Apply to Veterans Recovery Team VISTA Project- Employment Outreach and Advocacy- West Haven
Veterans Recovery Team VISTA PROJECT- Employment Outreach and Advocacy
The Veterans Recovery Team is an AmeriCorps VISTA project. It is a multi-site collaboration of organizations in the New Haven area that work with Veterans experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness. The partner organizations will hire three AmeriCorps VISTA members to work on inter-related projects to help end homelessness amongst veterans. One partner organization, is VA Connecticut’s Errera Community Care Center. A wide array of psychosocial services are offered here to Veterans in support of their recovery, including supported employment, therapeutic groups, a wellness center, as well as case management and housing programs.
There is a pressing need for outreach, advocacy, and awareness around Veterans’ issues specifically, unemployment. The unemployment rate for returning Veterans is 25%. The focus for this VISTA is to assist in creating employment opportunities for Veterans experiencing homelessness, educational outreach regarding these historical rates of unemployment, as well as advocacy for employing these Veterans. The VISTA will first conduct a needs assessment among Veterans to identify barriers to employment. Then, the VISTA will develop educational bulletin boards to be accessed by Veterans, informing them of employment benefits and opportunities. Additionally, the VISTA will develop an Employment Tool Kit “Why You Should Hire a Veteran,” which highlights the skills and benefits of hiring a Veteran, and distribute it to area employers. Finally, this VISTA will work with the Small Business Administration, and local employers to facilitate entrepreneurial activities for Veterans.
Successful applicants will have:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Creative and innovative thinking.
- Good collaboration skills.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- A demonstrated interest in working in the community and working with Veterans.
- A demonstrated interest in poverty and employment issues.
- Some college preferred.
Pay and Benefits provided by the AmeriCorps VISTA program. AmeriCorps members receive a modest living allowance of $13,164, student-loan forbearance, health coverage, and child care for those who qualify. After successfully completing their term of service (40hrs/week for one year), they receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $5,350. This award can be used to pay off qualified student loans or to finance college, graduate school, or vocational training at eligible institutions. For more information on the AmeriCorps VISTA benefits and eligibility please visit:
http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp
To Apply:
To apply please send a resume, and cover letter to Christina Lindstrom at Christina.Lindstrom@va.gov Position open until filled so please apply as soon as possible. Start Date: September 2012
