>> IN HONOR OF THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WE WANTED TO EXAMINE THE LANDSCAPE OF STATE PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK TO SERVE VETERANS AND ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY.

ARE VETERANS UTILIZING THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE EARNED?

ALL THAT AND MUCH MORE ON "CONNECT NY".

>> THIS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

>> "CONNECT NY" IS SPONSORED BY... >> OFFERS HOME LOANS, IRA'S, MONEY MARKET CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

>> GO TO FEDERAL HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

>> PERSONAL SERVICE.

OFFICES IN WEST VALE PLAZA AND MANLIUS.

[♪♪♪] >> WELCOME TO CONNECT NEW YORK I'M DAVE LOMBARDO.

THE HOST OF THE DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW.

THE PROGRAM REVOLVES AROUND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED SERVICES BOTH PAST AND PRESENT AND AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFORT BY OUR STATE GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM THRIVE OR AT LEAST SURVIVE IN CIVILIAN LIFE.

WE ARE GOING TO PLAY MY DISCUSSION WITH REF REPRESENTED VIVIANA DECOHEN A MARINE CORPS VETERAN AND NEW YORK DIRECTOR OF NEW YORK STATE VETERANS SERVICES.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU TORE HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> I WANT TO START OUR CONVERSATION BY REWINDING TO LAST YEAR WHEN GOVERNOR HOCHUL TAPPED YOU TO LEAD THE DIVISION OF VETERANS SERVICES.

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN TAKING ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I TELL PEOPLE.

I'M IN AWE FIRST OF ALL THAT I'M HERE.

I HAVE NEVER SET OUT TO WORK WITH VETERANS.

I'VE BEEN FEEDING HOMELESS VETERANS SINCE I WAS 11 YEARS OLD AND I CAME BACK TO NEW YORK IN HEALTHCARE.

WHEN I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND ASKED THEM WHERE THERE WAS A VETERANS CENTER THAT THIS STARTED.

THEY DID NOT HAVE ONE AT THE COLLEGE.

WE GATHERED OTHER VETERAN STUDENTS AND WE CREATED ONE.

AND IT GARNERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH VETERANS LEAVING MY OTHER CAREER BEHIND THAT DOOR OPENED TO ANOTHER COLLEGE WORKING WITH THEM.

THAT DOOR OPENED TO WORKING AT THE VETERANS SERVICE AGENCY IN MOUNT VERNON ON BEHALF OF MAYOR SHAUN.

BUT I SAW THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT OUR THEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS DOING WITH THE VETERANS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE.

AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER AND WHEN SHE AVAILED HERSELF TO ME FOR ANY VETERAN EVENT THAT WAS COMING UP, WE INVITED HER AND SHE CAME.

AND SHE NOT ONLY CAME AND PRESENTED HERSELF BUT I SAW HER CARE AND HER TIME WITH THE VETERANS AT THAT BREAKFAST.

AND THERE AFTER.

SO NOT KNOWING YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS WATCHING YOU ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING IT OUT OF THE GENEROSITY OF YOUR HEART AND YOUR CARE FOR OTHERS.

SO WHEN I RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL SO ELATED AND SO GRATEFUL I'M STILL IN AWE THAT THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH THE VETERANS AND I TELL PEOPLE THIS LOOKS LIKE'S MAMA V BUT THIS IS A KULEMIN NATION OF THE VETERANS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

VETERANS SERVING OTHER VETERANS AND ALL ABOUT VETERANS SUPPORTERS THAT MAKE ME LOOK LIKE YOU KNOW, I DESERVE TO BE HERE.

AND REALLY IT'S BECAUSE ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND SUPPORTERS.

>> WELL, THEN, BASED ON YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE THE UNIQUE EFFECT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN THIS ROLE?

HOW DOES MAMA V LEADING THE STATE'S VETERANS OFFICE DIFFER FROM ANOTHER VETERAN WHO MIGHT BE PLUGGED INTO THE LEADERSHIP POST?

>> HERE IS THE ONE THING I KNOW... THAT OLD SONG ♪EVERYONE WE GO, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHO WE ARE SO WE TELL THEM WE ARE VETERANS "WE HAD CREATED AT THE COLLEGE THE OPERATION BUDDY PROGRAM THAT ALLOWED US TO DO YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ALL DO.

TO GO BACK SO WE WENT BACK AND WE FOUND VETERAN STUDENTS WHO HAD BEEN ACADEMICALLY DISMISSED OR UNDER THE 2.0 LINE AND CREATED OPERATION BUDDY UP.

IT ALLOWED US TO BRING BACK THOSE STUDENTS WHO DID NOT HAVE A DEGREE WHO HAD LEFT COLLEGE THINKING THEY WERE NOT COLLEGE MATERIAL AND TODAY BECAUSE OF OPERATION BUDDY UP, ONE PUSHING AND PULLING THE OTHER ONE, THOSE VETERANS 211 PLUS HAVE THEIR BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

AND I CREATED OPERATION PUSH TO PUSH THEM IN MASTERS AND ALL 211 HAVE THE MASTERS DEGREE.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WHAT I'VE LEARNED OVER THE COURSE FROM THAT TIME STARTING AS A STUDENT VETERAN TO NOW, IS THAT OUR VETERANS ARE OUTDOORS AND THEY ARE IN VARIOUS AREAS THAT ARE STILL UNTAPPED, STILL UNKNOWN, THESE ARE PLACES IN THE PARKS AND ON THE STREET WHERE OUR VETERANS ARE NOT AWARE OF RESOURCES.

I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I WAS THE VETERAN WHO CAME OUT OF TRANSITION INTO NOT HAVING OR KNOWING ABOUT RESOURCES THAT WERE AVAILABLE.

WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, OUR GOVERNOR HAS ALSO ALLOWED US TO USE THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM WHICH I THINK IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE THE MESSAGE IS GETTING OUT THERE.

NOT JUST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT NOW OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT IS INSURING THAT WE HAVE FLYERS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE TO THE VARIOUS COUNTIES AND PEOPLE TELL ME NOW, I SAW THE FLYER AT SUPERMARKET I SAW THE FLYER AT THE LAUNDROMAT AND THE POST OFFICE AND THIS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW.

IN THE PAST PO, WE'VE HAD OVER A DOZEN WOMEN IN JUST A COUPLE OF TOWNS AWAY FROM HERE THAT ARE NOW PART OF THE V.A.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT LIKE MYSELF HAD BEEN OUT OF CONNECTION WITH ANY TYPE OF SERVICES FOR 30 PLUS YEARS.

THIS IS SO EXCITING.

AND IT'S AN AID TO A VETERAN THAT SERVICE NEVER ENDS.

GOD AND COUNTRY, FAMILY, AND THEN THAT CONTINUOUS SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, YOU MENTIONED THE ISSUE OF UNTAPPED RESOURCES FOR VETERANS.

DO YOU HAVE THE SENSE OF THE NUMBER PERCENTAGE OF VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THE BENEFITS THEY ARE ENTITLED TO?

