1. 1 Military Order of the Purple Heart VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) Volunteer Training

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

3. 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 programs throughout the Country assist management in the delivery of VA health care by improving access to care, assisting with long-term care, improving patient satisfaction and much more. The volunteer programs throughout the Country assist management in the delivery of VA health care by improving access to care, assisting with long-term care, improving patient satisfaction and much more.

4. 4 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.

5. 5 National VAVS Representative Is the official liaison between VA Headquarters and the organization in all aspects of the VAVS Program Is the official liaison between VA Headquarters and the organization in all aspects of the VAVS Program The Representative assists the Region and The Representative assists the Region and Department Commanders and the National Department Commanders and the National Certifying Official in the selection and certification Certifying Official in the selection and certification of local VAVS Representatives 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

6. 6 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, other local requirements -Providing hospital volunteer badge -Entering individual into the VSS system -Providing calendar of VAVS Committee meeting dates

7. 7 Local VAVS Rep/Dep Responsibilities Contact the local VAVS Chief or designee upon receiving certification Contact the local VAVS Chief or designee upon receiving certification Complete the orientation at the earliest opportunity, to include getting registered in the VSS System Complete 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 Chapter 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 Chapter to distribute meeting information (i.e. Donation Needs List and Volunteer Assignments) Conduct an Annual Joint Review Conduct an Annual Joint Review

8. 8 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

9. 9 Local VAVS Reps and Deps Duties and Responsibilities “Manage the MOPH Volunteers” Assist with improving the VAVS Program Assist with improving the VAVS Program Provide input/feedback to VA staff and VAVS Committee Provide input/feedback to VA staff and VAVS Committee Recruit Volunteers Recruit Volunteers Promote donations of financial and material goods Promote donations of financial and material goods Advise and inform organizational leadership of VAVS and VA issues and concerns Advise and inform organizational leadership of VAVS and VA issues and concerns Attend and participate in VAVS meetings and distribute information to all in the community Attend and participate in VAVS meetings and distribute information to all in the community Assist in the removal of local volunteers when necessary Assist in the removal of local volunteers when necessary Serve on subcommittees and task groups Serve on subcommittees and task groups Maintain records (hours and donations) Maintain records (hours and donations) Coordinate facility activities and projects Coordinate facility activities and projects Conduct Annual Joint Review Conduct Annual Joint Review Register as a regularly Scheduled Volunteer Register as a regularly Scheduled Volunteer

10. 10 VAVS Reps and Deps Qualifications A sincere interest in the welfare of hospitalized Veterans and a desire to help them 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 the VA Knowledge of Organization and the 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!!!

11. 11 Annual Joint Reviews Purpose: To assess organization’s participation in the VAVS Program during the preceding year and to develop goals for next year Purpose: To assess organization’s participation in the VAVS Program during the preceding year and to develop goals for next year VAVS Rep Responsibilities: VAVS Rep Responsibilities: - Know the month the AJR is scheduled - Make an appointment with the VAVS Chief or Program Manager Program Manager - Discuss Organization’s achievements, issues and concerns and goals – make suggestions and concerns and goals – make suggestions for improvement for improvement

12. 12 Why Volunteer? To gain work experience To gain work experience To learn new skills To learn new skills To meet new people To meet new people To give something back To give something back To be of service to others To be of service to others Social Interaction Social Interaction

13. 13 What Volunteers Do 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

14. 14 What Volunteers Do Non-traditional Volunteer Assignments Virtual Volunteers Virtual Volunteers Fundraisers Fundraisers Managers Managers Recruiters Recruiters Corporate Representatives Corporate Representatives Trainers and Educators Trainers and Educators Writers (Newsletters, Recruitment Ads) Writers (Newsletters, Recruitment Ads) Community Liaisons Community Liaisons Respite/Hospice Volunteers Respite/Hospice Volunteers

15. 15 Where to Volunteer VA Medical Centers – www.va.gov/volunteer VA Medical Centers – www.va.gov/volunteerwww.va.gov/volunteer VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic VA Poly Trauma Center – www.polytrauma.va.gov VA Poly Trauma Center – www.polytrauma.va.gov www.polytrauma.va.gov Fisher House Foundation – www.fisherhouse.org Fisher House Foundation – www.fisherhouse.orgwww.fisherhouse.org State Veterans Homes – www.nasvh.org/home State Veterans Homes – www.nasvh.org/homewww.nasvh.org/home Vet Centers – www.vetcenter.va.gov Vet Centers – www.vetcenter.va.govwww.vetcenter.va.gov VA Youth Volunteering – VA Youth Volunteering – www1.va.gov/volunteer/studentprgm.cfm

16. 16 Types of Volunteers 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. 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. Occasional Volunteers (OV) – work with VA on an infrequent basis and do no have a regular schedule. Organization receives credit for volunteer service given rather than individual. Occasional Volunteers (OV) – work with VA on an infrequent basis and do no have a regular schedule. Organization receives credit for volunteer service given rather than individual. Youth Volunteers (YV) – At least 14 years old and can be given any VAVS project in concert with older RS and OV who can provide leadership. Youth Volunteers (YV) – At least 14 years old and can be given any VAVS project in concert with older RS and OV who can provide leadership. VA Special Event Volunteers – VA has many annual events where 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 OEF and OIF Welcome Home Event Celebrations VA Special Event Volunteers – VA has many annual events where 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 OEF and OIF Welcome Home Event Celebrations

17. 17 Volunteer Now For Information concerning individual or chapter participation, contact the Chief of Volunteer Service at your nearest VA Medical Center. For Information concerning individual or chapter participation, contact the Chief of Volunteer Service at your nearest VA Medical Center. The Chief of Volunteer Services will arrange an initial screening and help you in choosing the program that best fits your time and interests. The Chief of Volunteer Services will arrange an initial screening and help you in choosing the program that best fits your time and interests. Information is also available on the Internet at: Information is also available on the Internet at: www.va.gov/volunteer If you have any Organization Volunteer Questions, please contact Patriot Del Turner, VAVS Director, 1-256-837-3474 If you have any Organization Volunteer Questions, please contact Patriot Del Turner, VAVS Director, 1-256-837-3474 e-mail: dplusk@aol.com e-mail: dplusk@aol.com