VAC's Presence on Base is Expanding

VAC, in partnership with National Defence, is expanding a program that helps to simplify the transition from military to civilian life for CF members and their families. As part of a pilot program that was put in place about 18 months ago, one specially-trained VAC staff member was placed at each of seven CF locations to help releasing CF members. An evaluation of the pilot confirmed that CF clients were very satisfied with the services provided by VAC's Transition Coordinators (TCs), feeling they were helping to bridge an information gap on a wide range of matters including financial aid, family support, health care, rehabilitation and education/retraining. But we also discovered that our TCs required additional support. As a result, VAC is supplementing the single TC role with Client Service Teams which will be able to meet releasing CF members' needs, as well as the needs of war service veterans. Initially, these teams will be located in the seven pilot sites of Esquimalt, Edmonton, Valcartier, Gagetown, Ottawa, Halifax and Mississauga. Each team will report to a VAC District Office and consist of several front-line specialists, including Client Service Agents, Pension Officers, Area Counsellors and health professionals, as required. Team members will take turns staffing the office at each base location. One team is already in place in Winnipeg and we plan to roll out a number of others over the coming months.