AND MOVING FORWARD, WHAT DO YOU VIEW AS A REALISTIC GOAL TO SET FOR YOURSELF AND THE STATE IN TERMS OF INCREASING THAT UPTAKE IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> THEY SAY THAT THERE IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT UTILIZING 17, 27%, 30%.

THE GOAL AGAIN, WHICH WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IS THAT VETERANS ARE COMING FORWARD AND WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE'RE AGAIN FACE-TO-FACE WITH OUR DIFFERENT VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS.

WE HAVE THE NUMBERS AND I'M GETTING THE CALLS MYSELF AS I SAID FROM WOMEN.

13 WOMEN WERE PUT INTO MY CAR IN -- MOO SURROUNDING TOWN AND TAKEN TO THE WOMEN'S HEALTH.

BECAUSE THEY NOW HAVE AFTER 30 PLUS YEARS AND WHEN I HAVE THE REPORTS ACROSS THE CITY, THE SAME THING.

PEOPLE ARE NOW FEELING A SENSE.

AND LET ME SAY THIS... ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS HELPING IS WHEN WE DON'T JUST USE THE TERM VETERANS BUT BECAUSE WE'RE NOW SAYING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED.

BECAUSE EVERYONE DOES NOT DEEM THEMSELVES A VETERAN.

SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT SEEN WARTIME AND THEY STILL DON'T KNOW.

BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE UTILIZED THAT ACRONYM FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE COMING FORWARD NOW.

PEOPLE THAT WERE LIKE ME.

OUT OF SERVICE, 30, 40 YEARS WHO ARE NOW COMING TO ACCESS THEIR SERVICES.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU WE WERE AT THE VETERANS BREAKFAST WITH OUR CLAIMS ADVISER AND HIS SIGN-IN SHEETS WERE FULL AND HAD TO FILL THEM OUT AND THESE ARE FIRST-TIMERS, FIRST-TIMERS WHO HAVE NEVER FILED A CLAIM OR COME FORWARD FOR BENEFITS.

BECAUSE WE ARE NOW PUTTING IN THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE.

IF YOU HAVE SERVED, IF YOU HAVE AN OTHER THAN HONORABLE DISCHARGE WE ARE INCLUDING EVERYONE.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.

EVERYONE IS INCLUDED NOW.

>> SO DO YOU ENVISION SAY IN 2023 HAVING 50% OF THOSE WHO SERVED TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BENEFITS.

75%?

>> I WANT TO SAY 50% OR MORE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A FAIR ASSESSMENT.

>> SO ONE OF THE BIG TASKS YOU HAVE OUT OF THE GATE IS OVERSEEING THE STATE DIVISION OF VETERANS SERVICES TRANSITION TO THE VETERANS SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT DO YOU ENVISION THAT ENTAILING?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT IT IS A NAME CHANGE FOR NOW.

THAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES AND THE OTHER IMPACTED PARTIES TO INSURE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION AS WE GO FROM DIVISION TO A DEPARTMENT.

THIS INCLUDES WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS, OUR STATE VETERANS LIAISONS TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW YORK VETERANS AND STAKEHOLDERS ARE AWARE OF THE NAME CHANGE.

THESE EFFORTS ARE ONGOING.

AND THEY WILL BE CONSTANT AS WE HAVE CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO INSURE THERE IS NO DISRUPTIONS IN SERVICE.

THE NAME CHANGE HAS TO BE ON FORMS.

ALL OF COMMUNICATIONS, MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE THE TABLE CLOTHS ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM.

>> WILL YOU BE ELEVATED TO A CABINET POST AS WELL?

>> WELL, HERE IS THE THING I TELL PEOPLE.

WE WERE ALREADY AT THE CABINET LEVEL.

WE'VE ALREADY BEEN AT THE TABLE AND HAVE BEEN SINCE 1945.

SO I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SITTING AT THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET MEETING ALREADY.

SO WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY TO SPEAK WITH THE GOVERNOR AS WELL AS THE TEAMS.

AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE BEST TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR VETERANS SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT THE SAME QUALITY LEVEL.

AND MORE.

LISTEN, OUR VETERANS ARE DESERVING OF THE EXCELLENCE THAT WE GIVE THEM.

THEY HAVE GIVEN THE SACRIFICE OF THEIR TIME, THEIR TALENT AND THEIR SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THOSE EFFORTS.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO SERVE NEW YORKERS WHO HAVE SERVED, ARE THERE OTHER STATE AGENCIES IN NEW YORK OR OTHER VETERANS AGENCIES IN OTHER STATES THAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE MODELING OUR STRUCTURE OFF OF?

FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK OF THE STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY DISABILITY ASSISTANCE WHICH SEEMS TO DO SOME OF THE SAME OUTREACH AND BENEFIT HELP THAT YOUR AGENCY COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

ARE THERE WAYS WE CAN LEARN FROM HOW OTHER ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH IS MADE TO INSURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR OFFICE?

>> LET ME SHARE THIS WITH YOU BECAUSE I CAME BACK FROM MY FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE WITH OTHER STATE DIRECTORS.

AND WE SHARE BEST PRACTICES.

LET ME TELL YOU THIS SO YOU WILL KNOW... NEW YORK STATE HAPPENS TO BE THE LEADER.

THEY ARE MIMICKING MORE PROGRAMS FROM US.

WE'RE SO HAPPY THAT WE ARE ALL SHARING.

BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS HERE THAT THEY ARE NOW MIMICKING AFTER US.

LISTEN WE'RE A GREAT STATE AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE GREAT.

AND CONTINUE TO LEAD THE CHARGE IN THAT VAIN.

WE ARE LISTENING TO OUR VETERANS AND WE ARE OUT THERE STANDING BY THEIR SIDE.

WE ARE NOT DOING THIS IN NEW YORK.

I AM IN THE OFFICE TODAY BUT MAMA V IS A ROAD DOG.

I'M ON THE ROAD FROM THE BRONX TO BUFFALO AND BACK OUT THERE WITH OUR VETERANS TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE FED, THEY HAVE CLOTHING, THEY HAVE THE EDUCATION.

THAT IS HOW I GARNERED THE NAME MAMA V, FOOD, CLOTHING AND EDUCATION, AND THIS GOVERNOR SAME THING.

SAME THING.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH VIVIANA DECOHEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS SERVICES.

MAMA V THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪EVERYWHERE WE GO, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHO WE ARE, ♪SO WE TELL THEM WE ARE VETERANS, MIGHTY, MIGHTY VETERANS♪ ♪KEEP MARCHING FORWARD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> WE ARE JOINED BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER PAMELA HUNTER A SYRACUSE AREA DEMOCRAT WHO SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY AND IS CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY'S SUBCOMMITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS.

DEREK COY, MARINE VETERAN WHO SERVED IN IRAQ AND THE PROGRAM OFFICER FOR THE NEW YORK HEALTH FOUNDATION.

AND REMOTELY, LAURA STRADLEY, AN ARMY VETERAN NOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VETERANS OUTREACH CENTER IN ROCHESTER.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER, WE HEARD FROM DIRECTOR VIVIANA DECOHEN ABOUT THE UPCOMING TRANSITION OF THE STATE'S AGENCY THAT SERVES VETERANS.

MY REACTION TO THAT IS SHE SHE DID NOT SEE IT AS A BIG DEAL HIGHLIGHTED THE NAME CHANGE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE RESTRUCTURING?

IS THIS GOING TO DRAMATICALLY IMPACT NEW YORK'S ABILITY TO SERVE VETERANS?

>> THE INTENTION FOR THE ELEVATION WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WAS TO INSURE THE VETERANS HAD A ONE-STOP SHOP THEY WERE ABLE TO GO TO ONE AGENCY AND GET WHATEVER THEIR NEEDS WERE ITING TO ONE AGENCY.

AND YOU MADE MENTION IN ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS THAT SOME OF THE OTHER AGENCIES ARE DABBLING AND DOING THINGS FOR VETERANS WHETHER IT'S WITH THE OTDA AND HOUSING, WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, WE HAVE HOUSING ISSUES AND EVERY DOLLAR ALLOCATED TO A DIFFERENT AGENCY OR INTENTION WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE AGENCY OVERSEES EVERYTHING FOR VETERANS SO THERE IS NO CONFUSION AND NO OVERLAP.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING MORE THAN A NAME CHANGE BUT MAKING SURE THAT VETERANS KNOW ONE STOP AND THAT'S WHERE ALL OF THE VETERANS' BENEFITS AND SERVICES WILL BE ROLLING FROM.

>> DERRICK, ONE OF THE THINGS WE SOMETIMES HEAR WHEN IT COMES TO ENGAGING WITH VETERANS, VETERANS DON'T IDENTIFY AS VETERANS.

SO IF WE'RE CREATING A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR VETERANS DO WE INSTILL THE MINDSET YOU ARE A VETERAN AND YOU EARNED THESE RIGHTS, ENGAGE WITH THEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THE VETERAN COMMUNITY IS SO DIVERSE AND HOW PEOPLE IDENTIFY AS A MOTHER, AS AN ATTORNEY, AS A MEMBER OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

MAYBE A VETERANS THAT MIGHT NOT MAKE THE LIST.

YOU MIGHT NOT SEEK OUT VETERANS SERVICES.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT A LOT.

IT'S CRAZY HOW YOU DEFINE VETERAN.

IF WE ALL DEFINE TO DO WOULD WOULD COME UP WITH DIFFERENT TERMS.

DID YOU SERVE IN COMBAT.

AND A LOT OF VETERANS DOWN-PLAY THEIR SERVICE.

I WAS IN THE MILITARY AND I DIDN'T DEPLOY I'M DOWN-PLAYING WHAT IT IS AND IT MAKES YOU LESS LIKELY TO REACH OUT FOR SERVICES.

WHAT MAMA V BROUGHT UP IS MEETING VETERANS WHERE THEY ARE AT WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW DO WE FIND A WAY HAVE YOU SERVED?

AND HAVE YOU EVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY?

A LOT OF SERVICES ARE DEPENDENT HOW LONG YOU SERVED WHETHER YOU WERE INJURED OR NOT.

I THINK WHAT THIS DOES IS CREATES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THE NUANCE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE HEAR VETERAN THEY THINK ONE ISSUE AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE IN THE MOSAIC THAT MAKES UP THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.

IT IS A GOOD TOPIC TO HAVE AND HAVE IT IN MORE PLACES WITH MORE PEOPLE.

>> LAURA, THE THING I HEAR IN BOTH ANSWERS IS THE IDEA OF OUTREACH TO VETERANS AND THAT IS IN THE TITLE OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU COME ACROSS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE VETERANS?

AND ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THAT SAME IDENTITY CRISIS THAT DERRICK AND PAMELA ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WE DO.

AND I THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE ALSO LIES IN THE WAY CONGRESS AND THE WAY OUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE CATEGORIZED VETERANS SERVICES AND VETERAN CARE.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY YEARS, THE V.A.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A LIST OF PRIORITY GROUPS.

SO THE PRIORITY GROUPS ARE BASED ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

AS IT WAS MENTIONED ONE PRIORITY GROUP IS DID YOU SERVE IN COMBAT?

ONE IS DID YOU RETIRE FROM THE MILITARY?

WHAT IS DO YOU HAVE AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE AND AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE.

THERE HAS BEEN CATEGORIZING FOR YEARS WHAT TYPE AND WHAT QUALITY OF SERVICE VETERANS HAVE THAT IT DOES GET CONFUSING.

AND DIFFERENT AGENCIES HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS REQUIREMENTS AND SO BASED ON THAT, CERTAIN VETERANS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES US SUCCESSFUL WITH OUR OUTREACH CENTER WE ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS.

AND TO THE P THE THAT HAS BEEN MADE WE ASK DID YOU SERVE IN UNIFORM DID YOU SERVE YOUR COUNTRY?

HAVE YOU SERVED IN THE MILITARY IF SO YOU ARE WELCOME.

ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU IF THAT IS THE CASE.

SO I DO THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WE NEED TO CONTINUE HAVING.

>> DOES THE RESTRUCTURING AT THE STATE LEVEL MEAN ANYTHING FOR YOU, LAURA?

>> I THINK IT'S TREMENDOUS.

I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO ELEVATE WHAT I THINK IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

WE WORK WITH THE DIVISION OF VETERANS SERVICES AND I WAS ASKED TO COME AND SPEAK TO THE ASSEMBLY IN THE FALL REGARDING THE ELEVATION OF THE DIVISION TO DEPARTMENT AND I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.

IT CAN ONLY BENEFIT OUR VETERAN POPULATION.

>> AS WE MOVE FORWARD, ASSEMBLYMEMBER, WHAT DO YOU ENVISION AS I GUESS, SOME OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION BY VETERANS?

WE TALKED IN THE INTERVIEW ABOUT A GOAL AND I THREW OUT 50% ENGAGEMENT IN 2023?

AND THE DIRECTOR SEEMED TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS THAT IS THAT A REALISTIC EXPECTATION AND WHAT ABOUT LONG-TERM ARE THERE BENCHMARKS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE NEW YORK STATE HIT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND THAT IS AN AGGRESSIVE GOAL AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY VETERAN HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE TOUCHED IN WHATEVER WAY WORKS FOR THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO PULL IT BACK MORE TO A LOCAL LEVEL.

KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT LEVEL AGENCY, PUTS NOT NECESSARILY ON NOTICE BUT PUTS OUR LOCAL COUNTY AGENCIES AND OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFITS THAT ARE DOING WORK THAT WE HAVE SOMEWHERE WE CAN FILTER EVERYTHING TO.

AND I THINK THOSE TENTACLES WILL BE IMPORTANT AS FAR AS DELIVERY OF SERVICE.

