GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Veterans Coordinator is expected to recruit volunteers who are Veterans to aid in facilitating Peer to Peer groups and to assist Veterans Coordinator in conducting Veteran social events.  Veterans Coordinator will act as a point of coordination, for those veterans currently receiving WTCMHMR services  The primary focus will be to serve the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) combat veteran; however the services of the Veterans Coordinator is also expanded to include other veterans as need and as resources dictate. The ability to relate to other Veterans with experience in a wartime conflict is important. 

Salary $19.79

The Veterans Coordinator will develop, coordinate and facilitate peer to peer groups for behavioral health issues throughout the 23 county rural service area. Networking with the VA Medical Center to assist Veterans in coordinating the eligibility process and other services they offer the veteran.

The Veterans Coordinator will link veterans with local substance abuse screening, assessment and treatment resources as well as housing and employment services.  This linkage will be contingent upon the location of the veteran and the availability of resources in their area.  A primary initiative will be to locate such services in WTC rural areas where these types of resources are limited. 

The Veterans Coordinator is responsible for facilitating ?Basic Training? in NEO for all new employees and to become certified in MHFA Veteran as well as maintaining the Military Veteran Peer Network (MVPN) Chapter Website and enhancing lines of communication with community and service related entities in the WTCMHMR service area in order to effectively and timely connect the combat veteran to available supports and services.  This collaboration will include all branches of the national military, the Texas Military, Yellow Ribbon Program and others. 

Developing and maintain working relationships with the West Texas VA Hospital, Veteran Service Officers, Probation and Parole Depts as well as Local Police and Sheriff offices are essential.

Must have and maintain a Texas Drivers license and insurability in the state of Texas.  Employee must be able to travel up to 70% of the time, work independently, utilizing various computer software applications.  This position is supervised by the Director of Behavioral Health.

ESSENTIAL TASKS AND PURPOSES:

• Employee will act as a point of coordination, for those veterans currently receiving WTCMHMR services as well as Veterans living in the 23 county catchment area with a primary focus on the IOF/EOF Veteran. 
• Employee will work with WTC staff to determine potential current consumers of MH services who may also be veterans.
• Employee will conduct consumer interviews in order to assess needs of the consumer veteran related to housing, employment, food, shelter, education and other essential services. 
• Information gathered through the consumer interview process will assist the employee in developing community resource referrals to assist the veteran. 
• Develop, coordinate and facilitate peer to peer groups for behavioral health issues throughout the 23 county rural service area.  Including the recruitment of Veteran volunteers to be trained and aid in the Veteran Initiative mission.
  
• Will develop locations, schedules and content necessary to conduct peer to peer behavior health support groups throughout the 23 county service area.
• Will do documentation as required related to each support group, such as attendance record sheets, branch of service for each attendee, and other related data.
• Will do outreach to insure the veteran populations is aware of and has opportunity to attend peer to peer groups. Will recruit Veteran volunteers to aid in the overall mission, and to facilitate Peer to Peer groups
• Will recruit a least 1 volunteer a quarter.
• Will link veterans with local substance abuse screening, assessment and treatment resources as well as housing and employment services.  This linkage will be contingent upon the location of the veteran and the availability of resources in their area.  A primary initiative will be to locate such services in WTC rural areas where these types of resources are limited.
  
• Employee will coordinate available resources in order to link the veteran to these as the individuals needs require.
• Employee will establish communication and collaboration with veterans groups throughout the service area will be expected.
• Employee will participate with local veteran's services organizations when appropriate to assist in the performance of this task. 
• Will monitor and maintain the Military Veteran Peer Network (MVPN) Chapter website and encourage membership.
• The Veterans Coordinator will be an adhoc member of the WTCMHMR Jail Diversion committee and work closely with this committee to improve local coordination for the veteran as it relates to law enforcement.
  
• Employee will be a member of the WTC Jail Diversion/Crisis Oversight committee.
• Employee will provide information, training, referrals and other data to this committee as requested.
• Employee will work with WTC MH Program staff to assist where it might be beneficial with the veteran who is in WTC crisis services.
• Employee must be able to travel in personal or center vehicle up to 70% of working time. 
  
• Employee will travel extensively throughout the 23 county service area and where other local veteran's resources may be available. 
• Employee will submit travel reimbursement requests within established guidelines.
• Employee will be responsible for developing a travel and work schedule as required by the supervisor.
• Provide training to other persons as required or requested related to the veterans initiative.
  
• Will develop and deliver training related to the veteran's initiative pertinent to the audience or requestor. 
• Training will be planned and delivered professionally, timely and appropriate documentation completed.
• Must be computer literate to manage Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and email.
  
• Will be required to submit reports, documentation via Word and Excel
•    Documents must be timely, accurate and professional.  Must communicate extensively via email.
• Reports possible abuse/neglect.
  
• Suspected or witnessed abuse/neglect will be reported immediately.
• Employee will report abuse and neglect as outlined in WTC policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL WORK BEHAVIORS: 

All employees are expected to comply with all West Texas Centers (WTC) Policies and Procedures. This includes but is not limited to the following: 

• WTC Code of Conduct Policy and reporting requirements
• WTC Corporate Compliance Policy, related procedures and reporting requirements 
• Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation Policy and reporting requirements 
• Standards for Employees Policy 
• Property and Equipment Policies and related procedures 

Staff will establish and maintain effective work relationships with individuals served and their families, supervisors, co-workers, and visitors by demonstrating cooperative, courteous, and respectful behavior. Staff will adhere to rules outlined in Confidentiality Statement signed by employee and follow Information Services policy/ procedure guidelines related to security and accountability as a user of WTC network and software application technology. 

All team members will promote and ensures safety guidelines are followed for the work environment by maintaining clean, neat, organized and safe work areas. This includes but is not limited to the following: 

• Safety concerns are reported to supervisor immediately upon discovery and/or corrected. 
• Identifies and reports any unsafe factors in the environment. 
• Reports and/or corrects safety hazards in the work area. 
• Utilizes universal precautions when handling all blood and body fluids. 
• Adheres to all standards, policies and procedures of infection control. 
• Universal precautions are utilized in accordance to WTC policy and procedures. 

Team Members must have and maintain a driving record that is acceptable for insurability through the Center's insurance carrier.  Staff must maintain a safe, inspected and road-worthy vehicle and have a valid Texas Driver's License. Staff must notify supervisor immediately of any driving violations or citations received from law enforcement with no evidence of failure to report. Must meet the criteria that indicate a commitment to safe and responsible driving as defined by the Texas Risk Management Fund.