Congressional Grant Award Will Support Veterans Services

Sunday, August 02, 2009

CCC will bolster its efforts to serve veterans through a $381,000 congressional award, originally sponsored by Congresswoman Darlene Hooley. The award will give CCC the resources they need to help our veterans navigate the higher-education system and attempt to reintegrate seamlessly into civilian life.

The college will use the award to hire a dedicated veteran’s affairs coordinator, who will help develop CCC’s new Veterans Education and Training Center. The new center will complement other CCC activities designed to help veterans break down barriers as they search for new and better employment opportunities. These efforts started in 2007 when the college formed critical partnerships with the Oregon National Guard (ONG) and Clackamas County.

“We know that nearly 37 percent of returning Guard members are unemployed or underemployed,” said Shelly Parini, dean of College Advancement at CCC. “This grant aims to change that statistic by creating pathways for our returning service members to achieve success.”

More than 6,400 men and women serve in the Oregon National Guard. This spring, half of the Oregon National Guard was called to active duty, the largest such deployment since World War II. CCC and the ONG are planning a regional reintegration activity in fall 2010 to welcome returning service members, as well as their families, and support their needs. The congressional award will also provide support for the Veterans and Career Benefits Fair.

Over the past few years, CCC has substantially increased its services to veterans that include job training opportunities, credit for prior learning, dedicated counselors to work with veterans, a veteran’s club and financial aid support. The CCC Foundation established the Military Families Scholarship Endowment, providing scholarship support to the families of service members and veterans.

To learn more about the congressional award, contact Shelly Parini at 503-657-6958, ext. 2545. For information about veterans’ services at the college, contact Bill Zuelke at 503-657-6958, ext. 2268.