1. Responding to the Needs of Veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs
Responding to the Needs of Veterans
Sherri Claudio, LCSW, CAP
Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist
Department of Veterans Affairs
Orlando VAMC

2. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
The VA – who are we?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Administered by VHA – All Health care services
VA Medical Centers, Ambulatory Care & Community Based Outpatient Clinics
Veteran Benefits Association (VBA)
Administered by VA Regional Offices - All VA Benefits
Compensation & Pension, Education, GI Bill, Home Loan Guaranty, etc.
National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
National and State Veterans Cemeteries
Headstones, Markers & Presidential Memorial Certificates

3. Orlando VAMC
Orlando VAMC officially became a medical center on October 1, 2006.
5201 Raymond St., Orlando (Baldwin Park)
Catchment area includes Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard and Lake Counties

4. Clinic Locations Outpatient Clinics Community Based Outpatient Clinics
Daytona and Viera
Community Based Outpatient Clinics
Kissimmee, Orange City, Leesburg, and Clermont
Annex Locations
Crossroads (Semoran Blvd.) and Lake Nona
Vet Center

5. Available VA Services
Medical, Surgical, Psychiatric Inpatient and Outpatient Care
Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (Homeless Veterans Program, PTSD Program, Coping Skills Program, & Substance Use Disorder Program)
Homeless Programs (HCHV, Grant & Per Diem, HUD-VASH, VJO, HCRV)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment
Military Sexual Trauma Treatment
Home Health Care/Home Medical Equipment (Prosthetics)
Nursing Home Care
Women’s Health Clinic
Dental Care for Eligible Veterans

6. VA Eligibility
Eligibility is based on each individual’s service and is determined by the VA eligibility/enrollment office.
Usually determined by length of service and character of service.
What is a DD214?
VET Center – served in Combat Era
honorable, general and other than honorable

7. How will YOU know if someone is a Veteran?
Ask: Have you ever served in the United States Armed Forces or Military?
Do not ask: Are you a Veteran? Many Veterans mistakenly think this applies only to Veterans who served in combat or retired from the military.
Refer to local VA facility
We encourage all Veterans to apply for VA services.

8. Common Issues Unemployment Financial Problems Risk of losing home
Medical Issues
Mental Health Issues
Substance Abuse Issues
Family Issues
Legal Problems
Homelessness

9. Invisible Wounds
Combat can cause invisible wounds to the brain, mind, and soul
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Both types of injuries can lead to
Poor judgment
Impulsivity
Difficulty in matching behavior to the context
Behaviors attributable to these injuries
Can look like criminal behavior (Video)
Can be criminal

10. Veterans Justice Programs
VA is making a system-wide effort to ensure access to services for the justice-involved veteran population at risk for homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, and physical health problems
Healthcare for Reentry Veterans Program (HCRV)
Veterans Justice Outreach Program (VJO)

11. Goal of VJO
The goal of the VJO program is to avoid unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration among Veterans by ensuring that eligible justice-involved Veterans have timely access to VA mental health and substance abuse services when clinically indicated as well as other VA services and benefits.

12. Limits on VA Authorization
Can provide:
Outreach, assessment, referral and linkage to services
Treatment for justice-involved Veterans who are not incarcerated
Title 38 CFR does not allow VHA to provide:
Hospital and outpatient care for a Veteran who is
Either a patient or inmate in an institution of another government agency
If that agency has a duty to give that care or services

13. DUSHOM Memo to VISN Directors (May 2009)
Designation of a Veteran Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist at every VAMC to:
Provide outreach to justice-involved Veterans in the communities they serve
To take initiative in building working relationships and reach out to potential Justice System Partners to see that eligible justice-involved Veterans get needed care
Partner with Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) to train law enforcement personnel on Veteran specific issues.

14. Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists
Responsible for
Outreach, assessment, case management for justice involved Veterans in local courts and jails
Liaison with local justice system partners
Providing/coordinating training for law enforcement personnel
Specialists will
Assist in eligibility determination and enrollment
Function as members of court treatment teams
Refer and link Veterans to appropriate providers

15. Justice Outreach Program
While incarcerated, Veterans can:
Request his/her DD214
Enroll at their local VA Medical Center
Apply for the VA transitional and/or supportive housing programs
Learn about VA and non-VA community resources for post-release needs

16. Statistics (Orange County Jail)
Veterans were arrested and booked at the Orange County Jail.
2009 = 1368
2010 = 1361
2011 = 1687
On a daily basis, Veteran arrests average about 6-8 a day.
On one of these days, 14 Veterans were arrested being the most in a single day.

17. Statistics (Con’t)
Charges varied from burglary, battery, shoplifting, VOP, sales/delivery, and driving with an invalid driver’s license
Most Veterans encountered thus far by the Justice Outreach Program received an honorable discharge
Common issues in incarcerated Veterans have been substance abuse issues and homelessness
Most returning combat Veterans are entering the legal system with domestic violence and substance related charges.

18. Veterans Treatment Courts A Growing Movement
Currently 75 Veterans Treatment Courts in
Operation
- dozen being planned
Veterans Treatment Courts - hybrid Drug and Mental
Health Courts Models to serve veterans struggling
with addiction, serious mental illness and/or
co-occurring disorders.

19. Why a Separate Veterans Court?
Provision of Veteran Specific Services – VHA, VBA, Volunteer Veteran Mentors
Distinctive Demeanor – Adaption & Humanization
Reduce Community Expenses – “Crisis Systems”
Increase Public Safety

20. Benefits of Veterans Treatment Court
Expedite “access to care” for Veterans
Ease the burden on valuable community resources
Allow Veterans to go through the court process with those who are similarly situated and have past experiences
Provide volunteer Veteran Mentors
Promote Veteran accountability
Promote sobriety, recovery and stability through a coordinated response including treatment in conjunction with judicial monitoring

21. Law Enforcement
The Veterans Justice Outreach Program, OEF/OIF Team, VA Police and Veterans Panel have teamed together to facilitate Veteran specific trainings for law enforcement.
Trainings have been facilitated for Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT), Crisis Negotiation Teams
Police Departments and Sheriff Departments
County and State Probation Officers
Video

22. Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)
Homeless Outreach Program
Grant & Per Diem Program
HUD/VASH Program
Justice Outreach Program

23. Homeless Outreach
Social Workers visit locations in the community where homeless individuals gather to identify homeless Veterans.
Shelters, soup kitchens, woods, churches
Emergency bed vouchers – Salvation Army
Yearly Stand Down Event
“Walk-in” Homeless Services, Bldg. #509 at VAMC

24. Grant & Per Diem (G&PD) Program
VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is offered annually (as funding permits) by the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Programs to fund community agencies providing services to homeless veterans.

25. G&PD Eligibility
Veteran must be homeless or at risk for homelessness and/or have a mental illness or substance abuse problem.
Veteran must have served at least one day of total active service and have honorable, general or other than honorable discharge.
Veteran can reside in transitional housing program up to 24 months for a total of three episodes in a lifetime.

26. G&PD Programs Transition House – located in St. Cloud, males & females
Serenity House – Deland, males only
The Center for Drug-Free Living – Orlando, males only (accepts sex offenders)
Salvation Army – Daytona Beach, males & females
The Tree of Life Ministries – Orlando, males only

27. HUD/VASH
HUD-VASH is Long-Term Intensive Case Management Program for homeless veterans. Funding for HUD-VASH comes from a collaboration between HUD and the VA.
This program targets the chronically homeless veteran population.

28. HUD/VASH Eligibility
Veteran must demonstrate and need and willing to participate in case management
Veterans must be willing to sign a contract, agree to medical and behavioral health treatment recommendations, and regular case management contacts.
Veterans must agree to all requirements of the local PHA who administers the voucher.
Must have stable source of income to pay their portion of the rent, utilities, food and transportation (some exceptions)

29. Homeless Hotline
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has founded a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline to ensure that homeless Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors.
Homeless Veteran in need of help?
Call  AID VET ( )

30. Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text.
Veterans and their loved ones can call and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

31. Questions?

32. Orlando VAMC 5201 Raymond Street, Orlando, Florida 32803
Main Number:
Telephone Triage: (800) (schedule appts)