State Initiatives

The New York LawHelp Consortium has launched a special section of their Web site dedicated to finding free legal aid services for veterans and active military in New York State. The online search tool offers tailored information for veterans based on location including links to finding a lawyer, resources describing legal rights, assistance finding and using the courts of New York State, and links to other helpful veteran services. All content is available on a Spanish mirror Web site and legal rights resources are available in more than 30 languages.

View resource here.

Conceived in 2007 by Major General Joseph Taluto, Adjutant General and Commander of the New York National Guard, and implemented in April 2008, the New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program aims to facilitate National Guard combat veterans’ transition from full-time soldiers to citizen soldiers by linking them with valuable information and services. Prior to 2008, when Army National Guard units returned from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, the policy was to give the soldiers 90 days to themselves before they were required to begin coming to regular monthly National Guard weekend drills.

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On Veterans’ Day 2008, New York State Governor Paterson signed an Executive Order establishing the New York State Council on Returning Veterans and Their Families to develop recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to address the multiple needs of veterans and their families in adjusting to post-service life, which involves a collaboration of Federal, State and local benefits.