National Veterans Service Commission
Steps to Involve our Youth In a Successful Adopt-A-Veteran Program
- VAVS Representative will contact the local high school(s) in the area. [He will speak to either the Principal(s) or Assistant Principal(s) who hopefully will set up an interview with the counselor(s).]
- After explaining our goals, the counselor(s) should be able to put the VAVS Representative in contact with students who are interested in working with veterans.
- Students should be made aware that volunteerism of this type, while being very self-satisfying, will also help them meet their community service requirement that they need to graduate. [This requirement takes effect in September 1998.]
- VAVS Representative can then instruct these youth volunteers of our role in Serving Our Nation's Veterans.
- VAVS Representative will then set up an interview with the Chief of Recreational Service at the VA Medical Center. This person can then instruct the youth volunteers on what their duties will be.
- If needed, these youth volunteers could work out of the VA facility.
- Youth Volunteers would never work without our supervision [VAVS Representative or VAVS Deputy Representative.]
- Youth volunteers would not be allowed to do anything that would be hazardous to their wellbeing.
- Any youth volunteer would have his activity monitored monthly by his mentor [VAVS Representative].
- VAVS Representative will report to school counselor monthly regarding activity and progress of youth volunteer so that counselor can track this activity and give the volunteer the proper credit for their community service assignments.
- When the youth volunteers are working at a VA facility, the VAVS Representative or VAVS Deputy Representative will make sure that these volunteers are properly signed in so that they receive proper credit for their work.
- VAVS Representative or VAVS Deputy Representative who works with youth volunteers will make sure that those volunteers are involved in activities that are sanctioned and approved by VHA Handbook 1620.1 and any subsequent Directives.
