Advocacy Veterans of the United

Advocacy

Veterans of the United States Armed forces have access to several official avenues for advocacy including the Department of Veterans Affairs. Congresspersons likewise should be as responsive as possible to the needs and concerns of constituent veterans. The Veterans Advocacy group is an association of attorneys and also provides training for attorneys wishing to help. Streamlining veterans advocacy, the Veterans Advocacy group and the National Veterans Legal Services Program helps clients access their due benefits. Yet in spite of all the large groups serving the needs of the American veteran community, social workers can and should create smaller scale advocacy programs.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is an office of the federal government that handles benefits claims. Patient care is a top priority, as is efficient customer service and the Department is most likely to be the first place that veterans turn to obtain benefits or information about eligibility. If the Department of Veterans Affairs seems unresponsive, individuals have a number of non-governmental and non-profit advocacy groups that can help with legal consultation. For example, the Veterans Advocacy Group and the related National Veterans Legal Services Program offer direct legal aid via a staff of specially trained attorneys working pro bono. The Veterans Advocacy Group can help veterans make or object to claims and advise clients of their legal rights. The Veterans Advocacy Project provides similar services, offering veterans information on how to facilitate claims and obtain medical services. Some macro social work organizations specialize in veteran subpopulations. For example, Women Organizing Women Veterans Advocacy (VETWOW) provides services specifically for female veterans. VETWOW helps female veterans obtain information and services related to issues like Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most advocacy groups can help the families of veterans also understand their legal entitlements to support services.

Congressional representatives can occasionally come to the aid of their constituents who are veterans. Lawmakers listening to the concerns of their constituents can bring special cases to the attention of their fellow congressmen and women in Washington to help advocate on behalf of veterans and veterans affairs. Some congressional representatives may be willing to serve on special committees that advocate for veterans affairs in Washington.

Social workers have an obligation to learn about the large-scale organizations that serve the needs of veterans as well as smaller scale community organizations. Even social workers that do not specialize in veterans affairs should become familiar with the unique legal situation of their clients. For example, social workers should familiarize themselves with the specific medical, social, occupational, and psychiatric needs that veterans have, especially the veterans that live in their communities. Ethnic, linguistic, gender and other diversity issues may impact quality and type of care. Social workers can also network within the community in order to provide veteran clients with the most effective and efficient referral services.