County of Santa Clara Office of Veterans Services Hosts Veterans Stand Down
Free event will feature first “Claims Clinic” in California and other services
The County of Santa Clara Office of Veterans Services will host a Stand Down for the second year in a row to offer free services, supplies, medical care, dental screenings, and more for qualified veterans. The three-day event will take place from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Oct. 2 – 4., at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Fiesta Hall, 344 Tully Road in San José. Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. and lunch will be served from noon – 2:30 p.m. each day.
This year’s Stand Down will feature a “Claims Clinic” to help veterans file claims for disability compensation, pensions, dependency and have them confirmed by the Department of Veterans Affairs staff on site. Veterans can also complete a Compensation and Pension Exam to determine eligibility. The Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office will also be at the event to provide legal aid with issues related specifically to the Santa Clara County legal system, including outstanding fees from traffic cases, expunging past convictions, outstanding warrants, and other issues.
“The Claims Clinic at this year’s Stand Down is a first in California and will be an opportunity for veterans and their families to file claims for the benefits they’ve earned,” said Darlyn Escalante, Director of the County of Santa Clara Veterans Services Office. “We thank the Department of Veterans Affairs team for providing this immediate service. We hope it will be a standard for future Stand Downs here and throughout the state.”
This year, aside from the Claims Clinic, there are several new services being offered at the Stand Down. NOVAWorks, of Sunnyvale, is offering employment assistance and will have a live job training session. There will also be dedicated services for women who served to get specialized care and services.
“The Stand Down is an example of our commitment to the thousands of veterans living in Santa Clara County,” said Otto Lee, District 3 Supervisor and retired 28-year U.S. Navy veteran. “The Board also made investments last year to add additional Veteran Services Representatives to the County Veterans Services Office and fund a pilot program to provide mobile dental services. We will continue to support and serve those that served our country.”
Several other organizations from throughout the state will provide services for the event like medical and dental screenings, mental health resources, legal aid, and more. The Valley Transportation Authority is offering veterans free rides on all buses and light rail from anywhere in the county.
“The collaboration and organization to bring national, state and local organizations together to make this event happen is a testament to our communities drive to deliver critical care to our veterans,” said Daniel Little, Director of the Social Services Agency. “For the second year in a row, the County is making it easier for veterans to file claims and access services they need in one, convenient location.”
There will be a short ceremony commemorating the event at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3. Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Benefits Mike Frueh will give a keynote address, and participants will also hear from elected officials and other community leaders.
Veterans should register for the event so organizers can plan to have enough supplies and services. Overnight camping at the Fairgrounds is not allowed.
The term “Stand Down” is derived from when service members return home from a tour of duty and are no longer in a state of readiness. The first Stand Down was held in San Diego in 1988.
ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multicultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, Calif., making it more populous than 14 states in the United States. The County provides essential services to its residents, including public health protection, environmental stewardship, medical services through the County of Santa Clara Health System, child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and many other public benefits.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Laurel Anderson/Matthew Rudig, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, [email protected], (408) 299-5119