April 9 Veteran Services Commission of Summit County Board meeting
Covered by Documenter Ken Evans (see his notes here)
A new touchscreen information kiosk at the Veterans Service Commission (VSC) of Summit County, 1060 E. Waterloo Road in Akron, is already seeing strong use, with more than 50 veterans accessing since it launched earlier this year.
The kiosk is designed to reach veterans who may be unaware of the commission’s services or hesitant to ask for help in person.
“Despite all of our advertising efforts, many veterans don’t know we exist,” explained William Schnering from the VSC. “A kiosk is a cost-effective way to get the information out to veterans and their families.”
More than 31,000 veterans live in Summit County — about 5.8% of the county’s total population. These veterans may struggle to access the benefits they’ve earned. Claims can be denied due to missing evidence or improperly completed forms. The kiosk aims to educate veterans about the types of benefits available and encourage them to seek help from the VSC before filing on their own.
Summit County veterans have access to multiple services
The VSC is funded by Summit County tax dollars and provides free assistance to veterans. Its service officers are trained to navigate the claims process, increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome. General VSC services for veterans and dependents include:
- VA claims and benefits
- Financial assistance
- Burial benefits
- Transportation to VA medical appointments
- Counseling
This new kiosk offers a private, self-guided way for veterans to learn about available benefits and how to contact the commission for personalized support. While it does not store personal data, the device tracks usage trends to help the commission understand which topics matter most to users.
Feedback has been very positive. “If it keeps one veteran from becoming homeless, my opinion is, it’s a success,” Schnering said.
Though the kiosk is currently located at the VSC office, the commission hopes to move it to the Akron VA Clinic at 55 W. Waterloo Road in Akron or another high-traffic public site, such as a library.
Summit County’s VSC is the first in Ohio to pilot a kiosk of this kind. Officials will present preliminary results to all 88 county VSCs at a statewide meeting on May 16.
Read Documenter Ken Evans’ notes here: