Saratoga County veterans services director reports rise in claims, steady program growth in 2024

Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency Director Frank presented the agency's 2024 annual report to the Saratoga County Veterans Affairs Committee, reporting higher claims activity after federal changes and steady growth in peer-support programming and outreach.

Frank, director of the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency, told the committee that "Saratoga County is home to just over 15,000 veterans," and that the office recorded substantial increases in demand last year driven in part by the PACT Act's expansion of presumptive exposures and related claims processes.

The report highlighted program and service metrics: the agency logged more than 400 transportation rides covering nearly 15,000 miles; the Veterans Peer Connection reached almost 2,500 veterans and hosted 58 events; staff conducted 43 incarcerated-veteran meetings at the county jail; and a SUNY Albany School of Social Welfare client survey gave the peer program an 88% approval rating. Frank also said the agency handled 399 claim appointments, saw walk-in visits roughly double (from about 250 to more than 500), and filed over 200 more claims than the prior year.

Frank described operational challenges and recent equipment problems: the office took delivery of a 2024 Ford Transit last June but reported the van went to Morris Ford for warranty repairs after about 5,600 miles; in the interim the county administrator provided a spare vehicle so staff could continue making up to three daily veteran trips.

On federal legislation, Frank reviewed the PACT Act's effect on workload and noted the Dole Act's new competitive-grant program. He said the Dole Act authorizes $10 million annually for two years for grants to county veteran service officers but that New York State must apply for the funds and decide distribution; he cautioned the county is unlikely to receive a large share from the national total.

Frank outlined a short-term goal to organize a large-scale claims clinic modeled on an event held in Denver: coordinated days where veterans could complete claims paperwork, have exams conducted, and move substantially through the VA process on site. He said he is in talks with local facilities and neighboring counties and is dependent on Department of Veterans Affairs participation.

The agency's fundraiser, the Revolutionary Run, raised more than $19,000 in 2024, which feeds the veterans trust fund; Frank reported a trust-fund balance of about $150,007.49 on hand and described the fund as a last-resort source for individual grants. He said the county receives roughly $30,000 annually from New York State for the veterans service agency (separate from Dwyer peer-program funding, which he said is about $192,000).

Frank credited staff and partners: he named Erin Cassidy as program coordinator for the peer program and praised her work; he acknowledged volunteers and partners including Christine Rush and Anne Van Boorst for social-media and outreach support. He also noted staffing: three full-time and three part-time employees.

Committee members responded briefly. A committee member called the report "outstanding" and praised staff work. The meeting approved the minutes from Dec. 3, 2024, and later moved to adjourn after the presentation.

The director said the office will continue outreach (honor-deceased-veteran ceremonies scheduled through the year), push for increased state and federal funding, pursue the claims clinic with regional partners and the VA, and maintain the peer-support and incarcerated-veteran programs.

The committee approved the minutes and adjourned following the presentation.