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Jackson County veterans office reports increased claims activity, plans outreach and suicide-prevention presentation
Summary
The county veterans service officer reported increased benefit activity for August, outreach plans including HISA grant publicity, and a Nov. 17 suicide-prevention presentation at the Mokogah Library community room. Staff and supervisors discussed expanding outreach via social media and utility bill mailers.
The Jackson County veterans service officer told the board on Oct. 28 that the office handled 59 in-person visits and 108 phone calls in August and was responsible for filing 75% of the county's 72 open claims that month.
"We had 59 in person visits from veterans and family members. Took a 108 phone calls," the officer said, and added that 424 veterans and eligible family members received $817,656 in August.
The officer said the office is promoting benefits and services after attending Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs training Oct. 21–23 and plans more outreach through the county Facebook page and local newspaper articles. She described a Home Improvement Structural Alterations (HISA) grant available through VA health care and said the office will publicize it to encourage eligible veterans to apply.
The officer also announced a suicide-prevention presentation by Deborah Moller, a suicide-prevention coordinator with the Iowa City VA health-care system, scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Mokogah Library Community Room. The presentation is open to veterans, family members and the public.
Supervisors and staff discussed ways to broaden outreach, including targeted mailers with utility bills and boosted social-media ads to direct users searching for military-related topics to county resources. The officer said the office has seen increased traffic on Facebook since posting informational articles and that proactive outreach to veterans who receive rating decisions could connect people to newly available services.
No formal board action was taken. Staff said they will continue outreach work and return with updates as they refine promotional methods.
