WINTERSVILLE – The Jefferson County Resource Network provided a venue in September for veterans to get the word out about how those who served can access the resources they have earned.
Developed and offered through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center (JCESC), and funded by the Jefferson County Commissioners, the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Jefferson County General Health District, and the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, the Resource Network has created a website and an app as part of a one-stop hub to help the public navigate the many available resources.
Every quarter, the Resource Network holds a Community Connections meeting so service agencies can exchange information and learn how their services might complement each other and benefit the public. Meetings are currently at the Wintersville Methodist Church Center for Hope Community Hall, 702 Main St.
The event speaker was Derik Board, outreach coordinator with Jefferson County Veterans Services. He said there were about 4,000 veterans in Jefferson County and his agency would help determine their eligibility and connect them to benefits, transportation and financial assistance
“There’s all kinds of money and resources that veterans don’t take advantage of, or they don’t know that they are entitled to,” he said. Clients can count on a supportive, efficient staff and a program operated by fellow veterans.
Board was happy to speak at the Resource Network’s meeting, adding it was an important opportunity to establish partnerships.
“My position’s fairly new, so I’m trying to meet as many people as possible to see if there’s some kind of relationship that can get built.”
He has also founded the non-profit organization Commemorate through Chords, which helps veterans address the trauma related to their service by expressing themselves through music. Board said the experience is therapeutic.
“A lot of vets, they deal with a lot, and they don’t know how to talk about it or they don’t want to talk about it, but one thing most people enjoy is music,” he said. “That’s a therapy.”
Afterward, he and Resource Network Community Service Coordinator Beth Rupert Warren thought it might be possible to include Commemorate through Chords on the Resource Network’s collection of services.
Prior to the meeting Dan Wilson, AMVETS commissioner on the Jefferson County Veterans Services Commission board, noted the importance of making connections to help veterans secure their claims and benefits.
“Being part of the Resource Network is really important to us because it connects not only the veteran but also the families of veterans to them and gets the word about our services out there.”
Wilson said there were a variety of services both physical and psychological for veterans and their families. He said the Resource Network’s email updates were a valuable source of news.
“We get a lot of information from the Resource Network that we can share with our veterans.”
Rupert Warren thanked Board for speaking and welcomed frequent and first-time attendees, saying this was a time to come together and foster positive working relationships.
She updated them on the Resource Network’s new developments. The site is up to 74 categories covering a variety of services including counseling, education, employment, housing and legal assistance. Communication is another key feature, with the Resource Network regularly sending out emails to inform of services and upcoming events and collecting more addresses for the email list.
Rupert Warren also touched on the Resource Network’s mission to identify and fill gaps in services.
“One of the gaps of services we’ve been working on from the very beginning is the need for pediatric home health care here in the county,” she said. The network has been in talks with various providers. “We do now have a home health care agency that’s on board. They are wanting to start pediatric home health.”
More information will likely be forthcoming. Rupert Warren said the provider is looking for an experienced nurse and the Resource Network will be inquiring about nurses through the Community Connections emails.
“This is something we’ve been diligently working on, getting pediatric home health care in our community.”
In the future, Community Connections meetings may resume at the site of the former Eastern Gateway Community College.
For more information about the Resource Network, visit jcresourcenetwork.org or email info@jcresourcenetwork.net.
