Norfolk County
As of 2022, there were around 22,234 veterans living in Norfolk County, including 1,442 women. Norfolk County is in Southeast Massachusetts. This page includes local event listings and directories of veterans’ services; specialty courts; elder services; veterans’ posts and auxiliaries; and veteran owned businesses in Norfolk County, along with census data and VA spending data.
All events in Norfolk County are tagged #southeast. Some cities/towns in Plymouth County are also in the #south-shore, #greater-boston, #boston-metro, or #metrowest areas. When you submit events, include tags and the name of the town in the event listing so the events show up in the relevant calendars and resource listings automatically.
Executive Office of Veterans’ Services
The mission of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS) is to act as the primary advocate on behalf of all the Commonwealth’s veterans. The Office provides outreach and support through various programs.
EOVS assists eligible veterans and their surviving spouses through the MassVets Financial Benefits Program, administered by local veterans’ services. Veterans may use the Mass Vet Benefit Calculator to see what they may qualify for and contact their local veterans’ services office to apply.
Local Veterans’ Services in Norfolk County
Veterans’ Services Districts in Norfolk County
MGL Chapter 115 requires each town/city have a veterans’ agent to administer these benefits, but two or more contiguous towns can also appoint someone to serve as veterans’ agent and form Veterans’ Services Districts. Some cities and towns in Norfolk County share a veterans’ agent or are part of a district below.
Norfolk County Veterans’ Services
Norfolk County Veterans’ Services is a program within the County Commissioners’ office reporting to the Commissioners on the status of veterans’ services in the 28 cities and towns in Norfolk County. Norfolk County veterans and beneficiaries with questions or concerns about veterans issues can contact the Veterans’ Services advocate at (781) 461-6105 or by email.
The Norfolk County Veterans’ Services department makes recommendations for improvements to the administration and delivery of veterans’ services; encourages the formation of veterans’ services districts where appropriate; and assists in the betterment of veterans’ services and improvement of access for qualified veterans, dependents, and survivors to state and federal benefits.
RSVP Rides for Veterans
Norfolk County offers the RSVP Rides for Veterans program. Veterans in Norfolk County who need a ride to a medical or other appointment can call the Norfolk County RSVP Office at (781) 329-5728 to find a volunteer driver at least one week in advance. Rides are at no cost, but the passenger must pay for any tolls or parking fees; rides are subject to volunteer availability.
Norfolk County Specialty Courts
The Massachusetts Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts, an initiative of the Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court, aims to bring innovative, evidence-based, and equitable interventions to Specialty Courts. Veterans Treatment Court sessions for Norfolk County are held in Dedham and Mental Health and Recovery Court sessions are held in Quincy.
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Veterans’ Treatment Courts are court-supervised, treatment-focused collaboratives designed to handle criminal cases involving defendants with a history of military service through a coordinated effort among the veterans services delivery system, community-based providers, and the court in order to improve public safety while dealing with underlying issues of PTSD, TBI, and MST. The Dedham District Court holds Norfolk County Veterans Treatment Court sessions on Tuesdays.
Complete the Referral Form and fax it to (781) 329-0059 to set up an intake.
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Mental Health Courts, also referred to as Recovery Courts and Recovery with Justice, address the behavioral health and social support needs of adults involved with the criminal-legal system. The Quincy District Court operates Mental Health Court sessions in Norfolk County.
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Recovery Courts, also referred to as Drug Treatment Courts and Drug Courts, address the behavioral health and social support needs of adults involved with the criminal-legal system. The Quincy District Court operates Recovery Court sessions in Norfolk County.
Elder Services in Norfolk County
Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) are private, non-profit agencies established under MGL Chapter 19A. ASAPs provide direct and protective services, including information and referrals; interdisciplinary case management; intake and assessment; developing, implementing, and monitoring service plans; reassessing needs; and investigating reports of elder abuse and neglect.
MassOptions
MassOptions is a service of the Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) that can also help older adults, people with disabilities, and family members or caregivers identify aging and disability services and connect to those that can meet their needs. Call (800) 243-4636 or click here to complete a referral.
Veterans’ Posts & Auxiliaries in Norfolk County
The Veterans Posts and Auxiliaries directory includes information about the VFW and American Legion Posts, Marine Corps League Detachments, and DAV Chapters based in cities and towns in the Norfolk County.
Veteran Owned Businesses in Norfolk County
This Veteran Owned Businesses directory is based on publicly available information and listings of veteran owned businesses in Northeast Mass. Click here to submit a business or update information.
