Alexandra Reeves

Assignment 6.3- Community Agency Project

CNS 771
2016Jun19

The community agency I chose to do my project on was Veterans Village of San Diego

(VVSD). The mission on VVSD is, Leave No One Behind. The mission is simple in nature but

embodies not only the civilian world, but also the military world. Often, in the military, things

are said like battle buddy or shipmate. It is natural that this idea of staying together and not

leaving anyone behind be applied to this organization that focuses around veterans. The mission

is clear and precise. The goals of VVSD is to take in as many veterans as possible and help them

get off the streets, not just for the stent of the program, but for life. VVSD also believes,

intensive rehabilitation leads to self-sustaining independence, the maximizing of human

potential and a meaningful, fulfilling life.

VVSD was founded in 1981 and was originally called Vietnam Veterans of San Diego.

There were 5 Vietnam veterans that founded the center and they were named, Jack Lyons, Bill

Mahedy, Randy Waite, Paul Grasso, and Russ Kelly. These individuals were having a hard time

after the war and were not getting the treatment they needed from the VA. These individuals

were appalled by the treatment they received and decided no matter the consequences, they

needed to help others in similar situations. The 5 founders originally started VVSD to help their

fellow soldiers get off the streets and get treatment that was so desperately needed. This led to

the development of the nationally recognized, non-governmental organization that it currently is.

In the year 2005, Veterans Village of San Diego had changed its name from Vietnam Veterans of

San Diego.
 VVSD has a board of directors. The board chair is Rear Admiral Bill Kowba, SC, USN

(Ret.). The vice chair is James Waters who also is the deputy district attorney for San Diego

County. There are also 10 other board members: Joshua Arntson, David Bain, Angela Bartosik

JD, Steve Binder, Christopher Lawrence, Mike Madigan, Harry Stephens, Jonathan Tibbits,

Nancy Tomich, and Thomas Topuzes. The senior leadership at VVSD is as follows: Phil Landis

(President and Chief Executive Officer), Andre Simpson (Executive Vice President and Chief

Operations Officer), Harry Guess (Vice President and Chief Financial Officer), David Siegler

(Vice President of Grants and Special Projects), and Claudia Castro (Executive Assistant to the

President and CEO). The clinical director of the counseling department is Marilyn Cornell,

LMFT. The second in command of the counseling department is Jill Boyle, LMFT.

VVSD is a private non-profit, non-governmental, and no insurance required treatment

center. VVSD receives 44 percent of the program costs from the VA. VVSDs top three funding

sources are government grants from; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of

Labor, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. VVSD spends its money on

four services; rehabilitation, transitional housing, employment/training services, and

prevention/outreach. If a resident does not have a dollar to his name, he does not have to pay.

Once a resident gets a job, he would start paying rent ($300/month) is average. This only kicks in

when the resident is making enough to support all other areas of their lives.

The VA comes on site and helps the residents submit claims for treatment at the VA and

benefits. This helps the residents have an additional income but this cannot be used as rent

money. When it comes to the counseling department, all therapists are students working on

their hours for the Masters degrees. They do not receive compensation for their services. The
supervisors are both LMFTs and there are also case managers that are paid positions. The clients

are not forced to receive counseling but they are required to have a case manager.

VVSD serves clientele that fit this description, homeless veterans with substance use

and other mental health issues. This can be any age range or gender. There are clients as young

as 20 and as old as 72. In order to qualify, the individual has to be homeless and a veteran.

VVSD offers individual counseling, family counseling, process groups, classes, and topic

specific groups (i.e. Healthy Relationships, Family Dynamics, Co-Occurring Disorders, CBT,

Equine Assisted Therapy, Expressive Arts, etc.). There are also AA groups on campus and out in

the community. The VA is very cooperative with the program and even offers some funding.

There is an event once a year called Stand Down. This event is a three-day outreach to

all homeless veteran and their dependents in the county. At Stand Down, Veterans are welcomed

with open arms and offered breakfast, coffee, and fruit. The veterans get assigned to a tent where

they will be assisted in accessing any services that they might need. This can be visits to the

clothing tent, showers, barbers, makeovers, medical, dental, and optical services. There is also

information on homeless court, family court, counseling, VA benefits, employment, job

counseling, integrative medicine, recovery providers, and shelters. Veterans service

organizations, service clubs and local chefs provide over 12,000 meals.

VVSD has many partners. Some include: Prudential. San Diego Dental Health

Foundation, DLA Piper, National University, The Home Depot, Starbucks Coffee, USAA, Ford,

and Lowes. There are many monetary contributors as well. Quite a few like to remain

anonymous as well. VVSD markets its service at all homeless shelters and local homeless

dwellings. Also, the VA sends a lot of veterans their way. Many homeless veterans learn of

VVSD through Stand Down or word of mouth from other homeless veterans.
 Marilyn Cornell, the clinical director, completed her M.S. degree in counseling from San

Diego State University. She completed one year of practicum under live supervision and once

year of placement doing family therapy in a school based program. Marilyn completed 3,000

hours of supervised work which included running groups for the Adult Probation Department

and working in a private practice setting. She has practiced in school based settings, private

practice, an outpatient community based clinic, a womens homeless shelter, an inpatient

residential treatment program for homeless veterans with substance use and trauma, and with the

prison population on Californias death row. Marilyn has worked with sex offenders, domestic

violence perpetrators and victims, families, couples, individuals, and criminal justice involved

clients. Her scope of practice is Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist but also has specialized

training in Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Military Sexual

Trauma, substance use, and have been designated an Expert Witness to testify in Superior Court

in California. Marilyn also works at a private practice in the evenings. She stopped taking

payments from insurance companies many years ago and only use private pay at her private

practice. Marilyn sees clients on a sliding scale (if necessary) and maintains a few slots for pro

bono clients who cant afford therapy.

I really enjoyed completing this project. It allowed me the chance to better get to know

my practicum site. While I knew the bulk of this information, I also learned a lot. Not only did I

learn about the site, but I was able to better get to know the people I am working with. Seeing

these people every day, I have gotten use to the idea of just being there, but there are truly

miracles happening everyday with the residents and I plan on being more in the moment in order

to see them. I truly love what I do and who I work with. I am so excited for the future and the

career that I hope to have.