Milestone event features 200 community collaboration veteran services partners, led by Charlotte Bridge Home, state officials and local veterans served by groundbreaking national program AmericaServes.
Charlotte, NC – AmericaServes, a national coordinated network of care connecting veterans and their families to community resources faster and more efficiently, marked its two-year impact through its NCServes model at a public meeting in October, 2017. Launched two years ago in Charlotte, NCServes Metrolina and 3 other NC operating coordination centers as well as SCServes, are the first networks in the U.S. to operate collaboratively statewide. This collaboration of over 250 providers have served almost 5,000 veterans and their families. Over 65% of Carolinas veterans and military installation communities are covered under this groundbreaking model — from the “Mountains to the Sea.”
Navigation of the 40,000+ service provider universe is most often cited as the #1 challenge for veterans in transition. The AmericaServes model links the state’s veterans, service members and their families to hundreds of federal, state and non-profit partners in a diverse web of providers that include health care, housing, job training, legal services, financial counseling and education including 12 participating community colleges and 9 Universities. Now veterans receive 71% successful resolutions to their needs with over 10,000 requests for service.
Known locally as NC Serves and SCServes, the coordinated network radiates from the veteran population hubs of Metrolina, RDU/Fayetteville, Coastal, Western, and Augusta, SC and are part of the nationwide network of AmericaServes.
“Navigation challenges also hinder the effectiveness of the people attempting to serve military & veteran families. Before this model, our communities were working together but not very effectively. We needed a system which allows each provider to become more focused on their core mission increasing trust, accountability and outcomes – that system is NCServes,” said Blake Bourne, Network Director, Charlotte Bridge Home and NCServes Metrolina Coordination Center.
“The ability to serve thousands of veterans across the United States in a quicker, more efficient way is at the core of the AmericaServes mission,” said Dr. Mike Haynie, Executive Director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), the parent organization of AmericaServes. “The importance of the public and private partnerships to help support this important life-changing work cannot be understated. I’m confident this North Carolina model, with both corporate and governmental partners working side-by-side to improve the lives of those who have heroically worn the flag of our country, will lead the way for other states to join the fight supporting veterans and their families in their post-service lives.”
The Carolinas state-wide model is supported in large part by the Walmart Foundation. Public-private partnerships are critical to the success of the collaborative community model to serve our veterans and veterans are the linchpin to our workforce and our communities. “Veterans are a critical piece to the success of American businesses. With 200,000 vets transitioning out of the military each year, it is the responsibility of private citizens and businesses alike to support them and their families as they resume their civilian lives,” said Kathy Cox, Walmart Foundation. “They deserve the best chance at success, and the AmericaServes model of collaboration provides a clear path for them to access a wide variety of services faster and more efficiently, taking a lot of the burden off the families. The North Carolina model is an example of how powerful non-profit and public partnerships can be as they work to positively impact a community while supporting its veteran citizens. Change can happen when we work together toward a common goal, and the Walmart Foundation is proud to support the work of NC Serves. ”
Additional two-year Carolinas impact statistics:
- 250 network providers over 5 NCServes networks
- 5,000 veterans served to date
- 10,631 service requests
- 71% successful outcome rate
- 26% of clients are woman veterans
About AmericaServes
AmericaServes is the country’s first coordinated system of public, private, and non-profit organizations working together to serve veterans, transitioning service members, and their families. Administered by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, AmericaServes’ vision is that every service member, veteran, and their family can easily access the full range of comprehensive services required to achieve their unique goals, and to provide a superior service experience to matching participants’ first-class military service. For more information, visit AmericaServes and follow the AmericaServes on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University
The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is the first interdisciplinary national institute in higher education focused on the social, economic, education, and policy issues impacting veterans and their families. Through its professional staff and experts, the IVMF delivers leading programs in career, vocational, and entrepreneurship education and training, while also conducting actionable research, policy analysis, and program evaluations. The IVMF also supports communities through collective impact efforts that enhance delivery and access to services and care. The Institute, supported by a distinguished advisory board, along with public and private partners, is committed to advancing the lives of those who have served in America’s armed forces and their families. For more information, visit IVMF and follow the IVMF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Contact:
Stephanie Salanger, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, ssalange@syr.edu, 315-443-5690