Veteran Information Week kicked off at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

The event was aimed at providing Veterans with a range of resources and information surrounding the PACT ACT to help them navigate the complex web of benefits and services available to them.

The weeklong event is being held in partnership with the 15th Ward Alderman Raymond Lopez and will feature a range of activities and events designed to educate and inform Veterans.

Lopez said Jesse Brown will bring services that are provided at the hospital with a high Veteran population and need.

“Oftentimes [there isn’t any] support to bring then in,” he said. “We are going to do that together. We are going to be bringing all the best of you … [to areas in Chicago and] expose so many to what they don’t know.

“Everyone thinks they know what the VA is, they don’t. We are going to show them what the 21st century VA is.”

One of the key goals of Veterans Information Week is to raise awareness about the many benefits and services available to Veterans. These include health care, education and training, employment assistance, and disability benefits, among others.

Rick Ament, the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center director, agreed with Lopez and pointed out that the hospital was comfortably busy with helping 44% of the Veterans in its market who are eligible for care.

“We knew that wasn’t sufficient, we knew that wasn’t the right thing to do,” explained Ament. “It was kind of the standard model to just kind of go along. When we were driving through the communities and serving our Veterans in these various [community-based outpatient clinics], we realized they are significantly underserved.

“We have an opportunity and admission to get these services to these Veterans. We are going to use this as a springboard. This is the first of the new Jesse Brown outreach program.”

Ament added that, “Veterans Information Week is apart of our comprehensive strategic initiative to be present to all the Veterans we serve throughout Chicagoland, especially those in underserved areas.”

The event will also provide Veterans with an opportunity to connect with representatives from a range of organizations and agencies that provide services and support to Veterans. In addition to providing information and resources, Veterans Information Week will also feature several events aimed at honoring and recognizing the sacrifices made by our nation's Veterans.

Lopez stated that the event was an important opportunity to show gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made by Veterans.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to our Veterans, and this event is just one small way we can show our appreciation for all they have done for our country," he said.

Overall, Veterans Information Week promises to be an informative and inspiring event that will provide Veterans with the tools and resources they need to lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives after their service to our country.