A mobile app to assist California veterans in their housing, education and health needs has been nominated for a national award for its ability to provide fast and efficient service for veterans in the Golden State.
Developed by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the CalVet Mobile App was nominated for a NASCIO 2012 State IT Recognition Award in the category of Digital Government– Government to Citizen.
According to the nomination paperwork, 1.9 million veterans live in California. These veterans often have special needs, as the average unemployment rate for veterans is two to three times that of the general population, and their time in the service has often left them with medical issues.
The CalVet Mobile App helped veterans avoid the problems associated with the resource-intensive Operation Welcome Home (OWH) campaign, especially in light of the reduced funding for veterans in the past five years. The app connects veterans with more than 1,800 service providers, gives GPS directions and allows veterans to access multiple services with a single account. Additionally, veterans can register with CalVet to receive targeted information about their needs and stay in touch with CalVet staff.
CalVet partnered with a vendor to develop the app and implement a strategy aimed at Android and Apple iOS operating systems, according to documents.
