Issue of the Month: Kent County Veterans Affairs Department

Six years ago the County Commission created a new department for Veteran’s Affairs in Kent County. Prior to the creation of this new Department the county provided only the services mandated by the State in the Sailors and Soldiers Relief Act. In 2008 the Commission set about creating a more central and fully staffed department whose mission was to “...provide a central, accurate, efficient, timely service to ensure delivery of benefits to Kent County veterans and their families.” We appointed a separate Advisory Committee of veterans to help in accomplishing this new expanded purpose. The prior Soldiers and Sailors Relief mission was enfolded into the new Department. Since 2008, the Veterans Affairs Department has now become the ‘go to’ place for veterans seeking answers to their VA issues, and seeking emergency support through tough times—as a result of their prior military participation. The County has gradually increased the operating budget assigned to the Department and creatively added several part-time and intern staff to help out. Since 2008 the Department has increased it’s services and output by 300%, and has helped bring in more than $18 million of financial benefits to veterans and their dependents. But we are not able to keep ahead of the demand, and thus are seeking additional funding through a small millage we are asking citizens to approve in November. I will be telling more in my October Newsletter.