From treatment to employment: support for veterans was once again brought together in Mykolaiv

September 16 in Mykolaiv a working meeting was held for specialists who support war veterans and demobilized persons. Staff from medical institutions, social services and other specialists involved in the defenders’ support system joined the event.

The meeting was organized by the Mykolaiv City Veterans Support Center, NGO “Center for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Mykolaiv Region” and the regional employment center.

Representatives of the regional employment center spoke about opportunities available to veterans:

• employment programs;
• vocational training;
• grant support to start their own business.

Separately, participants examined comprehensive support for veterans who are still undergoing treatment or have already completed it. Specialists discussed referral pathways for obtaining legal consultations, psychological assistance and physical rehabilitation. They also talked about training veterans and their family members in exercises and techniques necessary for recovery.

The head of NGO “Center for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Mykolaiv Region”, Olesya Olshevska, emphasized the need for team interaction among specialists from different fields:

Effective support for a veteran is always team work. Behind each request are issues of health, psychological state, social services, employment or legal assistance. It is important that specialists from different fields know one another, communicate quickly and find solutions tailored to the needs of a specific person.

Participants concluded that accompaniment specialists need not only a list of institutions but also direct contacts of colleagues. Such interaction should speed up resolving veterans’ specific issues. At the end of the event there was a networking session during which specialists shared experiences and established new working contacts.

The meeting was held as part of the project “Building a Local Veterans Support System”, implemented by NGO “Center for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Mykolaiv Region”. Financial support was provided by the International Renaissance Foundation and the European Union as part of the project “External actions of the European Union”.

Source: Mykolaiv City Council.

Previously we wrote:

• Mykolaiv authorities and the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center agreed to jointly help return veterans to civilian life
• Each ministry will appoint a person responsible for veterans
• “A veteran should not be a courier”: Vitaliy Kim wants to eliminate certificates and running between agencies
• Will Mykolaiv’s veterans’ service improve?
• Selection of candidates for veterans’ assistants has begun in the Mykolaiv region