DJ Reyes

The council received a presentation from the Military Women's Memorial Foundation regarding education and outreach for women veterans. Committee reports were provided for nursing homes, communications, and homelessness, including updates on eligibility for state veteran homes and the establishment of sub-committees for communication. Regional advisors discussed identifying housing resources, transitional homes, and rural support for women veterans. The council also coordinated plans for upcoming Women Veterans Recognition Day events and identified best practices for engagement.

The council discussed various committee reports, including initiatives for state nursing homes, communications and outreach strategies, and homelessness support services for women veterans. Key topics included the development of a resource database for women veterans, identifying rural areas for increased support and resources, and discussions on public policy and legislative advocacy for women veterans. Plans were established to increase participation in outreach events and improve information access for women veterans regarding claims assistance.

This Affirmative Action Plan for the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs formalizes the agency's commitment to equal employment opportunity for women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. The plan serves as a guide to promote employment opportunities by increasing recruitment, hiring, and retention of these groups. It details procedures for disability accommodation, outlines responsibilities for implementation, and establishes review, audit, and reporting systems to ensure compliance. The strategic approach includes identifying impediments and developing remedial actions to foster an inclusive workforce and eliminate unlawful employment barriers.

The Long Range Program Plan outlines the agency's strategic direction and serves as a foundation for annual legislative budget requests. It includes performance indicators for evaluating the impact of programs and agency performance. The plan, covering Fiscal Years 2022-23 through 2026-27, aims to highlight successes impacting the state's veterans.

The meeting covered several topics, including the submission of the Agency Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 and a Notice of Proposed Rule Development: 55-11.010 Residents' Deposit of Money. Also on the agenda were discussions regarding the Board of Trustees property, recognition of the Executive Director's award winner for 2012, nominees for the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2013, the Agency's fourth quarter report for fiscal year 2012/2013, legislative policy proposals for fiscal year '14 and '15, and the Department's legislative budget proposals for fiscal year '14/'15.