Posted on Jun 4, 2015
SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
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Homelessveteran1rev
The center partnered with 211 LA County, the county government, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and Volunteers of America to create an online portal for veteran resources. But advocates wanted to do more. Now, those groups are working on a text-to-chat program that allows veterans to text “vet” to activate the service and be instantly connected with a “battle buddy.”

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The battle buddies who respond to the veteran texts will be trained as peer-support specialists, said Jim Zenner, assistant director of clinical veteran services at Volunteers of America Greater Los Angeles.

The battle buddies also are vets, so they have navigated many of the same systems and will be able to provide advice and introductions from experience.
Posted in these groups: Vietnam 20veteran Homeless78568930 PTSD
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MAJ Company Commander
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Interesting article. Happy that we are starting to explore further uses for social technology to better society. Good read.
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CMSgt Mark Schubert
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Sounds like a good program assuming they have cell phone access - and from my experience with feeding the homeless in ATL every month, most do.. :-)
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
9 y
Don't they have Obama-phones?
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CMSgt Mark Schubert
CMSgt Mark Schubert
9 y
Many of them are either talking on the phone or texting when they come thru the line - I don't feel the need to ask them if they are "Obama-phones" or not. I just wonder who they are talking too and about what? :-)
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
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Using technology to think outside the box! Great idea. I'm assuming vets that are homeless or without resources can go to a vet center to access a computer or app for this.
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
9 y
Don't they get Obama-phones?
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
9 y
I would hope so SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. but they are probably not the latest in smart phone technology that supports apps.
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