Purpose:

The purpose of the San Diego Veterans Coalition (SDVC) is to serve the needs of San Diego Region Veterans, their families and significant others. We intend to improve collaboration and coordination among community service providers in all sectors (non-profit, county, state, federal, informal councils, Veteran groups) so that delivery of services is more comprehensive and Veteran Family-centric. 

 

Vision:

The vision of the SDVC is to honor and care for US Veterans, their families and significant others by integrating all available services. San Diego Region will be a National model for the comprehensive and integrated system of community providers serving Veterans, their families and significant others.

 

Mission:

The mission of the SDVC is to improve the support of the Veterans in San Diego Region by:

•  Inspiring and encouraging collaboration and cooperation among service providers (collaboration goal) and Veteran service organizations

•  Advocating on behalf of Veterans, their families and significant others for better integration of services (support goal)

•  Improving communication between Veterans and providers to disseminate information; and determine needs (communication goal)

•  Providing guidance and leadership which would affect local changes and serve as a model for other communities to emulate (leadership goal)

 

Background:

On Oct. 2, 2009 a Veterans Leadership Forum was sponsored in San Diego, CA by a non-profit corporation, Altarum Institute and the Veterans Community Action Teams (VCAT) Project Steering Committee. Altarum Institute developed the VCAT project to help improve Veteran service delivery, integration, and collaboration. San Diego was selected as a pilot site in February, 2009. Through a collaborative effort between Veteran community leaders and Altarum Institute, an initial steering committee (the predecessor of the SDVC) was formed. 

 

Membership:

Community service providers and Veterans organizations representative of the diversity of San Diego Region will be part of the SDVC by selection of the Steering Committee.

The following organizations have been invited and accepted membership in the SDVC:  

• Federal Partners:
• San Diego Vet Center 
• United States Department of Labor, Job Corps 
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs Network 22 
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego Medical Center 
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego Regional Office 

California State Partners:

• California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Inc. 
• California Department of Drug and Alcohol Program 
• California Department of Mental Health 
• California Department of Veterans Affairs 
• California Labor and Workforce Development Agency 
• Employment Development Department 

San Diego County and Local Partners:

• One VA Community Advisory Board 
• San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency 
• San Diego County Mental Health Services 
• San Diego County Veterans Advisory Council 
• San Diego County Veterans Service Office 
• United Veterans Council of San Diego County 
• Veterans Association of North County 
• Vet/Fam Regional Forum 

Non-Profit Organization Partners:

• American Combat Veterans of War (ACVOW)

• Community Catalysts of California: Veterans Community Services

• Courage to Call 

• Episcopal Community Services 

• Freedom Dogs

• Interfaith Community Services of North County 

• The Mission Continues 

• The Veterans and Families Foundation 

• Townspeople 

• Veterans Village of San Diego 

• Wounded Warrior Homes 

Educational Institutions and Corporate Partners:

• Argosy University 
• Art Institute of California, San Diego 
• Ashford University 
• Azusa Pacific University 
• Best Jobs Magazine 
• ICDC College 
• University of Phoenix 

Student-Veterans Organization Partners:

• Student-Veterans of America 

Dedicated Individual Partners:

• Mr. Benjamin Franklin Dillingham III
• Mr. Bill Protzmann 
• Mr. Joe Brunner 

 

*Note:Other public and private individuals or organizations as determined by the SDVC 

For More Information or to Contact the Coalition:

DON AZUL
Regional Collaborative Coordinator - San Diego Region
California Department of Veterans Affairs
Executive Director
San Diego Veterans Coalition
734 West Beech Street, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92101
Office: (619) 531-4517
BlackBerry: (619) 952-6972
CDVA E-mail: don.azul@cdva.ca.gov
AmeriCorps/San Diego Veterans Coalition E-mail: dazul.sduvc.comm@gmail.com