Report 2009-108 Recommendation 6 Responses

Report 2009-108: California Department of Veterans Affairs: Although It Has Begun to Increase Its Outreach Efforts and to Coordinate With Other Entities, It Needs to Improve Its Strategic Planning Process, and Its CalVet Home Loan Program Is Not Designed to Address the Housing Needs of Some Veterans (Release Date: October 2009)

Recommendation #6 To: Veterans Affairs, Department of

The department should ensure that Veterans Services continues to pursue its various initiatives related to gathering veterans’ contact information and increasing veterans’ awareness of the benefits and services available to them. Additionally, the department should pursue efforts to update its Web site to ensure that it contains current, accurate, and useful information for veterans’ reference.

1-Year Agency Response

In its one-year response, the department also reported that Veterans Services is continuing its efforts to gather veterans’ contact information. Specifically, the department stated that in January 2010 it launched Operation Welcome Home, which is the governor’s initiative to help veterans transition to civilian life once their military service ends. The department indicated that this effort formalizes and strengthens the initiatives discussed in the bureau’s audit report to ensure contact information is collected from active duty and veterans attendees at outreach activities such as Transitional Assistance Program classes, Yellow Ribbon Program events, and other outreach events. The department reported that Veterans Services now has approximately 28,000 contacts in its veterans reintegration management system database. The department stated that Operation Welcome Home has formalized the department’s relationship with the Employment Development Department and other state and local agencies to ensure that Veterans Services receives veterans’ contact information. The department explained that Operation Welcome Home uses the veterans’ contact information to make structured personal contact with veterans to assist them in receiving the services and benefits they have earned. Finally, the department has updated its Web site. (2011-406, p. 227)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2009-108

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.