A LIFETIME Process by Raul Clement
How CalTAP and local partners offer veterans ongoing support is a lifetime process.” “ T ransition This is how Keith Boylan, deputy secretary of the Veteran Services Division of CalVet, describes the
literacy. This approach has allowed CalTAP to host an impressive 277 Transition Assistance events at military installations and 635 more at community colleges in just philosophy behind the California Transition Assistance four years. Along the way, they’ve aimed to not Program. CalTAP, as it is known, is a program that started just educate veterans and their families, but in 2017 and is administered by CalVet, along with its also their partners who make up this hundreds of partners at both the state and local level. It “community-based system of care.” “I think we’ve not aims to help active-duty service members and veterans “It’s not just educating service understand the benefits available to them at all stages of members upstream before only been able to help their lives. they get out,” says Lindsey veterans understand the While transition assistance is not a new concept, the Sin, Deputy Secretary of resources prior to CalTAP were limited. There was a TAP Communications for CalVet. Keith Boylan, deputy secretary world of benefits and services, of the Veteran Services Division program administered by the Department of Defense, but it “It’s not just being available of CalVet, strives to connect was narrow in scope and follow-through. to veterans as their needs veterans to a ‘community-based but also help them understand system of care.’ “It didn’t include much else other than employment change. It’s also educating PHOTO COURTESY OF CALVET readiness training and resume development,” Boylan says. those community service these different phases of “It was focused on transitioning their employment needs, providers and bringing them whereas the goal of CalTAP was to introduce exiting to the table so that everybody transition.” “I think we’ve not only service members to a community-based system of care.” understands what this network been able to help veterans KEITH BOYLAN, DEPUTY SECRETARY The phrase “community-based system of care” comes looks like and that there are VETERAN SERVICES DIVISION OF CALVET understand the world of benefits up a lot as Boylan discusses CalTAP. In order to reach as resources to tap into.” and services, but also help them many service members and veterans as possible, CalTAP These resources are extensive understand these different phases of must rely on local infrastructure. To that end, they’ve and can be hard for veterans to wrap transition, ” Boylan says. partnered with community colleges, military installations their heads around. This is exactly why it was like Camp Pendleton, and Veteran Service Offices like the necessary to establish a program like CalTAP aimed at To learn more about CalTAP or to find upcoming San Diego OMVA to hold frequent seminars on subjects focusing on veterans’ evolving needs. webinars, visit https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/ ranging from mental health to home ownership to financial Pages/California-Transition-Assistance-Program.aspx
CALTAP PATHWAYS CORE CURRICULUM:
Veteran 101, California benefits, financial literacy
California Transition Assistance Program is designed to connect veterans of all eras to their earned federal and state benefits. It also provides continued support as their needs change over time. The five unique pathways are:
EDUCATION:
Selecting a school, educational benefits, UC and state universities
EMPLOYMENT:
Apprenticeship, job search, state employment
ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
Business centers, business resources
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Attorneys, employers, primary care, supportive housing
County of San Diego Office of Military & Veterans Affairs
sandiegocounty.gov
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