National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
HAP Partnership Impact
Partnership that serves Veterans in California has a three-decade history of success
Partnerships throughout the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) add to what VA is already able to provide to Veterans—when partners bring their resources and strategies to the table, the result is always good news for Veterans and their families and communities. One such “good news” partnership is between the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) leadership within the VA Central California Health Care System and the nonprofit Central Valley Veterans (CVV). This partnership is especially noteworthy because it has been in place for 30 years. Other partnerships throughout VA can find inspiration in the longevity of this collaboration that offers Veterans so much.
CDCE and CVV share the goal of assisting Veterans and filling the gaps in areas where Veterans may not qualify for benefits. CVV offers emergency food service, temporary housing and housing funding, and other support to Veterans. Their goal is to “provide temporary support that translates into permanent solutions.” CVV prioritizes providing help to single mother Veterans, then single fathers, single women, couples, and single men.
“Keeping families together, and women and children off the streets, is foremost in all their efforts,” said Will McCullough, public affairs officer from VA Central California Health Care System. “Gaining permanent housing and keeping Veterans working are also key focal points.”
Mary Golden, CDCE chief at VA Central California Health Care System, said that the CVV team is her “go-to” when it comes to helping Veterans.
“I have called CVV at 11 p.m. about Veterans who need assistance, including emergency lodging, a ride home from the ER; whatever is asked, they’ve ALWAYS come through. There is not a time I can recall, in my 10 years of working with them, that they did not find a way to meet the Veteran’s need,” she said.
Ms. Golden offered some tips about how other partnerships within VA can ensure their collaborations have the same staying power as this one:
- Set priorities and limits for providing services, and adhere to them
- Stay actively involved with community resource committees, especially those with representatives from local and national Veterans Service Organizations
- Become very involved with your local VA and CDCE teams, and consider serving on VA advisory committees and councils
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP, formerly OCE and CCI) supports partnerships like this one throughout VHA. Dr. Tracy L. Weistreich, nurse executive for HAP, said that this partnership serves as a blueprint for others throughout VA and VHA.
“Partnerships like this one are vital to VA and the health and well-being of Veterans” she said. “When partners have a shared passion to help Veterans, are active and organized, and are engaged in the local community, the results can be tremendous.”
For more information on HAP’s partnership work, please visit va.gov/healthpartnerships.
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Posted April 12, 2021
