1. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) Representative and Deputy Representative Volunteer Training

2. VAVS- What is it? V = Veterans A = Affairs V = Voluntary S = Service www.va.gov/volunteer

3. The VAVS Mission Provide a structured volunteer program under the management of VA compensated employees in cooperation with community resources to serve America’s veterans and their families with dignity and compassion. Provide a structured volunteer program under the management of VA compensated employees in cooperation with community resources to serve America’s veterans and their families with dignity and compassion. VAVS supports VA and VHA strategic goals by recruiting, supporting and retaining a knowledgeable, diverse and engaged supplemental workforce of volunteers. VAVS supports VA and VHA strategic goals by recruiting, supporting and retaining a knowledgeable, diverse and engaged supplemental workforce of volunteers. The volunteer program throughout the country assist management in the delivery of VA healthcare by improving access to care, assisting with long-term care, improving patient satisfaction and much more. The volunteer program throughout the country assist management in the delivery of VA healthcare by improving access to care, assisting with long-term care, improving patient satisfaction and much more.

4. Organization FY 2007 Statistics n 839 Regularly Scheduled (RS) volunteers contributing a total of 82, 526 hours, with an additional 13, 030 Occasional Hours for a total of 95,565 hours n KofC present in 125 VAMC’s

5. Knights of Columbus FINAL 2008 VAVS Statistics n n Present in 128 VAMC’s n n 1187 RS Volunteers n n 78,206 RS Hours n n 12, 849 Occasional Hours n n 91,055 Total Hours

6. Knights of Columbus FY 2009 VAVS Goals n n Expand presence to all 153 VAMCs n n Increase RS volunteers and hours by 20% n n Increase Occasional Hours by 20% n n Encourage development of minimum 2 KofC Unique programs in all VAMCs n n 100% Rep/Dep attendance at VAVS quarterly meetings n n Develop Veterans Affairs/VAVS page on www.kofc.org

7. Purpose of the VAVS National Advisory Committee (NAC) The committee advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters pertaining to the participation of volunteers in VA medical facilities, assists in the recruitment and orientation of volunteers, and keeps the officers and members of participating organizations informed of volunteer needs and accomplishments. The committee advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters pertaining to the participation of volunteers in VA medical facilities, assists in the recruitment and orientation of volunteers, and keeps the officers and members of participating organizations informed of volunteer needs and accomplishments.

8. National VAVS Representative Is the official liaison between VA Headquarters Is the official liaison between VA Headquarters and the organization in all aspects of the VAVS and the organization in all aspects of the VAVS Program Program The Representative assists the State Deputies The Representative assists the State Deputies and District Master in the selection and and District Master in the selection and certification of local VAVS Representatives certification of local VAVS Representatives Is responsible for providing initial guidance and Is responsible for providing initial guidance and information to local Reps and Deps information to local Reps and Deps

9. Local VAVS Chief or Program Manager Responsibilities Contact all newly appointed local Reps and Contact all newly appointed local Reps and Deps Deps Provide general orientation and training to Provide general orientation and training to include: include: Finger printing and other local requirements Finger printing and other local requirements Hospital volunteer badge Hospital volunteer badge Entering individual into the VSS system Entering individual into the VSS system Calendar of VAVS Committee Calendar of VAVS Committee meeting dates meeting dates

10. Local VAVS Rep/Dep Responsibilities Contact the local VAVS Chief or designee uponContact the local VAVS Chief or designee upon receiving certification receiving certification Complete the orientation at the earliest opportunity to include getting registered in the VSS SystemComplete the orientation at the earliest opportunity to include getting registered in the VSS System Regularly attend the local VAVS Committee quarterly meetings and set up a VAVS point of contact at every council, assembly and circle, to distribute meeting information (i.e. donation needs list and volunteer assignments)Regularly attend the local VAVS Committee quarterly meetings and set up a VAVS point of contact at every council, assembly and circle, to distribute meeting information (i.e. donation needs list and volunteer assignments) Conduct an Annual Joint Review (AJR)Conduct an Annual Joint Review (AJR)

11. Local VAVS Committee Purpose and Structure Purpose: To assist with the coordination of plans and policies for community participation in the VAVS Program Purpose: To assist with the coordination of plans and policies for community participation in the VAVS Program Chair: VA Medical Center Associate Director or other senior management official Chair: VA Medical Center Associate Director or other senior management official Deputy Chair: VA Medical Center Voluntary Service Program Manager Deputy Chair: VA Medical Center Voluntary Service Program Manager Membership: One organizational VAVS Rep and up to three organizational VAVS Deps Membership: One organizational VAVS Rep and up to three organizational VAVS Deps VAVS Committee Meetings held quarterly VAVS Committee Meetings held quarterly

