Minority Veterans Affairs Division Mission Briefing

Presentation Outline Mission Background Current Efforts What Makes Minority Veterans Affairs Unique

MISSION The Minority Veterans Affairs Division promotes the use of VA benefits, programs, and services by minority and LGBT veterans. We advocate on behalf of minority and LGBT veterans by identifying gaps in services and make recommendations to improve service. We support and initiate activities that educate and sensitize the public to the unique needs of minority and LGBT veterans.

BACKGROUND Legislation As required by Congress in 1994, under Title 38 Public Law 103-446, sec 509, the Minority Veterans Division’s primary emphasis is on Minority Veterans. These Veterans include the following minority groups: Pacific Islander, Asian American, African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American, including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian. Dedicated to serving all veterans regardless of race or ethnicity.

BACKGROUND Key Tasks Deputy Secretary of Minority Veterans Affairs serves as principal adviser to the Secretary on the adoption and implementation of policies and programs affecting Minority Veterans; Also makes recommendations to the Secretary, the Under Secretary for Operations and other Department officials for the establishment or improvement of programs for eligible Minority Veterans; Evaluate current programs and make recommendations on how CDVA can better serve Minority Veterans.

BACKGROUND Key Tasks (continued) Promote the use of USDVA programs, benefits, and services for eligible Minority Veterans. Publicize the results of medical research that is of particular significance to Minority Veterans. Disseminate information and serve as a resource center for the exchange of information regarding innovative and successful programs that improve the services available to veterans who are minorities.

CURRENT EFFORTS LGBT Veterans When - Held over a two-day period in (September 26-27, 2014) at Sacramento State. Background - CalVet, along with a planning committee, and the CRB support, convened the first statewide forum on LGBT veterans. to ensure that LGBT veterans were receiving the benefits they have earned. Purpose - to help identify, explore and discuss the needs of the LGBT veteran community. Key Areas Covered - Housing, Employment, Healthcare, Education and Legal. Outcome - The forum identitified needs, gaps, and exclusions in service; provided legal and programmatic remedies; local programs that can serve as a model initiaitives. White Paper - released in June 2015. Discussed numerous state, local and federal policy recommendations for each forum key area covered. Some have already been achieved.

CURRENT EFFORTS “El Soldado” Mexican American Veterans Memorial “El Soldado” Restoration of El Soldado Fundraising for Restoration of El Soldado Historical Research

CURRENT EFFORTS “El Soldado”

CURRENT EFFORTS Veterans Naturalization Initiative Develop strategies to outreach and provide services to unnaturalized veterans across California. Over 170,000 foreign-born Veterans in California. An estimated 30,000 foreign-born veterans are unnaturalized. The initiative works to align stakeholders, develop education resources, and coordinate naturalization application workshops. The initiative also aims to align its efforts with the state’s Library System (Veterans Connect @ the Library) Majority of unnaturalized veterans identify as Asian

CURRENT EFFORTS Veterans Internship Program In partnership with California State University, Channel Islands, we launched an internship program aimed at placing student veterans into career opportunities that complement their field of study, creating career pathways for recently graduated veterans. Six student veterans were placed for the 2017 Spring Semester. The goal of the program is to place 10 student veterans into internships each academic year for the next three years.

CURRENT EFFORTS Native American Initiatives California is home to the largest population of Native American Veterans, and for veterans living in tribal communities, finding representation for benefit claims can be difficult. That is why the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has recently changed a rule in the code of federal regulations, allowing eligible tribal organizations to become accredited. The Minority Veterans Division is partnering with impacted stakeholders, and meeting regularly, to ensure these rule changes are implemented successfully.

WHAT MAKES MINORITY VETERANS AFFAIRS UNIQUE Culturally sensitive and competent (e.g., acknowledgment of cultural traditions) Flexible depending on nuances of a specific culture (e.g., progressive thinking vs. conservative thinking) Continuous brainstorming for ways to reach out to minority veteran communities

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