BUDDY-TO-BUDDY VOLUNTEER SUPPORT CALL March 22, 2016 Buddy-to-Buddy is a peer-to-peer outreach program that trains veterans to provide peer support and linkage to needed resources for Michigan Post-9/11 service members and veterans. Visit us at www.buddytobuddy.org or reach us at buddytobuddyvvp@umich.edu or 1-888-82-BUDDY. Every week, Buddy-to-Buddy holds Support Calls for its 120+ volunteers, sharing resources and bringing guest speakers to provide information on topics of interest and available services.
Guest Speaker Presentation
Goodwill Industries Guest Speaker Brandi McBride bmcbride@goodwillgr.org Guest Speaker Summary In West MI, partnered w/ VoA, DVOPs, and another rehab org to collaborate on employment for veterans
Goodwill had, for several years, DoL grant to help homeless vets to refer them to housing and help them get employment as well. VoA has that grant now. DVOP only helping VA eligible. Rehab place only helping disabled. Goodwill helping everyone else! Resume writing Interview skills
Brandi also chair for employment committee for W. MI VCAT. They are helping other VCATs figure this out at well since they’ve been doing it in W MI for such a long time.
Goodwill works to dispel myths about veterans - too uptight, no fun, etc. NOT True! Helping employers understand veteran resumes. Also helping employers find transitioning veterans - they’re not at AmLeg/VFW, they’re not at armories. Now finding a lot of vets on LinkedIn.
VCAT hosting networking events. Less formal event where employers are holding events to allow vets to see corporate culture and learn how to navigate it. Brought in snacks and alcohol. (A lot of times in civilian work culture, alcohol will come into play - important to learn the environment.) These events have been really successful. The point: In
Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program
www.buddytobuddy.org
addition to employer talking about business, explain what you actually do on the daily. Talk about which jobs are actually available - i.e. at a healthcare facility there are many more jobs besides nursing.
Question: Do you send out an email announcing the networking events? Yes, but they are by invitation only. They are not open meetings. First dibs on employers to VCAT members. Focus of jobs is on management/higher-up jobs. Hardest part is jr/mid level officers and senior NCOs who have a lot of leadership, who have a degree, lots of skills, have higher salary expectations.
Focus on all of Region 4 - Kalamazoo to Muskegon. Brandi & Courtney Glover are the points of contact. Can refer to them directly if wanted. Folks interested in commuting to Region 4 are welcome to be referred.
Is there a possibility that it would be expanded to different Goodwills throughout the state? - No, not really. Each is run differently, on different grants, etc. Not centralized.
Self-Care What are your moments of frustration? How do you manage it? - There is only so much you can do to help; you can mind out that they never put in the job application, etc. It’s their situation at the end of the way, and try to just make it clear for them that things can change if they put in the work. Exercise, walk dog, something active. Take your mind off it. Work stays at work. Important to try to compartmentalize it. One of the reasons we try to put 2 volunteers in each armory is because: Allow you to reach out to someone who may be more objective in a given situation. Any examples of working with a veteran that hit close to home? Does anyone use their drill partner to help them process and think through issues? Setting boundaries Challenge: we all care about and want to help veterans that we’re working with Struggle of over-identifying or getting over-enmeshed Do you ever feel like people are coming to you too frequently, or asking you to make decisions that you think maybe they should be making themselves? Sometimes I’ve felt like people don’t want to take ownership of their issues, and maybe they think they are entitled to some benefit that they may not be. Difficult to maintain professionalism when people are assinine A lot of times I encounter folks who have concerns about VA and they’re confused, frustrated, etc. if you can walk them through how to find the info online then that will be helpful. Sometimes VSOs are other workers are short, because they are over-worked and such. I try not to get frustrated. Education helps! One of the things I learned in the military is that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness. Volunteering with B2B will be the first time where that’s not applicable! :) Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program
www.buddytobuddy.org