Veterans in Norfolk County
Based on 2022 ACS 5-year data, there were around 22,234 veterans living in Norfolk County, including 1,442 women. You can explore the most recent 1-year and 5-year American Community Survey estimates for Norfolk County via Census Reporter at the city/town and county level below.
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You can explore the most recent American Community Survey 5-year estimates for Norfolk County linked below, as well as other military and veteran census data with interactive maps and tables on the Census Reporter.
Data for Norfolk County veterans referencing age, gender, and veteran status, median income, educational attainment, employment status, service-connected disability status, service era.
There are additional tables that include information about the Armed Forces, including as part of the labor force (this data is also broken down with racial iterations) and employment status by industry. The following tables break out Armed Forces as a separate column:
Marital Status by sex and labor force participation
Presence of Own Children by age of children and by family type and employment status
Educational Attainment by employment status
Poverty Status by disability and employment status
Follow the links below for the most current 1-year estimates for Norfolk County, as well as other military and veteran census data with interactive maps and tables on the Census Reporter.
Data for Norfolk County veterans referencing age, sex, and veteran status, median income, educational attainment, employment status, service-connected disability, service era, and age, disability, and poverty status.
Some tables also have racial iterations and there are additional tables that include information about the Armed Forces. Members of the Armed Forces are generally included as part of the Labor Force and under employment status by industry with Armed Forces data broken out:
Marital Status by sex and labor force participation; Presence of Own Children by age of children and by family type and employment status; Educational Attainment by employment status; and Poverty Status by disability and employment status.
Information about veterans’ age, disability, and poverty status is only available with 1-year estimates at the county level. Based on the 1-year estimates in 2022, there were 22,234 veterans living in Norfolk County, including 1,442 women.
Over 5% of veterans in Norfolk County experienced poverty in the prior year (1,139 veterans) and 27% (6,044 veterans) reported having a disability. Over 93% of disabled veterans (5,636 veterans) were over age 65.
Although only 10% of disabled veterans fell below the poverty line, disabled veterans made up around 55% of veterans in poverty. Over 95% of disabled veterans in poverty (592 veterans) were over age 65.
Very low income veterans over age 65 may qualify for the VA pension whether or not they have a qualifying disability. Whether or not a veteran has time during a “wartime” service era also determines in part whether the veteran qualifies for the VA pension for very low income veterans.
Almost 74% of veterans in Norfolk County served during wartime (16,440 veterans), including over 46% with service in the Vietnam, Korea, and World War II eras who are presumed to be over age 65 (10,278 veterans).
VA Spending in Norfolk County
Based on the 2022 VA GDX Report, the VA spent over $385.6 million in Norfolk County in fiscal year 2023, an increase from $363.9 million in Norfolk County in fiscal year 2022, including:
$201.5 million providing medical care to 7,679 unique patients ($26,241 per patient), compared to $188.9 million for 7,781 patients ($23,672 per patient) in 2022;
$161.6 million on VA compensation and pension benefits, compared to $155.9 million in 2022; and
$19.9 million on education and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits, compared to $16.4 million in 2022.
Veterans with disabilities are potentially eligible for VA compensation if their disability is service-connected. Based on the 2022 5-year ACS data, around 5,269 veterans had a service-connected disability in Norfolk County, with at least 88.6% receiving VA compensation based on their rating.
Norfolk County Public Health Data
The U.S. Center for Disease Control’s Suicide Prevention Strategies for Communities support the implementation of a public health approach that uses data to drive decision-making. Massachusetts does not publish comprehensive data surrounding the deaths of service members and veterans. The chart below includes toxicology data for suicide deaths overall in Norfolk County.
From 2015 to 2022, opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions in Norfolk County declined steadily, but suicides involving these substances remained high, suggesting unintended consequences of deprescribing, such as withdrawal or untreated mental health needs. Partial opioid agonist use peaked in 2019 before declining, pointing to gaps in treatment access.
Stimulant prescriptions increased steadily, with amphetamine-involved suicides rising between 2019 and 2021, signaling risks from psychological distress or misuse. Alcohol, marijuana, and antidepressants were frequently involved in suicide deaths, with alcohol remaining a persistent factor across reporting periods.
Norfolk County had a sharper rise in antidepressant-involved suicides compared to other regions, indicating the need for enhanced monitoring of stimulant use and antidepressant prescribing. A public health approach that ensures access to mental health care, opioid agonist therapies, and harm reduction strategies is essential to reduce risks and prevent unintended outcomes.