Administrative Services Program Spotlights
STUDENT POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT The Elections Division, in conjunction with local college and university leaders, expanded their poll worker recruitment strategies to target students ages 17-24 in the region. A marketing campaign showcasing county interns featured students working at the polls exhibiting their public service. Tabling events at six colleges and universities allowed Elections staff to interact with students during outreach events, student activity fairs, and welcome back events. They were able to engage students, extolling the virtues of serving as a poll worker in the community. For the General Election on November 8th, the Elections Division was privileged to have 110 students serve as poll workers.
VETREC
VETERANS AFFAIRS STAFF RECEIVES ACCREDITATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS Five staff within Veterans Affairs have received the National Veterans Service Officer (VSO) accreditation through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As an accredited VSO, these staff are entrusted by the VA to uphold good moral character, provide proper representation to veterans and their families, and ensure that claimants have access to appropriate benefits and receive VSO representation on their VA benefits claims. These same five staff members have also received appropriate clearances to work within the Veterans POD at the Allegheny County Jail. Staff are authorized to meet with inmates, and as VSOs, assist with VA benefit claims, identify assistance programs, and prepare transition plans for the Veterans POD inmates. Three staff members have become certified by the Wounded Warrior Project in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). Staff participated in a combination of classroom-style education with real-life scenarios to understand attitudes surrounding suicide and the importance of talking about the issue. Staff certified in ASIST training can better identify the warning signs of suicide and the best ways to offer assistance. With a mission of bringing Veterans and their families together in an active setting, the Veterans’ Affairs division created VetRec so that this special group could learn the fundamentals of a wide range of sporting activities. Through coach-led programming, veterans are encouraged to work together, become more active, and connect with their family as well as other veterans. The first event, Lacrosse Basics with the organization USA Lacrosse, introduced the sport to a coed group of varying ages and skill levels at JC Stone field in Allegheny County’s North Park. Future VetRec events at county-owned parks will include fishing, golf, softball, and hockey with the Wounded Warrior Hockey Team.
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