WE CANNOT JUST RELY ON THE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE DELIVERER.

THERE ARE MESSANGERS OUT THERE.

IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE ELEVATE TO GET TO EACH ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

AS WAS MENTIONED TO WHERE THEY ARE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO AGAIN, MAY BE THEY HAVE NOT COME FORWARD IN 30 YEARS AND DIDN'T IDENTIFY.

BUT MAYBE THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED, UNDER EMPLOYED.

HOMELESS, HAVE CHILDCARE ISSUED AND ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS CAN BE DEALT WITH AT A LOCAL LEVEL WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT SAYING THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO EACH ONE OF THESE VETERANS AND BEING ABLE TO FIND THEM.

>> WHAT DO YOU VIEW AS THE LEGISLATURE'S ROLE DURING THIS PROCESS?

IS IT SIMPLY OVERSIGHT OR SOME SORT OF ADVICE AND CONSENT ROLE WHAT DO YOU SEE THERE?

>> WELL, IT'S ELEVATED TO A DEPARTMENT.

AS WE DO WITH EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT WE WILL BE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE REPORTING AND GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO THE LEGISLATORS TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE TOUCHING.

WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?

MORE RESOURCES MORE MONEY MORE PEOPLE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THE BENEFIT AND THE SERVICES THAT OUR VETERANS DESERVE.

SO SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT WE'RE GOING TO BE ADVOCATING FOR, LEGISLATING FOR AND MAKING SURE WE'RE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY VETERAN GETS WHAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO.

>> ON THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE DWYER PROGRAM THE FOCUS OF THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET FOR THE VIEWERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF THE BANTER ON THE RADIO, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE DWYER PROGRAM IS AND HOW IT'S CHANGING AS A RESULT OF THE STATE BUDGET.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE DWYER PROGRAM DOES SOMETHING THAT SEEMS BASIC WHICH I THINK IS GREAT BECAUSE IT GETS AT THE HEART OF THE ISSUE AND IT CONNECTS VETERANS WITH PEER MENTORS.

DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH SHARED EXPERIENCES AND HAS GONE THROUGH MAYBE SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THE NEWER YOUNGER VETERANS HAVE GONE THROUGH AND IT MEETS THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT.

WHAT ARE YOU ALREADY WITH TEAM RED, WHITE AND BLUE AND DOING SIERRA CLUB?

WHILE YOU ARE THERE MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT BENEFITS AND CHAT ABOUT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

I USED TO WRONGFULLY SEE PEER MENTOR AS PLAYING SECOND FIDEL TO MENTAL HEALTH HEALTHCARE.

AND IF WE ARE GOING TO INVEST IN ANYTHING IT SHOULD BE MENTAL HEALTH HEALTHCARE AND VETERANS NEED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH.

IT IS A COMPLIMENTARY APPROACH, MANY VETERANS MENTAL CARE SEEMED LIKE.

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT TALKS YOUR LANGUAGE AND IT KIND OF I THINK RELATES TO YOU ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAT IS WHERE YOU CAN START TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.

AND YOU'VE DONE THIS?

I'M INTERESTED IN TRYING THIS.

AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT VETERANS DID IN THE MILITARY.

WHEN YOU CHECK INTO A NEW UNIT THERE IS SOMEONE WHO PICKS YOU UP AND WHATEVER YOU NEED TO KNOW YOU HAVE SOMEONE FOR YOU.

AND THE DWYER PROGRAM WHICH STARTED 10 YEARS AGO CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW AND CERTAINLY NOW THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

LOOKING AT THIS IS DOING WHAT IS ALREADY WORKED.

IT IS A GREAT IDEA AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE ELEVATION MAYBE SOME DAY TAKING THAT UNDER THE WING IT WILL BE FUNDED TO THE LEVEL IT NEEDS AND HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

>> THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS WORKING AND EXPAND IT ACROSS THE STATE.

THE PFC DWYER PEER TO PEER SUPPORT WAS ONLY IN A FEW COUNTIES BEFORE WE SAID NO, THIS IS NOT WHAT WEE NEED TO BE DOING.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE FUNDING IS FOR THE STATE.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WHEN WE ELEVATED NOT JUST HAVING BOYS STATE BUT GIRLS STATE WE NEED TO SEE IF IT'S WORKING MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

AND THAT PEER TO PEER SUPPORT IS UNVALUABLE AND BEING ABLE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO EXPAND THAT WILL ONLY MAKE IT MUCH BETTER FOR OUR VETERANS.

>> CAN YOU PEEL BACK THE CURTAIN ON WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO WITH THE REGARDS TO THE EXPANSION?

THE DWYER PROGRAM SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THE HOT POTATOES IN PAST YEARS.

AND LIKE THERE WAS A NEW APPROACH TO THAT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

>> IT IS WAS A NEW APPROACH AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THE STATE HAD ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS WHO HAVE PTSD WHO HAVE SURVIVED MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA AND MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER.

BUT BEING ABLE TO TALK TO SOMEBODY YOU SIT WITH, WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH, TO EXPERIENCE, THAT IS INVALUABLE AND IF IT TAKES BEING ABLE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES REGIONALLY TO BE ABLE TO ESCALATE AND ELEVATE THOSE PROGRAMS, WE'LL DO IT AGAIN.

AND WE'LL ALLOCATE MORE IF NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THAT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> LAURA, THE TERMS WE'RE HAVING, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT THE DWYER PROGRAM IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL LIKE IS APPLICABLE ACROSS THE WIDE SPECTRUM OF NEEDS THAT VETERANS HAVE MEETING THEM ON THEIR OWN TERMS AND FINDING WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE WHY PEER SUPPORT WORKS AND THAT CAN SHARE A STORY WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER AND I GOT INVOLVED WITH [INAUDIBLE] THEY ARE A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

AND THEY SPECIALIZE IN EXACTLY THAT KIND OF CONCEPT WHERE ALL OF US KIDS THAT HAD BEEN THROUGH THIS TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE WITH OUR PARENTS WE SIT TOGETHER FOR I AWEEK AT CAMP.

AND THE WHOLE WEEK WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT WHAT WE EXPERIENCED AND THE LOSS AND THE GRIEF.

BUT I FELT JUST THE TREMENDOUS WEIGHTLIFTED OFF MY SHOULDERS KNOWING EVERY KID KNEW WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH.

VERSUS EVERY KID IN MY HIGH SCHOOL THAT I FELT DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH.

OUR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE VFW THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WERE CREATED WITH THAT CONCEPT IN MIND.

WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO STILL EXIST AND STILL GREAT ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW TO MAKE PEER SUPPORT RELEVANT FOR TODAY'S VETERANS.

THE DWYER PROGRAM MAKES IT RELEVANT IT GIVES A LOT OF LATITUDE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE WORKING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

A DWYER PROGRAM THAT WORKS WELL FOR LIVINGSTON COUNTY IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WORK THE SAME MIKE ASSIMON ROW COUNTY WHICH TENDS TO BE MORE URBAN AND SUBURBAN.

I LOVE THE WAY WHAT THE STATE HAS GIVEN FLEXIBILITY TO EVERY COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP WHAT THEY KNOW WORKS AND COLLABORATE WITH AGENCIES THAT ARE GETTING THE JOB DONE.

WE DO A LOT OF PEER SUPPORT HERE AS WELL.

WE HAVE A CHESS CLUB AND COOKING CLASS WE HAVE THERAPEUTIC GROUPS THAT GET TOGETHER.

BUT ALSO JUST SOCIAL GROUPS.

WE HAVE A COFFEE CLUB THAT MEETS AT OUR HOUSING COMPLEX.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MOST ATTENDED ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS WE HAVE BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE BEING WITH OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED A LIKE CHALLENGE IN THEIR LIFE.

>> REMEMBER WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED REPEATEDLY THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF VETERANS.

BUT VETERANS ARE NOT A MONOCULTURE UNTO THEMSELVES.

I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU SEE AS A PERSON OF COLOR AND A WOMAN AND VETERANS HOW DO THE NEEDS OF A BLACK, OR FEMALE VETERAN MIGHT NEED.

>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GREAT RESOURCE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK THAT IS IBMF OUT OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND HAVE DONE STUDIES AND HAVE DONE REALLY IN-DEPTH RESEARCH INTO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WOMEN GO THROUGH RELATIVE TO AGAIN, UNDER EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT, THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS FOR MAYBE WOMEN OF COLOR COMPARED TO WHITE MEN.

BUSINESSES WHERE WHITE MEN VETERANS ARE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF ENTREPRENEUR AND CREATING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES COMPARED TO WOMEN AND COMPARED TO WOMEN OF COLOR.

BEING ABLE TO PULL FROM THOSE STATISTICS THEY HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE.

AND I THINK BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION SO WE CAN SUPER TARGET POPULATIONS THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

CHILDCARE HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ESPECIALLY ACROSS NEW YORK AND THAT IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VETERANS AND PEOPLE WHO ON ACTIVE-DUTY RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY ARE GETTING READY TO DEPLOY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY CHILD.

HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND BEING ABLE TO MICRO TARGET BASED ON THE STATISTICS AND FACTS THAT WE HAVE WILL MAKE IT MUCH, MUCH BETTER FOR US TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THE VARIOUS POPULATIONS.

>> THAT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY REFERENCE SETS US UP NICELY.

BECAUSE OUR SHOW PRODUCER, MELISSA BENJAMIN VISITED THE CENTRAL NEW YORK CAMPUS AND LOOKED HOW SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY IS SERVING FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS.

>> I JOINED THE MILITARY BECAUSE I FELT A CALL TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS BIGGER THAN MYSELF AND I FELT THE MILITARY WAS THE WAY TO GO WITH THAT CALL.

>> I'M SAVION POLLARD.

I AM A STUDENT VETERAN AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

I WAS A EATINGICS IN THE UNITED STATES STATES NAVY AND NOW I'M IN SCHOOL FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING.

>> WHEN I RETURNED HOME IT WAS LAST YEAR, DECEMBER, 2021.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A HARD DECISION TO MAKE BECAUSE RETURNING HOME WAS COMING TO SYRACUSE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

BUT I HAD THE SUPPORT OF MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY AND A LOT OF RESOURCES ON CAMPUS TO USE THAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT VETERANS FACE WHEN THEY MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE IS NAVIGATING THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THAT EXIST AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

OUR VETERANS DON'T TRANSITION TO NATIONAL PROGRAMS.

THEY TRANSITION TO TOWNS AND VILLAGES AND CITIES AND SITUATING THEM IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE NOW GOING TO CALL HOME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK WE DO.

>> WE ARE HAVING THE CONVERSATION AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH CENTER WHICH IS A FACILITY ON THE CAMPUS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY THAT WAS CREATED TO PLANT A FLAG, IF YOU WILL, RELATED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE VETERANS.

IN THIS BUILDING IS THE PROGRAM THAT RUNS PROGRAMMINGS NATIONALLY ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES TO SERVE THOSE TRANSITIONING FROM MILITARY SERVICE VETERANS AND FAMILIES.

AND IN PARALLEL, THE OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS HERE AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE ENROLLED AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AS STUDENTS.

>> MY EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT VETERANS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN GREAT.

ONE THING I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET JUST AS A STUDENT WITH ANOTHER UNIVERSITY IS THE FACE TIME HERE WITH THE FACULTY.

I'VE MET WITH THE VICE CHANCELLOR AND HAD DINNER AT THE CHANCELLOR'S HOUSE AND IT WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY I WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN ANYWHERE ELSE.

THE VICE CHANCELLOR KNOWS MY FIRST NAME WHICH IS INSANE.

I'VE BEEN TO SCHOOL IN THE PAST IN NEW YORK CITY AND I WAS NOT INVOLVED AS I WAS HERE.

IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO NOT GET INVOLVED BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS THE BEST FOR YOU AND TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY CHOOSE TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY.

72% WILL TELL YOU THAT THE REASON THEY CHOSE MILITARY SERVICE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE TO PURSUE AN EDUCATION.

I WILL TELL YOU AS A COMMUNITY HIGHER EDUCATION DOES NOT SERVE WELL BROADLY THE IMMEDIATES OF THIS POPULATION.

VETERANS ARE UNDERREPRESENTED ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN WAYS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO OTHER UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE ADULT STUDENTS AND COME TO HIGHER EDUCATION WITH A FAMILY.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS ADDRESS THOSE BARRIERS IN A WAY WHERE WE'RE CHANGING PROCESS AND PRACTICE AND CULTURE AT THE INSTITUTION IN ORDER TO POSITION US TO SERVE VETERANS ARE NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS IN WAYS WE HAVE NOT IN THE PAST AND SET PRACTICE AND EXAMPLE FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE UNITED STATES TO DO THE SAME.

SAVION POLLARD AND OTHERS LIKE HIM WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES A LOT OF THOSE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES STEM FROM THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS THEY ARE COMING WITH FAMILIES AND KIDS, AND WHILE THE GI BILL IS WONDERFUL SUPPORTING TUITION THERE ARE OTHER EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH DAILY LIVING.

WHEREAS BY LAW, THE GI BILL COVERS THE FULL COST OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TUITION IN ALL 50 STATES FOR PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IT DOES NOT.

SO WE CREATED A FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM THAT MAKES US LIKE A PUBLIC INSTITUTION SO VETERANS CAN ATTEND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TUITION WITHOUT DEBT.

>> IN MY SHORT TIME AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MYSELF.

ONE THING I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON AT THE UNIVERSITY IS JUST BEING ENGAGED.

BEING ON CAMPUS FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AND BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND LEARN PEOPLE'S STORIES IS AMAZING AND THAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE REAL WORLD.

AS HUMANS ALL WE WANT IS TO CONNECT.

>> YOUR AVERAGE STUDENT AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY DOESN'T KNOW ANYONE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

AND THAT TO ME, IS A REAL PROBLEM.

AND THAT CREATES A GAP IN EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING AND SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AND IT SERVES THE PURPOSE OF ISOLATING VETERANS FROM THE REST OF THE SOCIETY.

AND THAT'S DAMAGING AND CHALLENGING IN A LOT OF WAYS.

WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO HERE EVEN IN CONCEIVE OF THE BUILDING WE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO PUT THINGS IN THE BUILDING REGISTER THE CLASSROOMS AND AUDITORIUM, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO BUILD A BUILDING THAT SILOS OFF OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY.

WE WANTED TO DO THE OPPOSITE.

WE WANTED TO USE THIS BUILDING TO CREATE COLLISIONS BETWEEN THOSE MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE NO ONE IN THEIR LIFE TO WHO CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THE GOOD AND THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF MILITARY SERVICE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR IS ACTUALLY A SUMMIT HERE AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY OF UNIVERSITY CHANCELLORS AND PRESIDENTS FROM AROUND THE UNITED STATES TO BEGIN A DIALOGUE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

ABOUT THE I WOULD ARGUE THE MORAL OBLIGATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO MEANINGFULLY SERVE AND OPEN THE DOORS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONS TO VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS IN WAYS THEY HAVE NOT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.

>> WELL, DERRICK, WE SAW THAT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY IS JUMPING IN ALL IN WITH BOTH FEET.

WHAT ABOUT TO A LESSER DEGREE WHAT COULD SHOULD WE BE EXPECTING FROM HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN OUR SUNY AND KU SYSTEM TO INSURE THAT OUR VETERANS ARE ABLE TO INTEGRATE INTO LIFE NOT JUST SURVIVE BUT THRIVE.

WHAT IS THE LOW HANGING FRUIT?

>> I THINK LOOKING WHAT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY HAS DONE AND WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRAG ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, THAT CAMPUS IS PHENOMENAL.

AND IF YOU TALK TO ANY VETERAN ESPECIALLY ONE THAT HAS GONE TO SCHOOL IF YOU FIND THE EXTRA CLOSET SPACE SOMEONE WAS NOT USING THAT GETS TURNED INTO THE VETERAN CAMPUS PLACE LIKE FORGOTTEN AND NOT THE NICEST PLACE.

AND SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY HAS THE OPPOSITE.

AND THE GREAT THING IS LIKE WHEN YOU LOOK AT SAVION POLLARD'S STORY, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SAVION POLLARD'S OUT THERE.

IF THEY ARE INVESTED INTO.

AND IT'S LOOKING AT WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.

WHEN YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE IS SERVING TOGETHER ON A CAMPUS, EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE SUCCESS IS GOING TO COME EASILY.

AND IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY WE ARE KNOWN IN THE MILITARY FOR MAKING THE MOST GIVE EASTBOUND THE LEAST WE ARE ENTREPRENEURIAL AND SCRAPPY AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES US A STRONG FIGHTING FORCE BUT THE LESSONS DO NOT GO AWAY.

IT MAKES YOU A BETTER STUDENT AND ENTREPRENEUR.

LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY.

THE GI BILL, PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN AROUND AND RETOOLED THE REASON I WAS ABLE TO GO TO CITY COLLEGE AND GET A MASTERS DEGREE THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN UNDER ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE.

WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S FOR MORAL PURPOSES WHICH I OR AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE INVESTING IN VETERANS' EDUCATION IS SUCH A SAFE BET.

AND ALSO, AS A STUDENT VETERAN THAT WE BOTH WENT TO SCHOOL AFTER OUR TIME IN THE SERVICE, YOU FEEL LIKE BILLY MADISON YOU ARE OLDER AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE FRIENDS THAT ARE AROUND THERE.

I'M JUST GOING TO GET IN AND GET OUT.

IT WAS WEIRD FOR ME.

BUT HAD THERE BEEN AN ENVIRONMENT OPENING AND PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD HAVE ADDED TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT I MADE.

IF WE CAN REPLICATE THAT IN MORE PLACES IT'S GOING TO YIELD IMPRESSIVE RESULTS.

>> ASSEMBLYMEMBER HUNTER WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE AFTER SERVING?

>> AFTER SERVING, YOU'RE GROWN-UP.

I ENLISTED IN THE MILITARY WHEN I WAS 17 I WAS IN AND OUT BEFORE MOST PEOPLE HAVE EVEN GRADUATED AND FINISHED THEIR COLLEGE A DEGREE.

BUT YOU ARE AN ADULT.

THIS IS THE TIME THAT I SERVED IN THE MILITARY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TIME THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN COLLEGE.

WHEN I WENT RIGHT AFTER I WAS IN THE MILITARY, I WORKED FULL-TIME.

AND I WENT TO SCHOOL FULL-TIME.

SO YOU ARE A DIFFERENT KIND OF STUDENT.

AND IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE YOU ARE KIND OF UNDER THE RADAR IN AND OUT.

YOU ARE NOT LOOKING AT IT AS A I AM A VETERAN STUDENT.

I'M JUST A COLLEGE STUDENT TRYING TO GET MY DEGREE AND MOVING ON TO THE NEXT STEPS IN LIFE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND PARTNERING WITH PLACES LIKE SU, MAKING SURE THAT VETERAN STUDENTS FEEL LOVED THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC HOME AND PLACE AND WE'RE NOT JUST IN THE CUBBY HOLE IN SOME CORNER THAT ARE PROMINENT.

WE SERVED AND TOOK AN OATH TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT WORKS.

AND IF IT'S GOING TO BE ESCALATING TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMPUS, SO EVERYONE CAN SEE US THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

>> LAURA, THE STORY WE HEARD FROM THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND WE HEAR FROM VETERANS IS THAT THEY ARE GETTING TO COLLEGE LITTLE LATER IN LIFE BEHIND THEIR PEERS.

DO YOU THINK OUR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS NEED TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT IN OTHER WAYS LIKE FIGURING WAYS TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THEIR MILITARY EXPERIENCE?

FINDING WAYS TO TRANSLATE SOME OF THAT EXPERIENCE INTO COLLEGE CREDIT?

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AND I GUESS THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS UPSTATE MORE BROADLY?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

IN FACT, YEARS AGO, AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE MILITARY, I WORKED AT [INAUDIBLE] FOR A FEW YEARS.

AND THE COLLEGES IN THE ROCHESTER AREA THERE ARE 19 COLLEGES IN THE REGION.

WE DEVELOPED OUR OWN KIND OF VETERANS CONSORTIUM.

AND EACH OF THE COLLEGES WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MEETINGS WE WOULD HOLD ON AVERAGE ONCE A MONTH.

SOMETIMES IT WAS CERTIFYING AN OFFICIAL THAT WOULD CERTIFY GI BILL INFORMATION FOR THE COLLEGE.

