Senior centers across the Green River Area Development District’s seven-county region have officially been designated as Veteran-Friendly, a certification GRADD leaders say is a significant step forward in supporting local veterans and their families.
The recognition comes after a training session hosted earlier this year in partnership with the Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) and led by John L. Miles III, the Veteran Families and Caregiver Support Coordinator. The training is part of Kentucky’s statewide Veteran-Friendly Senior Center Program, an initiative designed to ensure veterans feel welcome and supported at local centers.
Stephen Buford, Benefits Division Director at the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA), also contributed by providing insights on connecting veterans with the benefits and services they’ve earned.
The program equips senior center staff with the tools and resources to better serve veterans and their families, including assistance with questionnaires, designating follow-up contacts, and creating outreach plans tailored specifically for veterans.
“This certification opens the door for the Senior Centers to help access at the local level, the needed Veterans’ services in a very timely manner,” said Union County Senior Services Director Melisaa Polites. “Cutting out the need for travel to a regional office serves to make it easier on our Veterans. We want to help our veteran population access those earned benefits as simply as possible, not only through the KDVA (Kentucky Department of Veteran Affairs), but also the local senior centers.”
Representatives from senior centers across the GRADD region have now completed the training and received formal certification. This milestone signals a renewed commitment to welcoming veterans, their spouses, and surviving widows into the center community.
“When we were offered this opportunity by DAIL, it felt like a win-win for both partnerships,” said GRADD Community Services Manager Amber Gebhard. “The senior centers can highlight their programs and social opportunities while also making sure the veterans who visit are utilizing and accessing all the benefits they deserve. The centers can now provide better resource navigation while also making sure the veterans feel like the honored, supported, and valuable members of our communities they truly are.”
Kentucky is the first state in the nation to launch this type of program, underscoring its dedication to the well-being of veterans and their families.
For more information, contact Amber Gebhard at 270-926-4433 or [email protected].
