NORWALK, Conn. Norwalk Community College has implemented the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The VITAL program aims to help veterans transition into college and university campuses while informing them about the different health care services, benefits and resources offered by the Veterans Affairs Department (VA).
NCC has fully implemented the program. Some of its aspects include providing onsite mental health counseling, creating support programs, and training faculty on military culture as well as coordinating with Student Veterans of America and other student veteran organizations.
NCC has also opened a Veterans Lounge, where veterans can study, relax, socialize and meet with VITAL counselors such as Amy Kaplan.
Kaplan is a licensed clinical social worker who helps veterans navigate through the paperwork process of obtaining VA benefits. She also offers career guidance and connects veterans with local employers expressing interest in hiring veterans.
We know that going back to school is a large undertaking in and of itself, on top of readjusting to civilian life and dealing with piles of benefits paperwork, Kaplan said in a press release. If veteran students have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us, we are here and happy to help, said Kaplan in a press release.
State Sens. Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and Carlo Leone (D-Stamford) recently visited NCC to provide the institution with a citation for its partnership with the VA.
Higher education has never been more important for a successful career, and our military veterans certainly deserve nothing less, said Duff in a press release.
Leone, Senate chairman of the General Assemblys Veterans Affairs committee, agrees.
Helping veterans to succeed in the civilian workforce has been a passion of mine for many years, and it is in fact a major focus of this years legislative session, Leone said in a press release.
