Description
Our ongoing services to veterans:
- Green Path Veterans Farm: An organic, urban agriculture project with the goal of employing and training veterans in urban agriculture and associated enterprises.
- Aid and Support area homeless veterans
- Support hospitalized and other in-patient-program veterans
- Collaborate to find employment and training at job-fairs, veteran stand downs, etc.
Budget
$75,000
Category
Human Services, General/Other Personal Social Services
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Adults Homeless People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Short Term Success
Our ideal short-term success is to supplement and complement existing government programs and partner programs so that veterans and their families with immediate needs receive the assistance they deserve.
Long Term Success
In the long-term, we will provide employment and training opportunities to veterans. We will help those who are motivated to own and manage their own business.
We are also helping veterans who are involved with the criminal justice system. We assist veterans in reintegration, that helps prevent recidivism and increases their contributions to the community. The Sarasota Bar Association has recognized us for this work with the Distinguished Service Award by a Layperson.
We connect homeless veterans with long-term support services (health care, dental care, education and training, short/term housing).
For veterans who are under permanent inpatient medical care, our material donations have helped fill needed gaps that would otherwise remain unmet. Additionally, donations and volunteer efforts provide supplement the efforts of caregivers and provide limited respite.
Program Success Monitoring
The board's executive committee, along with those directly involved in program delivery, meet multiple times each month to provide coordination, implementation and oversight of our services.
Program Success Examples
A local veteran in our community was hospitalized with the threat of suicide, and because of our intervention, he was able to successfully complete his time in the hospital and reintegrate in our community as a productive citizen. We spent dozens hours of one-on-one time with him to connect him with resources and services, provide encouragement, mentoring and support.
We have worked with veterans under court supervision to help them comply with the requirements of the court. We have also monitored the field work of a veteran who needed on the job experience to qualify for an educational certificate.
We have worked with a young veteran with a family including small children to find more suitable housing, relocate, and move his belongings to a new home. Without this caring assistance, the family would have lost all of its personal possessions and would have been unable to move into a new, more accommodating residence. We worked in partnership with Jewish Family & Children's Services. This is one example of how our collective efforts produce a multiplier effect.
Description
Sponsored and presented the first-ever, statewide, Florida Women Veterans Conference in April 2015 in Sarasota, Fla. If we had the personnel and financial wherewithal we'd hold a second conference.
Budget
$25,000
Category
Human Services, General/Other Services for Specific Populations
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Females Other Named Groups Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent
Short Term Success
Attendance at the first conference sold out, and attendees provided strong positive feedback about the inaugural conference and solid encouragement to continue the effort in future years. The project serves female veterans from around the state of Florida and empowers female veterans in their personal lives, occupation, business, and profession. Part of the funds for the conference are used for scholarships for those who cannot otherwise afford the cost to attend.
Long Term Success
We hope to see a statewide Florida women veterans community arise from the Florida Women Veterans Conference and we'd like to see the establishment of a sustainable, annual statewide Florida Women Veterans Conference.
Program Success Monitoring
Full attendance of 150+ women veterans at the next conference; positive feedback on a survey to be distributed to conference attendees; demonstrated interest in creating a self-sustaining annual, statewide Florida Women Veterans Conference.
Program Success Examples
Almost all the women veterans who attended the conference rated it highly and encouraged us to sponsor the conference on an annual basis.
The establishment of this Florida statewide women veterans conference brought Florida in line with other states advancing these initiatives for women veterans.
Description
Green Path Veterans Farms' mission is to provide veterans living with physical disabilities, mental health, and/or brain injury issues new opportunities in sustainable hydroponic horticulture and, eventually employment, self-employment, and careers in urban agriculture and associated enterprises. The project has two core principles: sustainability -- both financial and ecological -- and growth -- literally and programatically.
New in 2015, FLVCS has already partnered with a local community organization for land and operations, established a hydroponically-grown produce horticulture project, and established the necessary partnerships for farm-to-market produce marketing.
Budget
$50,000
Category
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, General/Other Agricultural Production
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
People/Families with of People with Disabilities At-Risk Populations Other Named Groups
Short Term Success
In addition to the intangible benefits of improving quality of life and self esteem among the program's disabled veteran (physical and/or mental health disabilities) participants, the program aims to develop replicable pathways to agricultural financial sustainability for its participants. From developing skilled horticultural/agricultural experience to supervisory and managerial roles to supply chain expertise, the program seeks to develop and foster these skills in program participants and result in employment and self-employment among program participants. By the end of each calendar year, 90% of program participants will have developed specified horticultural, supervisory, business management, and supply chain skills and abilities. Favorable measurable outcomes will be their employment or self-employment in related fields, or at a minimum their continuation with this program.
Long Term Success
Ultimately, program participants will obtain employment or self-employment in agricultural production. It is hoped that there will eventually be a housing component to this farming project, and that military veteran program participants will be able to live on-site and expand this horticultural project to full-fledged farming.
Program Success Monitoring
Financial sustainability and self-sufficiency will be a key indicator of this program's financial merits over the long term.Careful monitoring of program participants will also be key, with ongoing feedback and demonstrated improvements in their agricultural production and agribusiness knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Program Success Examples
This program is newly established in 2015, but we already have success stories. One of our college interns enjoyed working with so much that he considered agriculture for his graduate studies although he started with us as a philosophy major. We have helped a veteran qualify for a certifications by working in our program. More success stories will emerge as the program continues to develop and grow.