SACRAMENTO – Last week Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled an innovative Web site connecting veterans, active duty personnel and their families with the social services, medical services, education and employment opportunities available in their local communities and throughout the state.

The Veterans Network of Care Web site, http://networkofcare.org/index2.cfm?productid=17&stateid=6, links private-sector service providers, nonprofit service providers, county, state and national resources in one location – drilling down information to the local community level.

"There has never been a more important time to find cost-effective ways to connect our veterans and military service members with the critical services they need,” said Schwarzenegger. “Our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives for our freedom and ask for very little in return, and we want them to know this remarkable resource is now here to serve them.”

Veterans Network of Care was created through a partnership with County Mental Health Directors, the State Department of Mental Health, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the County Veteran Service Officers and Trilogy.

It was developed at no additional cost to taxpayers and is being supported as part of an on-going contract for the statewide Network of Care system that was started with a grant from Proposition 63.

Through the Veterans Network of Care, California, along with Maryland, is one of only two states in the nation to provide a statewide Internet-based network of services with information tailored specifically for veterans, military personnel and their families.

The Web site contains more than 15,000 web links and 250,000 pages of information.

“This is the kind of innovative public-private partnership, one that brings technology, neighborhood services and direct care together, that allows us to better serve the residents of California,” Schwarzenegger said.