OTHER TIMES IT WAS AN ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE OR SOME IN ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT.

EVERY MONTH WE WOULD TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT OUR VETERANS WERE FACING AND HOW WE COULD WORK BETTER AS A GROUP TO ENHANCE THE VETERAN COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IN THE ROCHESTER REGION.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT CON TORE YUM EXISTS BUT IT WAS POWERFUL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WORKED ON HERE AT VETERANS OUTREACH CENTER WE WORK WITH OUR ITS THEY HAVE WHAT IS CALLED THE VETERANS UPWARDS BOUNDS PROGRAM AND IT IS A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM THAT ENABLES VETERAN STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GO BACK TO COLLEGE, IT GIVES THEM A REFRESHER ON THE BASICS IN ENGLISH, MATH, AND IT IS AT NO COST AND THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO GO TO THE COLLEGE THAT IS HOSTING THAT SITE.

THEY MIGHT GO TO THE UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM AT RIT AND CHOOSE TO GO TO ST.JOHN FISCHER COLLEGE FOR THE STUDENTS.

IT IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND OBVIOUSLY FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR 8, 10, 12 YEARS YOU MIGHT WANT THAT REFRESHER AND FEEL LIKE YOU WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL.

WE THINK THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HAVE VERY IMPORTANT AND I AGREE WITH ALL THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED ON THE SUBJECT.

>> ASSEMBLYMEMBER THIS HAS BEEN A LARGELY POSITIVE CONVERSATION WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THINGS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

BUT THE STARK TRUTH OF THE THE CONVERSATION IS THAT VETERANS ARE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW, SUICIDE RATES CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM DESPITE HOW MUCH WE TALK ABOUT THEM AND DESPITE HOW MANY PARADES WE MAY HAVE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT FRUSTRATE YOU RIGHT NOW ARE OT ISSUES YOU ARE WORKING ON WHAT COMES TO FIND?

>> -- MIND?

>> WE'RE LOSING A VETERAN TO SUICIDE MULTIPLE DAILY.

AND ONE IS TOO MANY.

I THINK ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE FAR BEHIND WAS THE FIRST STEP.

KNOWING WE WEREN'T ELEVATING AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD TO MAKE SURE NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND.

I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT PEER TO PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM AS A LIFE SAVER TO OUR VETERANS.

AND I KNOW JUST HAVING WALKED DOWN THAT PATH WITH PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WHO HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED.

IT'S A LOT.

IT'S A LOT.

BEING ABLE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEG TO HELP OUR VETERANS.

IT SHOULD JUST COME NATURALLY BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND SO IF THERE'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGES AND THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO, IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE PUTTING THEMSELVES.

ELEVATING THEIR STORIES SO THAT THEY AREN'T LEFT BEHIND.

MAMA V SAID THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CARRY WITH US ALWAYS.

WE DON'T LEAVE OUR BROTHER OR SISTER BEHIND.

AND WHEN WE DIDN'T ELEVATE TO DEPARTMENT, WHEN WE DIDN'T MAKE IT A ONE-STOP SHOP, WE WEREN'T CAPTURING EVERYONE.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.

WE'RE COMING UP TO MEMORIAL DAY.

WE THEN ARE GOING INTO THE JULY 4TH AND THEN VETERANS DAY AGAIN.

AND YES IT'S WONDERFUL WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I SAY UP ONE THAT, NOT JUST THANK YOU BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP A VETERAN?

AND EVERYTHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HELPING VETERANS.

>> WHEN YOU WERE IN CONFERENCE IN THE ASSEMBLY, WHEN YOU ARE IN CHICAGOS, ON THE FLOOR, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PRIORITIZING THIS ENOUGH?

>> I DO.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE ONE OF 213 MEMBERS, I AM THE ONLY FEMALE VETERAN IN THE ENTIRE STATE LEGISLATURE.

PEOPLE HEAR ME THEY ARE LISTENING TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY BUT THEY DON'T IDENTIFY.

MAYBE MOM OR DAD OR GRANDPA WAS IN THE MILITARY AND THEY CAME HOME AND THEY WENT TO WORK AND JUST WENT ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIFE.

AND WE'RE SEEING ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE BEING DEPLOYED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE THEY ARE FACING COMING HOME THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE IGNORED.

WE CANNOT IGNORE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING AND THEY NEED HELP.

THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY ABSOLUTELY HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE.

100% WAS WILLING TO SAY YES LET'S ELEVATE THIS TO A DEPARTMENT LEVEL.

AGAIN, IT'S HARD TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IF YOU, YOURSELF DON'T IDENTIFY AS A VETERAN HAVE NOT SERVED AND THERE ARE SO FEW PEOPLE YOU ARE TRYING TO DO A LOT FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO SERVED BUT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO SERVE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE ARE NOT VETERANS.

>> DERRICK, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR WHEN WE ASKED HER ABOUT ARE YOU MODELING AFTER OTHER STATES, ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO FIND IDEAS FROM OTHER AGENCIES THIS IDEA THAT NEW YORK IS THE LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING OUR VETERANS.

YOU ARE COGNIZANT ABOUT THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY, IS THAT THE FACT?

IS NEW YORK A LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING OUR VETERANS INSURING THEIR NEEDS ARE MET?

>> THERE ARE A OF WAYS YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS I WOULD REFERENCE AND A GREAT PLUG FOR SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY THEY HAD A GREAT STUDY THAT CAME OUT AND WE HAD THAT QUESTION.

WE KNOW THEY ARE GOOD.

WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THEM GREAT BUT HOW DO THEY COMPARE?

AND THERE IS A LOT OF NUANCE, MISSIONS AND BUDGET.

BUT THERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN LOOK AT NEW YORK SPENDING $26 ON EACH VETERANS COMPARED TO 189 NATIONALLY.

UNDERFUNDED COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING NOT TO SAY THAT FUNDING MATTERS COMPLETELY.

YOU CAN DO A LOT WITH A LITTLE.

THAT IS ONE WAY WHERE MAYBE WE ARE NOT ON PAR WITH OUR PEERS.

AND LOOKING AT STRUCTURE, AND WHERE YOU CAN BE ON THE CABINET BUT ARE YOU REPORTING TO THE GOVERNOR?

ALL THE THINGS AND IT IS A GREAT REPORT THAT HIGHLIGHTS A LOT OF THAT.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAYBE SEE WHERE WE FIT INTO THE LARGER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE WHERE YOU HAVE FOLKS IN THE LEGISLATURE THEY ARE WORKING AND FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS A PRIVATE FUNDER WHAT CAN WE DO?

AND WE INVESTED AND WE ARE HOPING MORE PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THAT.

AS THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ELEVATING DVS CONTINUES LET'S SAY IT IS A NAME CHANGE BUT IT IS A CONVERSATION STARTER NOW WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION FROM IVMF AND FOLKS ON THE GROUND NOW WE WILL LISTEN BUILD IT OUT BASED OFF WHAT WE KNOW THE NEEDS ARE.

