Veterans' Stand-Down Day

OCTOBER 14, 2008

Prepared for Public Service Announcement:

Fort Walton Beach – Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum Care / Opportunity, Inc is planning a Veterans Stand-down Day scheduled for Friday October 24th from 8:30am – 2:30pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Walton Beach. Cathy Magnuson, Commander with the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #72, is the Coordinator and the DAV is donating $5000 toward the Stand Down. 

The Stand-Down is an outreach project designed to reach veterans who may find themselves homeless or otherwise unable to connect with VA and other support resources. The focus of the event is to connect the Veteran’s with a wide range of local resources to enhance the quality of their lives.

This will be a collaborative effort partnering:

• Veterans Administration
• Department of Children and Families
• Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties
• 1st Judicial Circuit, including the Honorable T. Patterson Maney, Okaloosa County Court, the Offices of the State Attorney and the Public Defender
• James Wilson, MD Internal Medicine
• Bridgeway Center Inc. 

Free health screenings will be provided. A medical bus will enable Dr. Wilson and his team to provide physical health screenings. Mental Health screenings will be provided by licensed professionals from Bridgeway Center’s Outpatient Services.

Judge Maney, working with the Offices of the State’s Attorney and Public Defender, will provide judicial review of outstanding legal issues. Lenore Wilson, Director, stated that the Continuum of Care is looking forward to participating with community partners to provide this service for our veterans.