SupportOurTroops.org - Policy #05-2 Disbursement Methodology

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Policy #05-2 Disbursement Methodology

Background

It is SOT policy to make distributions to the maximum extent possible by using local Disbursement Boards and by using existing military charitable entities, coupled with a set of disbursement priorities. It is SOT’s preference to only occasionally make direct distributions to individual recipients, unless that method is deemed best for purposes of local officials. SOT prefers to function as a revenue-generating organization, and have the functions of determination of entitlement and need performed by local Disbursement Boards and by existing military charitable entities, all based on a set of disbursement priorities.

Guiding Principal

SOT is trying to meet the worst needs first based on the Western principal of women and children first.

Disbursement Boards

One or more local Disbursement Boards are being established in each state as the best method of promptly and privately meeting the needs of the local troops and their families with immediate local knowledge.

The local Disbursement Boards will be constituted from designees of the various services, and will serve without compensation as adjunct duties to their normal duties in their services. These designees may be assembled from assistance disbursement officers, readiness officers, and the like, from within each service, because they know their local families and troops, who needs assistance, and are most likely to have a relationship with the applicable branches or agencies. They will have current local knowledge which alleviates delays and problems created by the privacy act. The local Disbursement Boards will follow guidelines regarding determination of entitlement, degree of need, and procedure. They will make decisions using those guidelines, forms and procedures. SOT may adopt and use existing application forms and procedures familiar to service members from with the services. The local Disbursement Boards may also disburse based on pre-screened and qualified recipients referred to them by other military charities and agencies in accordance with these procedures. The local Disbursement Boards will be lodged with the military charities as a referral resource.

This methodology enables SOT to promptly meet the needs of local troops and their families, because the local Disbursement Board has immediate local personal knowledge of who needs what. They are comprised of local faces that the troops and their families currently know and deal with. They will be less hampered by privacy act restrictions which inhibit information exchange between federal and state levels, between agencies, and between branches, and frequently frustrate even agencies and services trying to help one another’s members. They will avoid people having to shop from door to door to locate assistance, because the troops and their families can talk to people they already know.

Military Charities, Organs, Funds.

A secondary disbursement methodology is SOT making disbursement through existing charities and organs within and without the services which provide aid and assistance to service members and their families. To date, SOT has identified the below-listed entities through which SOT can make disbursement to ultimate beneficiaries. Entities may be added or withdrawn from time to time. Funds will be disbursed through these entities upon their agreement to further disburse them based upon SOT criteria. These entities may also refer pre-screened and qualified recipients to SOT for disbursement: