| Jo Ann Henrie Foreman |
 COUNTY OF MENDOCINO Grand Jury |
Telephone: (707) 463-4320 |
GRAND JURY |
VeteransREVIEW OF THE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE The goal of the Mendocino Veterans Service Office (MVSO) is to assist Veterans and their relatives in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled. The review noted several areas of concern and recommendations are made which strengthen services to Veterans. REASON FOR INVESTIGATION As oversight responsibility, the Grand Jury reviewed the functions and status of the MVSO PROCEDURES Information for this review was obtained by interviewing office staff and Veterans Service Officers from surrounding counties. Material from other veterans service offices was reviewed as well as documents produced by the state Office of Veterans Affairs and reports and files from the MVSO. FINDINGS 1. The MVSO advocates for veterans and their families in obtaining the following entitlements:
2. This office serves approximately 14.000 veterans and their families residing in Mendocino County. 3. Approximately 4.000 active files are maintained and an average of 30 cases are initiated each month. 4. The Veterans Service Officer (VSO) interacts with other departments within the county. such as law enforcement, courts, health providers, as well as federal and state agencies. 5. The MVSO is staffed by only two employees, the VSO and a Veterans Services Representative (VSR), a newly-authorized position. Both are certified by the United States and California Departments of Veteran Affairs. Veterans are paid to work on a part-time basis to answer phones and do general clerical work. The former clerk was promoted to VSR. leaving an opening for a clerk. When a clerk is added. the office will have three full-time employees, in addition to part-time volunteers. Considering the caseload handled by this office, the office was understaffed until the VSR position was authonzed. 6. This service brings approximately 510.000.000 into the county in benefits and $ 1.850.000 in new benefits has been added annually. This amounts to around $290,000 in tax revenue to the County. according to the California Department of Veteran Affairs This is ~e1l above other counties or similar size. 7 The workload of this office has increased 400% over the last seven years. 8. The County is saved considerable expense in general assistance, county medical. services. and Medi-Cal by routing veterans to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco. the Veterans Home in Yountville, the Veterans Clinic in Santa Rosa. and tre Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto. 9 The VSO salary level is below other veteran service offices of comparable size as shown below:
10. Mendocino County has a 50% greater case load than these other small counties. 11 The MVSO is governed by the State Veterans Code Sections 972 and 972.5. which provide for the appointment of the VSO by the County Board of Supervisors. In Mendocino County the Board of Supervisors has delegated the appointing power to the Social Services Director. The MVSO is operated as a unit of the Mendocino County Department of Social Services. Veteran organizations believe veterans benefits are eamed and feel that to be part of social services is a stigma associated with welfare. VSOs from other counties were adamant that the veterans services offices should not be part of social services because it hinders the office in providing the required support to veterans. 12. In 44 of 58 counties, the VSO is a separate department. The recommendation to be a separate department was made by two previous Grand Juries. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The VSO should be a separate department with its own budget, policies, and procedures. (See Findings 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11.) 2. The salary for the staff should be increased to a comparable level to like offices throughout the state. (See Finding 9.) 3. This office should be properly staffed. (See Findings 1, 2, 3,5.) COMMENTS 1. Having had a certified VSR performing the duties of a clerk greatly aided this office in its missions. 2. The office should be commended for doing an outstanding job while understaffed. 3. Considering the tax revenue realized by the County from VSO, it is hard to understand why this office was not properly staffed. 4. Due to the stringent oversight by the Federal Office of Veteran Affairs and Calitornia Office of Veteran Affairs, having this office as a separate department would require a minimum of supervision by the County Administrati\e Officer or other administrators. The money it would take for this office to be a separate department would be well spent. RESPONSE REQUIRED 1. Mendocino County Director of Social Services (Recommendations 1 - 3). 2. Veterans Service Officer (Recommendations 1 - 3). 3. Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (Recommendations 1 - 3).
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