Veterans services available Thursday in Santa Maria

Posted: Aug 1, 2012 11:08 PM by KSBY News, Jeanette Trompeter
Updated: Aug 2, 2012 8:05 AM

Veterans can learn about health-care benefits as well as other services available to them, and meet with local employers for job opportunities Thursday in Santa Maria.

The open house event is being held at the Santa Maria Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veterans and family members can receive information about VA specialty programs, local job opportunities and health-care enrollment.

"The open house is a one-stop shop for Veterans in Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County," said Charles Green, GLA Outreach Coordinator. "It's a win-win for the Veterans, they have the opportunity to enroll in health-care, meet with potential employers and receive information about VA programs."

Aug. 2 marks GLA's third year hosting an open house at the Santa Maria CBOC. New to this year's line-up is a job resource fair. Employers including Okonite, Target and Vandenberg Air Force Base will be on-hand to meet with Veterans about jobs.

"We're trying to be innovative in bringing special opportunities to our Veterans such as the job resource fair," said Green. "The economy is not doing so well and this is an opportunity for Veterans to come to the VA and learn about employment."

In addition, VA physicians, nurses and social workers will meet with eligible Veterans to discuss their health-care needs. VA Family Caregivers, patient education resource center, weight loss programs, National Cemetery and Veteran benefits personnel are some of the few VA vendors rounding out the list of participants.

And there are free gifts involved too. Veterans in the healthcare system who bring a fellow Veteran who enrolls will get a gift bag that includes an MP3 player.
"We're excited to see Veterans from the surrounding area," said Mary Hershey, Administrative Lead for GLA Northern Clinics. "Veterans and their family members can expect to get first class service."

For more information click here or call (805) 354-6000