Veterans Impact Project (VIP)
Last updated
Share PrintThe Veterans Impact Project, (VIP) is in line with the Shark Tank's priority to “support Veterans’ Whole Health, their caregivers, and survivors." There are often times that our Veterans have emergent needs such as food insecurities, need for temporary housing, car repairs, transportation to medical appointments, etc. that can’t be provided through other means. Often our social work staff has exhausted all other community resources and are left with a gap for our Veterans health and service needs.
Origin:
November 2016, Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Outpatient Clinic (Columbus, Ohio)
Adoptions:
5 successful
Awards and Recognition:
Shark Tank Finalist
Partners:
Care Management and Social Work Services
Recent Updates
Overview
The problem
There are often times that our Veterans have emergent needs such as food insecurities, need for temporary housing, car repairs, transportation to medical appointments that can’t be provided through other means. Often our social work staff has exhausted all other community resources and are left with a gap for our Veterans Health and Service needs. This incl
...
There are often times that our Veterans have emergent needs such as food insecurities, need for temporary housing, car repairs, transportation to medical appointments that can’t be provided through other means. Often our social work staff has exhausted all other community resources and are left with a gap for our Veterans Health and Service needs. This includes our population of homeless Veterans.
See
more
Videos
Above:
Call to Action! Implement the Veteran Impact Project at Your Site Today
The solution
The CDCE Chief in Columbus Ohio, reached out to local VFWs and talked with them about establishing a VIP Fund (formerly Social Worker Fund). The VFW agreed that this was an excellent way to assist Veterans in real-time. We then asked if we could establish the same fund in all 5 Ohio locations, and the VFW agreed. As the funds are utilized, not only does t
...
The CDCE Chief in Columbus Ohio, reached out to local VFWs and talked with them about establishing a VIP Fund (formerly Social Worker Fund). The VFW agreed that this was an excellent way to assist Veterans in real-time. We then asked if we could establish the same fund in all 5 Ohio locations, and the VFW agreed. As the funds are utilized, not only does the VFW replenish the fund, but now other Veteran Service Organizations also contribute and support the fund.
See
more
Videos
Above:
CDCE Chief - Traci Washington Winning Shark Tank Pitch for Veteran Impact Project
The results
The VIP fund has been extremely impactful. Social worker staff are now able to take care of Veterans emergent needs immediately. Prior to establishing the VIP fund there were times when no community resources were available to assist with these unique needs. If community resources were available, they might have to wait days or weeks to find a solution fo
...
The VIP fund has been extremely impactful. Social worker staff are now able to take care of Veterans emergent needs immediately. Prior to establishing the VIP fund there were times when no community resources were available to assist with these unique needs. If community resources were available, they might have to wait days or weeks to find a solution for the Veteran who might be in crisis. Over the years the VIP fund has been instrumental in providing assistance to Veterans for issues such as: Providing hotel stays for a Veteran who may have had a house fire; Paying funeral expenses for an uninsured Veteran; Providing transportation to a Veteran to a critical medical appointment when they didn't have the resources for transportation; Paying utility bill to avoid disconnection for a Veteran on oxygen; Providing funds to purchase food for Veterans with severe food insecurities; etc.
See
more
Videos
Above:
VIP Overview
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Multimedia
Images
Above:
Veterans Impact Project (VIP) Metrics
Implementation
Timeline
-
30-60 Days
This practice can easily be implemented within 30-60 days. If the donations are in-kind, the program could start immediately. For example, some hotels are willing to donate rooms for Veterans we vet who need temporary lodging. Also the CDCE Chief could reach out to current stakeholders for other in-kind donations such as gift cards until a monetary donation control point is established. -
60-90 Days
Work with fiscal services in order to establish a fund control point for the VIP fund. Once the control point is established, CDCE chief can start reaching out to stakeholders to begin funding the control point.
Departments
- Voluntary Services
- Social work
Core Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
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TOOLS |
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Optional Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
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TOOLS |
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Support Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
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Risks and mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Funding/Resources | In order to mitigate this risk the CDCE Chief should continue to reach out to existing and potential stakeholders about the importance of the VIP fund and how impactful it is for the Veterans that we serve. This will ensure that donations to the VIP fund continue to grow. |
| Stakeholder Buy-In and Proper Use of Fund | In order to mitigate this (small) risk there should be an SOP in place to ensure consistency when utilizing the VIP fund and transparency of expenditures. |
Contact
Comment
Comments and replies are disabled for retired innovations and non-VA users.
Email Traci.Washington@va.gov with questions about this innovation.
About
Origin story
We have over 100 social workers on staff, and on an almost daily basis there was a need to assist a Veteran who had an emergent need. Often times situations would arise after hours when other community resources were not available to meet the need. Also there were many occasions when the community resources did not cover what the Veteran actually needed. T
...
We have over 100 social workers on staff, and on an almost daily basis there was a need to assist a Veteran who had an emergent need. Often times situations would arise after hours when other community resources were not available to meet the need. Also there were many occasions when the community resources did not cover what the Veteran actually needed. This situation prompted me to reach out to our local VFW, Ohio Charities to ask if they would be willing to fund the VIP Fund (Initially called the Social Worker fund) The VFW agreed that this was an excellent way to assist Veterans in real-time. We then asked if we could establish the same fund in all 5 Ohio locations, and the VFW agreed. As of today, not only does the VFW replenish the fund, but now other Veteran Service and community organizations also contribute and support the fund.
Original team
Traci Washington
Chief, Center for Development and Civic Engagement
Deborah Wilson
Chief of Care Management and Social Work
This project has had a tremendous impact on the Veterans that we serve!