
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R2Page 16The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to implement a system by September 30, 2016, that will offer veterans the option of scheduling an appointment to meet with VSO staff.
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R3Page 16The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to update the Shasta County VSO website to include links to Federal and State of California veteran benefits pages and National Archives
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R4Page 16The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to immediately implement a system to review all open, pending, and denied claims to ensure all are reviewed
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R5Page 16The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to implement within the VSO by September 30, 2016, a comprehensive case management process that will provide consideration for all eligible benefits available to veterans, including burial and survivor benefits.
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R6Page 16The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to reinstate the Work-Study Program and posting a link to the Program application on its website by December 31, 2016. 7
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R7Page 17The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to post notice and re-establish consistent and regular monthly outreach to Burney
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R8Page 17The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to ensure the Veterans Services Officer focuses on the functions of the office rather than attending non-vital community events.
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R9Page 17The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to establish a hiring process by December 31, 2016, that will provide for encouraging and considering the applications of local qualified veterans when hiring a Veterans Services Officer.
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R10Page 17The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Executive Officer to monitor progress of all newly-hired staff, including the Veterans Services Officer, to ensure anyone assisting veterans with claims will be accredited within one year of hire.
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R11Page 17The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct the County Executive Officer to initiate a plan by September 30, 2016, for all VSO staff to attend available State of California trainings on an ongoing basis.
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R12Page 17The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors immediately instruct the County Executive Officer to take a more proactive supervisory role over the new Veterans Services Officer.