Veteran Service Organization ‘Officers Day’December 3, 2010

Voluntary Service

Voluntary ServiceVision of the Department of Veterans Affairs

To provide veterans the world class benefits and services they have earned – and to do so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability and stewardship.

Voluntary ServiceMission of the Department of Veterans

AffairsTo fulfill President Lincoln’s promise “To care

for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.

What is Voluntary Service?VA Voluntary Service is responsible for

recruiting, orientating and placing volunteers within the VA.

Voluntary Service handles volunteer human resource issues, makes sure volunteer hours are logged in and holds award ceremonies.

Coordinates group visits to inpatient veteransAccepts and records donations made to the VA

Voluntary, Research and Chaplain Service are the only services authorized to accept donations to the VA

Voluntary ServiceVA Voluntary Service was founded in 1946 to

provide for our nation’s veterans while they are cared for by a VA health care facility

One of the largest centralized volunteer programs in the Federal Government

Over 350 organizations support VA Voluntary Service

VA Volunteers have provided over 688 million hours of service since 1946

Voluntary Service GoalsTo place, train and utilize volunteers so that the VA

may best contribute to the mission of the Voluntary Service and the Boise VA Medical Center

Maintain a patient focused approach to operationsSeek ways to improve the delivery of services at

the VAMaintain and expand current volunteer roster

through aggressive recruitmentSupport the overall vision of the Boise VA Medical

Center

Types of VolunteersRegularly Scheduled (RS) Volunteers who

participate in the VA Voluntary Service Program on a regularly scheduled assignment under VA supervision

Occasional Volunteers (OS) Volunteers serving under the VA Voluntary Service Program who do not meet the requirements of RS volunteers

Youth Volunteers (YV) Volunteers under the age of 18

Benefits of VolunteeringScholarship for college Job experienceHealth care career possibilitiesProviding assistance to hospitalized veteransCommunity involvementPersonal satisfaction helping those who served the USFree on-site training opportunities Improved healthRecognition and award opportunitiesOpportunity to learn new marketable skillsFree lunch when volunteering 4 hours or more in a day

ScholarshipsJesse Brown Scholarship

Secretary of Veterans Affairs21 or younger and has volunteered for a

minimum of 100 hours at a VA Medical Center during the previous calendar year

First Place scholarship of $15,000

Scholarships ContinuedJames H. Parke Memorial Scholarship

First Director of Voluntary ServiceEstablished in 1976 to serve as the non-profit

source of funds for a VA Voluntary Service Youth Scholarship

100 hours of regularly scheduled VA voluntary service

10th Grade or above19 years old or younger

Scholarships ContinuedDaughter of the American Revolution (DAR)

www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_sholar.cfm#general

The American LegionThe Legacy Scholarship FundEagle Scout of the YearSamsung American Legion ScholarshipAmerican Legion Baseball Scholarship

www.legion.org/scholarships

2010 HighlightsOver 683 VolunteersOver 59,000 hours donatedEscort/Messenger Service

Answered over 12,000 callsDAV/VA Transportation Program

Over 230,000 miles traveledOver 5,600 veterans taken to VA appointments

SummaryTo paraphrase Quincy Jones who once said

“Just imagine what a wonderful world it would be if everyone, both young and old, volunteered a little of what he/she is good at doing.”

We love our volunteers! The Boise VA Medical Center would not be the same without them.

To volunteer stop by the Voluntary Service office or by phone at (208) 422-1176