The St Clair County Extension Office is on the move to support our county veterans in many areas identified in the Governor of Alabama’s Executive Order 42. The Executive Order, signed on December 10, 2013, established the Alabama Executive Veterans Network, known as AlaVetNet, for service members, veterans and their families.

Each state agency has a representative from the Governor’s cabinet with department heads focused on education, employment, health, homelessness, legal assistance and family support. The AlaVetNet will develop in coordination long-range plans to guide the members to delivery of services in their community.

The St. Clair County Extension office partnered with the St. Clair County Commission earlier this year to establish a veteran’s outreach pilot program.

It is led by Greg Jacobik, Agent Assistant. Currently, the St Clair County Extension office is the only model of its kind in the state and nation. This pilot program presents an opportunity for other county commissions and Cooperative Extension offices across the state to partner in an effort to reach veterans living in their respective counties. St. Clair County currently has 7,300 veterans.

The Veterans Treatment Court, under the direction of Judge Phil Seay, was established in January, 2013. A key element of this program is “veteran mentors” who support the veteran going through court proceedings on 1st time offenses.

Veterans in the program may have been identified as having substance abuse challenges resulting from time in service and/or combat. Veteran David Zuspac provided the orientation and was supported by county lead mentor, Darryl Higginbotham.

A veteran mentor’s orientation/working lunch was held on Thursday, April 3rd at the St. Clair County Extension office for those involved in the Veterans Treatment Court.

It was attended by St. Clair County Judge Phil Seay’s team along with other local non-profits including Lakeside Hospice and New Pathways as well as several veterans from St Clair, Calhoun and Jefferson County. Local attorneys including Jack Kemp, Bill Pruitt Jr. and Lyle Harmon were in attendance and are part of the Governor’s Legal Sub-Committee for Veterans. St. Clair County Commission Chairman, Stan Batemon, and Greg Jacobik were also in attendance and also serve on the Governor’s AlaVetNet Committees.

The Birmingham Federal Veterans Affairs Justice Officer and Peer Support Specialist, Daniel Williams, gave a presentation on the benefits of the federal system and how it can provide assistance to the district court. These benefits and counseling sessions are free to the veteran when using the federal veteran’s affairs network. This was the first veteran’s mentor training conducted in the state of Alabama at this time.

For more information about the Veterans Outreach Program in St. Clair County, please contact Greg Jacobik, Agent Assistant, at the St. Clair County Extension office by calling 205-338-9416 or email gtj0004@auburn.edu.