David Albright, professor of social work, is chair of AlaVetNet’s Health Committee.
In honor of Veterans Day, Governor Kay Ivey has charged the veterans group Alabama Executive Veterans Network (AlaVetNet) to identify issues facing military service members and veterans in the state. David Albright, Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health and a professor in The University of Alabama School of Social Work, is chair of the group’s Health Committee.
AlaVetNet’s website connects Veterans with resources and services tailored to their unique needs and provides an online searchable database of resources for veterans based on the areas they live. AlaVetNet is organized into six committees representing the functional areas of Education, Employment, Homelessness, Family Services, Legal, and Health. Each Committee is led by a chair and two co-chairs representing state agencies or well-established non-profits.
With Dr. Albright and other executive committee members of AlaVetNet present, Governor Ivey this week proclaimed Saturday, November 11, 2017, as Veterans Day in the state of Alabama and signed Executive Order 712 expanding the purpose of AlaVetNet.
The expanded purpose of AlaVetNet is to identify issues facing service members, veterans, and their families and to find ways to address those issues in communities across Alabama. Two priorities will include a focus on reducing and eliminating the opioid crisis, as well as reducing the high veteran suicide rate by helping those in peril gain assistance.
“Veterans make up more than 12 percent of Alabama’s population; therefore, it is only fitting that we honor them by giving them the highest recognition on Veterans Day,” Governor Ivey said. “By expanding AlaVetNet, we will be better able to provide military men and women and their families the resources they need. We are steadfast in our support for the military, and we want to let our veterans know AlaVetNet is available to them.”
Governor Ivey also has tasked AlaVetNet with developing a strategic plan for accomplishing its purposes by January 31, 2018.
Governor Kay Ivey signs Veterans Day proclamation and executive order.
“I am pleased to support Governor Ivey. It’s important for Alabama institutions of higher education to collect data about the needs and strengths of service members, veterans and their families,” Albright said. “I am excited because these data will support research, policy, and practice implementation guidance for our military families and veterans across the state.”
Read of the Governor Ivey’s proclamation.
About the Alabama Executive Veterans Network
The Alabama Executive Veterans Network (AlaVetNet) was established in December 2013 by Executive Order 42. AlaVetNet’s charter is to facilitate the delivery of unified, seamless, and systematic access to services for those who have served our country and our state. Led by the Commissioners of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and of Mental Health, 18 State agencies are directed to participate.
AlaVetNet is organized into six committees representing the functional areas of Education, Employment, Homelessness, Family Services, Legal, and Health. Each Committee is led by a Chair and two Co-Chairs representing State agencies or well-established non-profits. Additionally, AlaVetNet recognizes that many of the challenges facing Alabama’s Veterans, Service Members, and their families call for cross-cutting efforts. Among these cross-cutting initiatives is the establishment of the group’s website. The Alabama Executive Veterans Network (AlaVetNet) website connects Veterans with resources and services tailored to their unique needs. AlaVetNet created a searchable database of resources for Veterans based on the areas they live. On the Resources for Veterans page, Veterans can browse local service providers that fit their needs. Veterans can search for as many as ten different types of services in the areas they live.
This article was compiled from a press release from the governor’s office.