Vets in LA can text other vets for help with new program - Could your area use this?

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:24:58 -0400

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.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 4 at 2015 9:33 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:33:33 -0400

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.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 4 at 2015 9:34 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:34:06 -0400

Sounds like an excellent program. I don't know what city or area could not use this program.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Jun 4 at 2015 9:34 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:34:11 -0400

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.. :-)

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 9:35 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:35:07 -0400

Interesting article. Happy that we are starting to explore further uses for social technology to better society. Good read.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 4 at 2015 10:28 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:28:59 -0400

I hope this works out for our vets. But I'm also afraid that many homeless vets may not have cell/smart phones and be able to take advantage of something like this.

Response by SSG James Arlington made Jun 4 at 2015 11:13 AM

SSG James Arlington — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 11:13:36 -0400

This is great. Here in LA we have an epidemic with homeless vets, primarily because it is warmer to live here on the streets year round. URGH!

Response by SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter made Nov 21 at 2017 9:36 PM

SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 21:36:24 -0500

Did any of you read the article in stars and stripes in regards to a VA study shows parasites from Vietnam may be killing Veterans that served there.

I suggest anyone that served in country there read this.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/parasite-from-vietnam-may-be-killing-vets/

Peace!

Slow-killing parasite from Vietnam may be killing veterans, VA study says

Test results show some men may have been infected while fighting in the jungles of Southeast Asia