12. Local VAVS Reps and Deps Duties and Responsibilities “MANAGE THE KOFC VOLUNTEERS” n Assist with improving the VAVS Program n Provide input/feedback to VA staff and VAVS Committee n Recruit volunteers n Promote donations of financial and material goods n Advise and inform organizational leadership of VAVS/VA issues and concerns n Attend/participate in VAVS meetings; distribute information to all in the community n Assist in the removal of local volunteers when necessary n Serve on subcommittees and task groups n Maintain records (hours and donations) n Coordinate facility activities and projects n Conduct Annual Joint Review n Register as a Regularly Scheduled Volunteer

13. VAVS Reps and Deps Qualifications A sincere interest in the welfare of hospitalized veterans A sincere interest in the welfare of hospitalized veterans and a desire to help them The ability to work with others The ability to work with others Leadership: Most essential trait for selecting Reps/Deps Leadership: Most essential trait for selecting Reps/Deps Knowledge of Organization and VA Knowledge of Organization and VA Ability to communicate and disseminate information Ability to communicate and disseminate information Ability to attend the quarterly Regularly Scheduled VAVS Meetings---CRITICAL!!!! Ability to attend the quarterly Regularly Scheduled VAVS Meetings---CRITICAL!!!!

14. Annual Joint Reviews Purpose: to assess organization’s participation in the VAVS Program during the preceding year and to develop goals for the next year Purpose: to assess organization’s participation in the VAVS Program during the preceding year and to develop goals for the next year VAVS Rep Responsibilities: VAVS Rep Responsibilities: Know the month the AJR is scheduled Know the month the AJR is scheduled Make an appointment with the VAVS Chief or Program Manager Make an appointment with the VAVS Chief or Program Manager Discuss Organization’s achievements, issues and concerns and goals- make suggestions for improvement Discuss Organization’s achievements, issues and concerns and goals- make suggestions for improvement

15. Why Volunteer TO: gain work experience gain work experience learn new skills learn new skills meet new people meet new people give something back give something back be of service to others be of service to others social interaction social interaction

16. Traditional Volunteer Assignments Patient Escort Patient Escort Volunteer Drivers Volunteer Drivers Clerical Positions Clerical Positions Information Desk Information Desk Ambassador Program Ambassador Program Chaplain Service Chaplain Service Pharmacy Pharmacy Nursing Nursing Guest Relations Program Guest Relations Program Outpatient Assistance Outpatient Assistance New assignments based on need New assignments based on need What Volunteers Do What Volunteers Do

17. What Volunteers Do Non-traditional Volunteer Assignments n Virtual Volunteers n Fundraisers n Managers n Recruiters n Corporate Representatives n Trainers and Educators n Writers (newsletters, recruitment ads) n Community Liaisons n Respite/Hospice Volunteers

18. n VA Medical Centers- www.va.gov/volunteer www.va.gov/volunteer n VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic n VA Poly Trauma Centers- http://www.polytrauma.va.gov http://www.polytrauma.va.gov n Fisher House Foundation- http://www.fisherhouse.org http://www.fisherhouse.org n State Veterans Homes- http://www.nasvh.org/home/index.cfm http://www.nasvh.org/home/index.cfm n Vet Centers- http://www.vetcenter.va.gov http://www.vetcenter.va.gov n VA Youth Volunteering- www1.va.gov/volunteer/studentprgm.cfm www1.va.gov/volunteer/studentprgm.cfm Where to Volunteer Where to Volunteer

19. Types of Volunteers n Regularly Scheduled (RS) Volunteers- work for the VA on a scheduled basis. RS volunteers are considered employees who work on a “without compensation” basis. These volunteers go through a formal VA orientation and receive individual rewards for hours and service given. n Occasional Volunteers- work with VA on an infrequent basis and do not have a regular schedule. Organization receives credit for volunteer service given, rather than individually. n VA Special Event Volunteers- VA has many annual events that volunteer support is needed. Some of these include: National Wheelchair Games, National Golden Age Games, National Creative Arts Festival, National Winter Sports Clinic, Homeless Stand Downs, Annual Red Cross Blood Drive and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Welcome Home Event Celebrations.

20. Volunteer Now n For information concerning individual, council, assembly or circle, contact the Chief of Voluntary Service at your nearest VA Medical Center. n The Chief of Voluntary Service will arrange an initial screening. n Information is also available on the Internet at www.va.gov/volunteer. www.va.gov/volunteer

21. COMMITMENT n n To Duties: Manage our KofC volunteers n n To Recruitment and Retention: The Frontline Recruiters!! n n To attendance at ALL quarterly meetings: CRITICAL n n To establishing and maintaining close, continuous partnership with VAVS Chief/Staff n n To the PATIENTS we serve: The Ultimate Commitment