Since 1968, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Miami Florida has endowed services to veterans as well as their military families in the counties of Broward, Monroe, and Miami-Dade in South Florida (About the Miami, 2015). On the other hand, the Miami VA Healthcare system is a hospital that encompasses educational advantage, such as active teaching responsibilities and a well-built connection or affiliation in cooperation with the Veterans Service Organizations and the U.S. Department of Defense (Partners and Education, 2015). There are strong affiliation and joint venture that are present in the achievements of Miami VA Healthcare System. Community leaders provide services on working groups, endorse plans and agenda, and contribute to the creation of community responsiveness as well as in the legislation process.
Healthcare is one of the most important parts of services that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Miami offers. They are continuously making partnerships with universities and other educational and community organizations in Miami. Committee involvements from the local leaders of the community consist of the VA Advisory Committee for Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs. There are an ample number of doctors from around the United States, who are constantly serving the veterans and military families based on the needs of committees who are responsible in such undertaking. In addition, the participation of political leaders has also been significant especially in dealing with the suicide rate among the veterans, which affected the legal structure of this health predicament (Clark, 2015). Moreover, researches in the Miami VA Healthcare system have shown that in order for them to expand inherent knowledge of the matter, they should make a move in relaying this drive to the community leaders and their organizations.
On the other hand, community leaders are acknowledged by the Miami VA Healthcare System, particularly in the area of their employees, like Marie Schafer, who is a Telehealth program nurse manager. She received the Service Member Patriot Award in February because of her contribution in helping the veterans (Miami VA Employee, 2015). Furthermore, veterans are renowned for their military services and the volunteer effort and vocation, which put in social media high points for the Veteran Affairs in Miami last year (2014 Social Media, 2014). Nevertheless, organizations and their programs in the company of political figures are restricted and infrequently established on the website of Veteran Affairs in Miami.
The population of these veterans is more than 1.5 million and it’s remarkable that the number of programs and health care services offered to them have also been increasing throughout the years. These programs impacted the local community as they are now driven to help the veterans and their families.
One of the important health care services that is reachable for the veterans at the VA in Miami is the Women’s Veteran Health Service where health care is specific to veteran women. There are services for veteran women in terms of their health and psychological needs. Furthermore, the Miami VA healthcare system offers services to homeless veterans that take account of Compensated Work Therapy, Homeless Veteran Supported Employment Program, Homeless Providers Grand and Per Diem Program, HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program, and Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program. The homeless program in VA Miami is lead by different community leaders, who also hold events and provide support to every community activity. These programs are sustained and endorsed by different community leaders in Miami, including other government agencies and private sector organizations. The Blind Rehabilitation Service also helps veterans with blindness or visually incapable for them act upon basic daily activities and be active community members.
Aside from the government, there many private organizations that are present and make their share in helping out these veterans, they supported by a budget for the allocation of resources in the fulfillment of their projects and service programs. The fisher House Program is another program that can assure how the VA in Miami helps not only the veteran community, but also their families. There is also a program held by VA in Miami to assist the local community is the Special Restorative Training. The training involves education and classes to be aware and to help lessen or trim down the effects of physical and mental disabilities and create a better community.
Conceivably, it is the responsibility of the community leaders not to take veterans’ rights for granted, hence helping them get these benefits looking forward. This way, the nation can be sure that they were able to give back the honor and sacrifices being endowed by these people for the sake of the country’s interests and protection. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Miami, make use of the community leaders with the assistance of Local doctors and university leaders in granting medical and social services to veterans and military volunteers. Political groups give support to the goals of the department by endorsing and holding laws that give support to the aims and purposes of the organization and by contributing to the strength and legitimacy of the programs. Increased awareness of community leaders in the website can prop up the legality and the consistency of organizations, as they can give messages to the people and powerfully encourage the political forces and community leaders to support every activity of the VA Health care system. They can list in their website the efforts done by these community leaders. For instance, the American Cancer Society encourages the assistance of community leaders through an Expert Voices blog (Expert Voices, 2015). The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Miami, would get a good advantage from this kind of upgrading to their website.
References
2014 Social Media Year in Review (December 31, 2014). Miami VA Healthcare System. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.miami.va.gov/features/Social_Media_Year_in_Review.asp
About the Miami VA Healthcare System. (2015). Miami VA Healthcare System. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.miami.va.gov/about/index.asp
Clark, L. (Feb. 12, 2015). Obama signs measure to combat veteran suicide. McClatchy Washington Bureau. Retrieved from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article9918257.html
Expert Voices. (2015). American Cancer Society. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/expertvoices/default
Miami VA Employee Receives Patriot Award. (February 26, 2015). Miami VA Healthcare System. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.miami.va.gov/features/Supporting_Those_Who_Serve.asp
