VAC reports increased outreach, staff training and $500 scholarships funded by expo proceeds

The LaSalle County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) reported recent accreditation, staff training and community outreach work and asked the board to approve routine VAC bills.

VAC staff said the office updated its co-op and mileage policies, worked to document policies and procedures for state association accreditation, and learned about faster processes for locating veterans’ DD214 records. The commission said two staff members attended national training in Reno and that Jordan, the newly hired veteran service officer, completed Illinois pre-basic training on May 1 and 8 and earned a national accreditation certificate in Reno.

The VAC said it intends to hold a five-year open house in Peru, tentatively Aug. 5, to raise public awareness of local veteran services and to showcase partners who use the facility for outreach. VAC staff also reported that expo funds helped establish two $500 scholarships that IVCC will administer; the scholarships are intended for veterans and children of veterans and will be issued in the fall.

Board members moved to approve VAC bills and accept the VAC report during the meeting.

The VAC presentation emphasized record-access improvements and training that aim to speed benefit processing for veterans; staff said these measures, combined with outreach such as the newsletter and the expo, are meant to increase veterans’ awareness of services and benefits in LaSalle County.