Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System and Montgomery VA Regional Benefit Office expand outreach by connecting Veterans with health care enrollment, PACT Act resources and on-site benefits support.
The organizations recently hosted Vet Fest, a resource fair at the Montgomery VA Clinic that connected Veterans, service members, caregivers, and family members with health care enrollment specialists, benefits counselors, and support service representatives in one location. The event reflects a broader Department of Veterans Affairs strategy to reduce barriers to care while improving access to federal benefits for Veterans across central Alabama.
One-stop access to health care and earned benefits
The resource fair combined services from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), allowing attendees to receive personalized assistance navigating the VA system.
Veterans received information on:
- VA health care enrollment and eligibility
- PACT Act benefits
- Disability claims assistance
- On-site claims clinic services
- Health and wellness programs
- Support resources for Veterans and caregivers
The Montgomery Vet Center also participated, joining CAVHCS and additional community partners to help Veterans identify resources tailored to their individual health, wellness and benefits needs.
Leadership emphasizes collaboration
Ahead of the event, CAVHCS Interim Director/CEO Laundrena LaPradd-Bradley and Montgomery VA Regional Benefit Office Executive Director Cory Hawthorne appeared on WSFA's Alabama Live to encourage Veterans to attend and to highlight the partnership between the two VA organizations.
During the television interview, the leaders emphasized their shared commitment to ensuring Veterans can access health care, benefits assistance and other essential services through coordinated outreach. That collaborative effort continued throughout Vet Fest, where personnel from both administrations worked together to answer questions and assist Veterans during a single visit.
Expanding access beyond traditional care
The event also showcased the VA's whole-person approach to Veteran care. In addition to enrollment and benefits assistance, attendees met with representatives from:
- Suicide Prevention
- Women's Veterans Health Program
- Minority Veterans Health
- Whole Health
- Nutrition Services
- Social Work
- Chaplain Service
Veteran advocate Andre Williams praised the event and the range of services available.
"It is absolutely wonderful to see all the resources available here today. This is something that we need, and I'm an advocate for Veterans and always will be, and this helps Veterans."
Reducing barriers to Veteran services
Officials say bringing multiple programs together helps eliminate many of the challenges Veterans often face when seeking health care, disability compensation, education benefits, pensions, life insurance and housing assistance.
The Montgomery VA Regional Benefit Office continues to assist Veterans, service members, and eligible family members with disability compensation, education benefits, pensions, life insurance, and VA home loan programs, while CAVHCS remains focused on expanding access to quality health care throughout central Alabama.
As the Department of Veterans Affairs continues investing in outreach and modernization efforts nationwide, initiatives such as Vet Fest illustrate how coordinated partnerships between health care providers and benefits administrators can improve access, simplify the Veteran experience and ensure those who served receive the services they have earned.
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-- By James W. Thomas
© Copyright 2026 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
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