04/03/2024
It is with great excitement and optimism for the future we announce Community Service Council is transitioning to Oklahoma Veterans United (OKVU).
Over the past eight decades, we have been vigilant in our efforts to bring people together to research, plan, coordinate action, and assess progress to address some of Oklahoma’s most critical social service, health, education, and civic challenges. As advocates of our mission, you have played an integral role in furthering our work to connect vulnerable, marginalized, and under-resourced Tulsans with support. We will continue to remain vigilant in our efforts and hope to have your continued support as we shift to solely focus on the Veteran community in the state of Oklahoma.
Moving forward, our organizational efforts will concentrate on our rapid re-housing program, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), as well as continue to expand su***de prevention resources and employment opportunities for Veterans through key initiatives including, but not limited to:
-Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Su***de Prevention Grant Program (SSG FOX SPGP): A VA funded grant connecting at-risk Veterans to upstream su***de prevention tools. These tools include targeted outreach events, warm hand-offs to VA clinical and administrative staff, connection to local community resources, and individualized programs to help reduce the risk of Veteran su***de.
-Veteran Employer Network: A peer learning network providing Oklahoma employers the opportunity to connect, learn, and share best practices for creating Veteran-ready cultures. The network sponsors the Veteran Employer Champion Survey offering employers the opportunity to be recognized for meeting all seven benchmarks required to receive the annual Veteran Employer Champion badge.
-Right Face: A statewide initiative to ensure incarcerated Veterans pending release have housing, employment, and other vital resources secured.
In 2023, 211 Eastern Oklahoma transitioned to Tulsa Area United Way and Healthy Start became its own 501(c)(3), leaving two non-Veteran initiatives remaining with OKVU, including Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) and Tulsa Weather Coalition. In June of 2024, CCRC will transition away from the organization. The Tulsa Weather Coalition will continue to provide air-conditioning units for low-income Tulsans who have heat sensitive medical conditions with the goal to become a Veteran specific initiative in 2025.
We are continuing to make organizational changes in alignment with this transition. To stay up to date with the most current information, visit our new website at www.okvetunited.org and continue to follow Oklahoma Veteran Alliance - Community Service Council on Facebook as it will transition to become OKVU.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your support, and can’t thank you enough for being an essential part of our journey. Together, we will continue to create lasting change and build a better future.
