Workshop Description:

This workshop addresses macro as well as micro (direct interface with the system) level issues. The workshop provides government resources and websites as tools for the provider to use in direct practice.

Social workers often want to aid a veteran in accessing benefits, but don't know how or understand the benefits system or how different parts of the system work together or in opposition in this process. Social workers may lack understanding of how to aid a veteran in getting their most basic records. Additionally, social workers may not know how to articulate the veteran’s issues in a way that is measurable for the Veteran Administration to rate.

Objectives:

• Differentiate between various levels of veteran services
• Learn how to assist a veteran in accessing records and file for a claim

Presenter Bios:

Paul Stayback, MSW, LICSW works for the King County Veterans Program doing outreach with veterans and providing community education. Paul’s past employment includes work as a disabled veterans case worker at the Employment Security Department (ESD) and as a child-focused mental health clinician. Paul has served as a guest speaker on veteran issues at Central Washington University (CWU).

Tony Sandoval works for Chelan County as their Veteran Service Officer and has held this position for over 4 years, working with nearly 1,300 local Veterans. Prior to this position, Tony worked at Wenatchee Valley College through the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Corps Program, where he assisted Veterans and their families with education benefits and more. Tony graduated from Central Washington University with a bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies and is a US Army Iraq War Veteran.

CE Contact Hours: 3