Community collaboration continues as Military Assistance Personnel Support (MAPS) pulls together resources for local veterans, men and women currently serving in the military and their families.

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, MAPS held the first community partners meeting to begin turning proposed ideas into action.

“The meeting was fantastic.  Everybody in attendance shared one goal,” Peggy Mann of the American Red Cross said.

At the meeting Veteran Advocate Greg Jacobik reviewed the initial MAPS community strategy.  “MAPS is about developing bridges with community partners to communicate wellness, employment and education support programs for veterans and military families; facilitating a resilient lifestyle in our hometown for opportunities to increase knowledge.”

More than 7,300 veterans and 1,400 military families reside in St Clair County.  MAPS held discussions about a regional concept, creating support for 108,000 veterans and 15,000 military families in a nine county area.  Jacksonsville State University Program Coordinator for the Center for Economic Development and Business Research in the College of Commerce and Business Administration presented support for regional strategy that would encourage veterans and military families to seek opportunities for small business growth through the Small Business Administration-Veterans Affairs.

Members of the MAPS team proposed ideas for upcoming events to provide support for veterans and military families.  Teresa Carden, Mission Coordinator at Lakeside Hospice, suggested holding a Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) Conference in the Spring of 2012 providing awareness, support, coping skills and information from local organizations.  Both military and civilian professionals with knowledge and expertise related to PTS will provide conference materials.  In coordination with the conference, Veteran Advocate Otto Fox recommended a Veterans and Military Families Fair, focusing on the three pillars of MAPS, wellness, employment and education.  The combined idea bridges support between veterans, military families and the community by extending awareness.

“We’re in the process of getting things situated to help everyone know about opportunities for veterans and those in the military,” Veteran Advocate John Carter said.

During the meeting the team held an open floor discussion to exchange thoughts and ideas about future opportunities.

“We were all asking everyone what they did and wanted to know how we could help each other,” Mann said.  “I’m so grateful to be part of a group willing to work together for the benefit of others.”

MAPS encourages anyone who wants to be involved to come to the meetings.  The next MAPS meeting will be held in Jan. 2012.