A Combat Veteran's Hope
Welcome Home
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
When our Combat Veterans come home, they return to a brand new life full of challenges. They also come home tormented with their own stresses. Unfortunately, many of our Veterans feel they must go through these struggles alone. Currently with the suicide rate among Veterans at 20 per day, we know those stats don't show the true struggles of our nation’s heroes. There’s a need for an organization built by Combat Veterans, for Combat Veterans. We are here to empower our Veterans through engagement and provide a more local support system, with the means and network to get them the help they need. We also understand their families need support as well. They need the tools and resources to ensure there is a good family support system for their veteran. They are faced with multiple issues ranging from PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Disabilities, Substance Abuse and Isolation. They need a central location with Veterans who can guide them with ways to help them get through it
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Engagement
Through various events and partnerships around the Valley, we give our Combat Veterans and their family the opportunity to be around one another to grow relationships and connections to remind them they are not alone. These events include softball, golf, hiking, BBQ's, bowling, and family trips to encourage connections. We also use these opportunities to connect them with other Veteran friendly organizations that may be help with their personal needs.
All these events are at no cost to our Veterans.
S.O.A.R. Program - Peer Mentoring
Survive, Overcome, Adapt, Recover (S.O.A.R.) is our program we use to connect with our Combat Veterans on a one-on-one basis. When needed, our Warfighters are given a mentor that has been trained to be an ear, as well as provide a group settings so our Veterans know they are not alone in their journey in life. We help them use our training to develop a plan of action and follow up with them if they need encouragement to move forward.
H.O.P.E Program
H.O.P.E. stands for Help Our Patriots Endure. We connect warfighters with members of their community to check in, say hello and ask how everything is going. Through engagement with people from the community, Warfighters can begin to feel more than ever, that people care about them.
Mentor Training
When a Warfighter is at a place in their life where they can give back, we give them opportunities with training to become a "Battle Buddy" who will connect with a new Combat Veteran and help them with their goals and transition into healthy civilian lifestyle.
Family Support
We offer Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) 101 classes to family members to educate them on triggers and coping skills, so they can better understand and help their Warfighter. We also offer activities for loved ones to encourage networking and unity.
Spousal Peer support is also be available.
Resource Referral
With the right resources, a Warfighter has a better chance for a seamless transition to their civilian life. Homelessness, joblessness, suicide, mental health, physical health and integration continue to be an issue forthose returning home from combat. We will help connect those that need further support with other non-profit organizations or government agencies.
Warfighter Grant Program
We here at A Combat Veteran's Hope understand that emergencies happen all the time. For that we have begun to provide grants to help those who need a hand with their unforeseen circumstances. With these grants we discuss future plans so they are more financially stable in the future.
Female Warfighter Program
Women account for approximately 10% of California's Veteran population. So we continue to provide engagement opportunities designed specifically for our Female Combat Veterans and their needs. This program allows us to ensure that they have all the necessary resources and support while providing them with a safe environment to grow.
ACVH Memorial Scholarship Fund
In the name of Our Fallen Heroes, we have created a committee of Veterans, their families, and other veteran supporters to award chosen students in need with their school costs and tuition. These scholarships are awarded based on merit, application, community engagement, veteran involvement and need.
Outdoor Program
Many of our Warfighters still have the desire to free themselves of their normal day-to-day tasks and take a break to enjoy the outdoors. From fishing, archery, hunting, and hiking, we are proud to facilitate adventures for our Warfighters to experience together and form new bonds with others who have served in combat.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of veterans with PTSD served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys, Veterans
Related Program
Engagement
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We provide regular opportunities for our Combat Veterans, all with PTSD. We monitor how many times our Veterans get involved as being served at each event.
Number of service dogs provided to veterans
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys, Veterans
Related Program
Resource Referral
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We define provided service dogs as providing a veteran with the resources to successfully obtain a service dog from an approved Service Dog Program
Number of families served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Families, Non-adult children, Veterans
Related Program
Family Support
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We provide regular opportunities for our Combat Veterans, and their families. We monitor how many times our Veterans get involved as being served at each event.
Hours of support group services offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys, Veterans
Related Program
S.O.A.R. Program - Peer Mentoring
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We provide peer support as well as a group support setting with our SOAR Program. We keep this program going as long as we have Veterans wanting to participate.
Number of clients participating in support groups
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys, Veterans
Related Program
S.O.A.R. Program - Peer Mentoring
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We provide peer support as well as a group support setting with our SOAR Program. We keep this program going as long as we have Veterans wanting to participate.