AND THERE ARE GREAT FOLKS OUT THERE AND LAURA IN PARTICULAR AS A RESOURCE HER AS A PERSON LET ALONE THE LEVERAGE SHE HAS WITH HER NETWORK THESE ARE FOLKS DOING WORK.

THERE'S THAT POTENTIAL TO MAKE A LOT HAPPEN AND I THINK WE CAN AT THE END OF IT SAY ABSOLUTELY NEW YORK IS THE LEADER EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK TO BE WITH US.

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE IS A LOT TO BE WORKED ON.

>> LAURA IF YOU HAD THE EAR OF THE GOVERNOR OR THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ABOUT THEM THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER?

OR TO MAKE IT MORE EXPANSIVE, EXPAND THE SCOPE EVEN?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD RESONATE WITH ME AS A NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS JUST INSURING THAT THE GAR MEANT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE EPICENTER FOR ALL SERVICES.

WE DEMONSTRATE HOW WELL WE WORK TOGETHER BY HAVING COLLABORATIONS WITH THE DIVISIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN SERVICES WITH THE V.A., WITH THE MONROE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE.

WE ALL WORK TOGETHER VERY WELL.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE STATE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES LIKE IBMF AND VETERANS ONE STOP IN BUFFALO AND CLEAR PATH FOR VETERANS IN SYRACUSE.

THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE QUICK FLEXIBILITY.

IF I HAVE A VETERAN THAT COMES IN AND SAYS I NEED MONEY FOR A CAREY PAIR I CAN WRITE THAT CHECK TODAY.

IF I HAVE A VETERAN SAYING I WISH YOU HAD WASHERS AND DRYERS, I CAN GET A WASHER AND DRYER IN HERE ASSUMING I HAVE THE FUNDS FOR IT TOMORROW.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO REACT TO EXACTLY WHAT THE NEEDS ARE LOCALLY IN OUR REGION.

AND ACT ON THEM.

AND OF COURSE I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND AND ESPECIALLY MORE VETERANS AND THEY HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT SOMETIMES MOVES A LITTLE SLOWER AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

BUT IT'S JUST I THINK CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT EVEN AS THE STATE CONTINUES TO ELEVATE VETERANS SERVICES WITHIN STATE AGENCIES THAT THAT SOON TO BE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO RELY ON AND TRUST AND WORK TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES AS WELL.

>> YOU ARE NODDING YOUR HEAD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LAURA DOES GREAT WORK AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PROVIDERS HERE THAT DO WONDERFUL WORK.

AGAIN IT'S THOSE TENTACLES WE NEED TO RELY ON OUR PARTNERS TO EACH ONE REACH ONE.

TO BE ABLE TO GET TO EVERY SINGLE VETERAN.

AND THE GOVERNMENT PROPER IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT PARTNERS WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE NEED TO UPLIFT TESTIMONY AND GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK THEY ARE DOING.

>> GOING TO THE OTHER SPECTRUM OF THE LADDER TO THE GRASSROOTS UP TO THE TOP, HEADING TO WASHINGTON D.C., THE STATE SERVES LARGELY MAKES ITS OWN INVESTMENTS BUT IS A CONDUIT TAKING CARE OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND FEDERAL MONEY.

WHAT HEADACHES DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRESENT IN THIS AREA?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A GOOD PARTNER?

OR THINGS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD DO WHETHER IT'S FUNDING OR CHANGING PROGRAMS THAT COULD MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

BECAUSE I CAN GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.

A RELATIVE TO A PIECE OF LEGISLATION ABOUT THE TOXIC BURN PITS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PASS HERE IN NEW YORK STATE AND HAVE THE GOVERNOR SIGN.

WHERE OUR RECENT DEPLOYED VETERANS ARE EXPERIENCING EXPOSURE TO THE TOXIC PITS OF BURNING IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY ARE BEING DEPLOYED.

AND I KNOW SENATOR GILLIBRAND IS FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL TO GET THIS PASSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE VETERANS SERVED AND THEY SERVED UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT PEOPLE DON'T GO BACK FROM SERVING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THEY GO BACK TO INDIVIDUAL STATES AND BACK TO THEIR HOME IN NEW YORK.

SO THAT IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE COVERED AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE WAITING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ACT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED FOR THEM.

WHO HAVE SERVED THE COUNTRY FOR THE UNITED STATES.

BUT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WON'T THEN WE WILL.

AND NEW YORK STATE.

BUT THAT IS A SPECIFIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO VETERANS WHO ARE SERVING RIGHT NOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ENACT HERE IN NEW YORK.

THAT IS DEFINITELY LANGUISHING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO MAKE A PLUG FOR VETERANS WHO SAW THIS PROGRAM OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE VETERANS IN THEIR LIVES AND WANT TO HELP THEM GET HELP WHAT IS THE EASIEST THING THEY CAN DO?

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU RECOMMEND THAT THEY DO?

THEY REACH OUT TO OR THAT THEY CALL OR DO TO GET HELP?

>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS PLUG BUT I HAVE TO TWIST A LITTLE BIT.

IT WOULD NOT BE THE EASY THING TO DO IT'S THE TOUGHEST THING TO DO IS ASKING FOR HELP.

MILITARY ENGRAINS IN YOU YOU TRY TO DO THE MOST WITH THE LEAST.

YOU BE AS TOUGH AS POSSIBLE AND MAKE IT THROUGH BUT YOU ARE NOT IN THE MILITARY ANYMORE AND THERE ARE GREAT RESOURCES.

BUT THEY WON'T COME TO YOU THEY WON'T MAKE YOU UTILIZE THEIR SERVICES.

AND I THINK SPEAKING OF DWYER AND PEER MENTORING TALKING WITH OTHER VETS BREAKS THOSE BARRIERS DOWN AND IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT.

I SAY TO THIS TO SOMEONE WHO HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THE HARDEST THING I HAD TO DO WAS ASKING FOR HELP.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THAT HAPPENED THAT I STARTED SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THE ORGANIZATIONS, LAURA, THEY CAN'T DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU YOU HAVE TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD.

I WOULD SAY IF YOU ARE WATCHING THIS AND HAVING A HARD TIME THERE ARE AMAZING FOLKS AND RESOURCES BUT YOU DO HAVE TO ASK FOR THAT HELP.

I ENCOURAGE VETERANS TO DO THAT AND HOPE THEY DO.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

OUR GUESTS HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLYMEMBER PAMELA HUNTER, THE NEW YORK HEALTH FOUNDATION'S DEREK COY AND THE VETERANS OUTREACH CENTER'S LAURA STRADLEY.

IF YOU ARE A VETERAN OR ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBER IN NEW YORK LOOKING TO ACCESS ELIGIBLE BENEFITS VISIT... ON PAST OF THE TEAM AT WCNY I'M DAVE LOMBARDO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.