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Illinois Joining Forces
Serving Service Members, Veterans
and Their Families
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Greetings from the IJF Team!
Since IJF launched 6 months ago, we have had more than 120 organizations sign on for membership, including small and large non-profits and a diverse range of federal, state, county and city agencies. These member organizations have all committed to collaboration via IJF Working Groups and the IJF website... - more -
How to Maximize your IJF Membership.
Working Groups in Action: Veteran Education
Shortly after the IJF Launch Summit, the Education Working Group identified as a gap for student veterans the fact that military training doesn't often translate into appropriate academic credit on campus. So, Working Group members collaborated to bring to Illinois the experts from the federally contracted body that provides military credit recommendations, the American Council on Education (ACE)... - more -
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Greetings from the IJF Team!
Since IJF launched 6 months ago, we have had more than 120 organizations complete the IJF membership process, bringing small and large non-profits and a diverse range of federal, state, county and city agencies into a great networking dynamic. These member organizations have all committed to collaboration via IJF Working Groups and the IJF website.
You are receiving this first edition of the Illinois Joining Forces (IJF) newsletter because of your work on behalf of service members, veterans and their families in Illinois. Through this newsletter, we will share updates on the work and growth of IJF, highlight exciting projects underway, and provide information about how you and your organization can get more involved.
Many of our Working Groups have built strong momentum over the last several months. Asked at our November IJF Launch Summit to identify remaining gaps in services, these Working Groups launched "Military/Veteran 101" training events for community providers, have educated college leaders on military transfer credit, and have begun developing statewide referral networks for legal and emergency assistance support. For a specific example of Working Group activity, please see the article below, highlighting our Veteran Education Working Group.
The online activity and presence of IJF members is growing as well. While the IllinoisJoiningForces.org website developed more slowly than anticipated, it is now fully functional and incorporates many of the suggestions and improvements you have voiced. We are starting to see more events added, profiles updated, and veterans referred via this important collaborative platform.
If you're already an IJF member, thank you for being on the ground-floor of this first-of-its-kind effort. If you haven't yet joined IJF, please read more about some of the great work that is going on, and consider joining the IJF network. To learn more about the benefits of IJF membership and information on how to join, visit www.IllinoisJoiningForces.org
Sincerely,
The IJF Executive Committee
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How to Maximize your IJF Membership
Being a part of IJF involves far more than just signing a member MOU. Joining IJF commits all of us to active collaboration, so that together we can improve the overall system of support for our military, our veterans, and their families. To get started in fulfilling those collaborative commitments, please do the the following:
Add your next event(s) to the IJF site. By adding your job or benefit fair, fundraiser, or memorial ceremony, you ask the IJF community to "save the date" and help us all de-conflict our events. Just login to the site and from your member dashboard, click on "Add Event", and complete the following screen. The add event screen allows you to connect your event with your working groups as well as partner groups, add a photo or logo, provide a description and set up a link for registration. If you have other questions, please contact info@illinoisjoiningforces.org.
Document your referrals, you already connect veterans in your offices with organizations that help on issues you don't. Next time you do that, login to the IJF site and select "IJF Members" at the bottom of the page click "Referral" or click here to make that referral - or to find a new organization to which you can refer your clients. By documenting your referrals, you show yourself as a "highly networked" member of the IJF community, and help us build the understanding of system.
Attend the Working Group Meetings. Learn more about what the community of providers in your field are doing, and how you can work together to serve service members, veterans, and their families better. Meeting dates and locations are available at the IJF website under "Events" or at each Working Group's page.
Update Your Member Profile
Add Your Event(s)
Document Your Referrals
Attend Working Group Meetings!
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Working Groups in Action:
Veteran Education
Shortly after the IJF Launch Summit, the Education Working Group identified as a gap for student veterans the fact that military training doesn't often translate into appropriate academic credit on campus. So, Working Group members collaborated to bring to Illinois the experts from the federally contracted body that provides military credit recommendations, the American Council on Education (ACE).
In two different day-long sessions - in Springfield and Glen Ellyn - more than 165 participants from schools across Illinois learned more about the rigor of the ACE assessment process. They also learned how to understand the new Joint Service Transcripts (JST). The Deans, Registrars, Transfer Coordinators, and Certifying Officials who attended the ACE training walked away with a much clearer understanding of how to assess military training - and with many committing to take that understanding directly back to their transfer offices.
Working together through events like this and future planned activities, IJF Education Working Group members are helping to address critical areas of need for student veterans.
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Local IJF Gatherings:
Mount Prospect Is Home to First IJF Networking Event
We would like to thank Frank Salato of the United Relief Foundation for setting up and hosting the first Illinois Joining Forces Networking Event on May 23, 2013 in Mount Prospect.
Convened to help connect local veteran organizations and advocates with each other and identify opportunities for collaboration, the event led to attendees' greater awareness of local services - and at least two participants walked away intending to partner with an organization they'd previously never heard of!
You too can host an IJF Networking Event and help connect service providers in your area. For more information, click here. As in Mt. Prospect, the IJF Admin Team can assist by attending your IJF Networking event, providing an update on IJF efforts, and helping get others to join IJF!
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You are receiving this first edition of the Illinois Joining Forces (IJF) newsletter because of your work on behalf of service members, veterans and their families in Illinois. Through this newsletter, we will share updates on the work and growth of IJF, highlight exciting projects underway, and provide information about how you and your organization can get more involved.
Illinois Joining Forces (IJF)
100 West Randolph
Suite 5-570
Chicago, IL 60601-3219
Please add us to your address book
Copyright (C) 2013 Illinois Joining Forces (IJF). All rights reserved.
Dale Reeves 217-524-3068
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