Number of low-income households who have received utilities assistance to keep the lights, heat and/or water on in their homes
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Families, Veterans
Related Program
Warfighter Grant Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We provide financial assistance to Veterans in need. We consider success as still being able to provide that assistance when needed.
Number of people within the organization's service area accessing food aid
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Families, Non-adult children, Veterans
Related Program
Warfighter Grant Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We provide financial assistance to Veterans in need. We consider success as still being able to provide that assistance when needed.
Number of students who receive scholarship funds and/or tuition assistance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents, Non-adult children, Veterans
Related Program
ACVH Memorial Scholarship Fund
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We have a Remember the Fallen Scholarship Program that helps students of veteran families in need to those who are successfully enrolled in a college or university.
Total dollars distributed for utilities assistance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Families, Non-adult children, Veterans
Related Program
Warfighter Grant Program
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our main goal is to get our Combat Veterans engaged with their family and local community once they come home. We will provide venues for our heores to connect with other fellow combat veterans in a safe and supportive environment. We want them to know that they can rediscover themselves within a community of volunteers and friends who appreciate them and their service. Another goal is to do our part and bring awareness to the Veteran Suicide epidemic. We provide mentor training which included the facilitating of Suicide Prevention training.We will provide a hub for veterans to have a friendly ear and get connected with outside resources and professional help as well.
We plan on using the same design when it comes to our Combat Veteran families as well. With the leadership of our Family Support Manager we look to keep their families engaged in outings and events as well. We give training on Post Traumatic Stress so that loved ones can better understand how to best help their Combat Veteran. We will provide a means to make it possible for a support network for the veterans family and loved ones. We will strive to provide a network of resources to our Combat Veterans families’ so they don’t feel alone as they help their veteran adjust to their new life back home.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We plan on connecting our veterans with each other and create their own network of fellow veterans to let them know they are not alone and can lean on each other for support through their dark times and let them know suicide is not the answer. We will provide them with healthy and safe avenues to maintain their self and settling their inner issues with other resources and tools that help with the many of the unseen disabilities that most Combat Veterans have. We also provide a text line for such a time where there is no one else available to talk with.
We approach the Veterans family and home the same way. With the guidance of our Family Support Manager we provide the safe environments to establish a good foundation for our Combat Veterans family support system to learn how to deal with their own struggles as well as the trials their Veteran go through. We know that foundation starts within the connection of our Veteran and their spouse. We provide our couples with relationship building events to help that bond between the Veteran and their significant other. By these efforts we attempt to help reduce the divorce rate among Veterans in our area.
Our approach to the substance abuse problem within Veterans is multifaceted. We understand that although many of these prescribed medications are necessary, we use our peer network to make sure they are informed on their choices and various options available that does not involve medication. This also goes for our Combat Veterans who struggle with alcohol and drug abuse. Through networking with many inpatient and out patient facilities, we get our suffering heroes connected with the right program for rehab and recovery, often times making sure they have the transportation needed to get there and back safely.
We approach all these issues while providing a safe environment for our Combat Veterans to grow their own personal network and friendly connections. We know that through our own experiences we can help each other grow and heal. We provide access to resources, both outside and local, needed to those relationships with many fellow Combat Veterans stay strong.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
By providing education, we can better help our Combat Veterans with skilled mentors and loved ones.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have established ourselves as one of the “go-to” organizations to help our local Combat Veterans in need. We have created a network of information and resources our Veterans are able to navigate and get them the proper assistance they need. This network has allowed us to make activities outside our local area possible. We have also started a Warfihgter Athletics Program where we facilitate teams of our local Combat Veterans, and their families, in adult team sports like softball, volleyball, and soccer. Here they continue the theme of building strong connections within their community. We have also started a Peer Mentor Program to help our Veterans mentor each other and give back through our Battle Back Program. We have also established multiple events for the Combat Veteran designated to strengthen their family unit.
Along with our periodic Outreach Opportunities, we also provide classes and information for our Veterans to understand themselves and the community around them. These classes provide a basis for growth of our Combat Veterans and development. We hope this will feed into our Battle Back Program and allow for a new set of Combat Veterans help the next generation coming home.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
A Combat Veteran's Hope
Board of directorsas of 01/10/2023
Tom Weise
A Combat Veteran's Hope
Term: 2022 - 2024
Tom Weise
A Combat Veteran's Hope
CJ Cantu
A Combat Veteran's Hope
Marcus Hagglund
Visalia Rawhide
Regina Trevino
A Combat Veteran's Hope
Casandra Ledesma
A Combat Veteran's Hope
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/17/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.