VAAdvisory Committee on Women Veterans

October 27, 2009

Marianne Mathewson-Chapman PhD, ARNP

The New Generation of Female Warriors as Citizen Service Members

Challenges of Guard/Reserve Challenges of Guard/Reserve Women VeteransWomen Veterans

G/R return to hometown and not military baseG/R return to hometown and not military base

Community based and dispersed to 4,000 communitiesCommunity based and dispersed to 4,000 communities

Limited knowledge about VA servicesLimited knowledge about VA services

AgeAge

Stigma about mental health care Stigma about mental health care

Pride, inability to ask for help, not admit Pride, inability to ask for help, not admit there is a problemthere is a problem

Limited time for decompressionLimited time for decompression

Accessible VA and community resourcesAccessible VA and community resources

Multiple VA and Community Services Multiple VA and Community Services NeededNeeded

Reserve Reserve Components Components

Veteran Veteran & Family& Family

Reserve Reserve Components Components

Veteran Veteran & Family& Family

Health Care

VocationalRehabilitation

Employment

Housing

Transportation

Mental Health

Training

Education

LegalAssistance

Prosthetics

Insurance

MarriageAnd

Family

SpiritualSupport

The Seven Touches of VA Outreach for Newest Veterans The Seven Touches of VA Outreach for Newest Veterans

Demobilization

YRRP

PDHRA

TAA and State Coalitions

Internet

IRR Muster

CVCC

5

Reaching Out in the Deployment Reaching Out in the Deployment CycleCycle

Pre-Mobiliz

ation

Deployment

Post-

Deployment

Reintegration

YRRP Support(30-60-90-day Events)

RC Demobilization

Initiative

IRR Muster Initiative

CombatVeteran CallInitiative

PDHRAScreening

3-6 months

YRRP Support(Pre-Mob Events)

TAA Collaboration

Internet Websitewww.oefoif.va.gov

Welcome Home

7

• Demobilization InitiativeDemobilization Initiative

• IRR Musters IRR Musters

• Combat Veteran Call Combat Veteran Call CenterCenter

• Transition Assistance Transition Assistance Advisors (NG)Advisors (NG)

• PDHRAPDHRA

• Yellow RibbonYellow Ribbon

• Internet WebsiteInternet Website

Reaching Out to New Veterans

Demobilization Demobilization

InitiativeInitiative ArmyNavyMarinesAir ForceCoast Guard

ArmyNavyMarinesAir ForceCoast Guard

#1

Touched: >60,000Enrolled: >57,000

61 Demob Sites

LEWIS

HOOD

RILEY

SILL

BLISSBENNING

BRAGG

DIX

ACTIVE DUTY DEMOBILIZATION SITESACTIVE DUTY DEMOBILIZATION SITES15-ARMY-15-ARMY-------4-NAVY4-NAVY--------------3-USMC3-USMC

McCOY

Reserve Components Demobilization Sites 2009Reserve Components Demobilization Sites 2009

SchofieldBarracks (HI)

Richardso

n

Carson

Stewart

CP Pendleton

CP LeJeune29 Palms Gulfport

NorfolkPort Hueneme

San Diego

CPAtterbury

CPShelby

McConnell AFB , KS

Pope NC

ACTIVE DUTY DEMOBILIZATION SITESACTIVE DUTY DEMOBILIZATION SITES 36 Air Force Reserve Sites and 36 Air Force Reserve Sites and 3 CGR3 CGR

Peterson AFBCO

Maxwell, AL

Pittsburgh, PABeale, AFB CA

Davis-MonthanAZ AFR

Kessler, MS

Hill AFBUT

Whitman AFBMO

Wright PattersonAir Station, OH

Andrews, MD

Seymour Johnson NC

Barksdale, LAEglin, AFB

FL

MacDill AFBFL

Patrick AFBFL

Scott AFBIL

Luke, AZ AFB

Fort Worth NAS Joint,

TX

Homestead, FL

Charleston SC

Dobbins, GA

Dover, DE

Grissom, IN

Lackland, TX

March, CA

McChord, WA

McGuire, NJ

Minn-St Paul ARS,

MN

Westover AFB, MA

Niagara Falls AFB,

NY

Travis, CA

Robbins, GA

Youngstown ARS,

OH

Tinker, OK

CGR: 3 sitesClearwater, Portsmouth, Cleveland

CGR: 3 sitesClearwater, Portsmouth, Cleveland

The Standardized Combined The Standardized Combined VHA and VBA Briefing at VHA and VBA Briefing at DemobDemob

46 Minute: VHA, Vet Center and VBA Briefing

Individual Individual Ready Ready Reserve (IRR)Reserve (IRR)MustersMusters

#2

• >6500 at IRR Muster >6500 at IRR Muster (since May 2009)(since May 2009) USAR and USMCUSAR and USMC

Veterans Benefits Veterans Benefits BriefingBriefing Veterans Benefits Veterans Benefits BriefingBriefing Early Benefits Briefings at Demobilization for Early Benefits Briefings at Demobilization for

Guard/ReserveGuard/Reserve

– Monthly compensation for service connected disabilities incurred Monthly compensation for service connected disabilities incurred or aggravated during active duty and active duty trainingor aggravated during active duty and active duty training

– Montgomery GI Bill – Selected ReserveMontgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve– Reserve Educational Assistance ProgramReserve Educational Assistance Program– Montgomery GI Bill – Active DutyMontgomery GI Bill – Active Duty– Post 9/11 GI BillPost 9/11 GI Bill – Educational Vocational CounselingEducational Vocational Counseling– Home Loan GuarantyHome Loan Guaranty– Life Insurance Life Insurance – Transition Assistance Program (TAP) not required for Reserve Transition Assistance Program (TAP) not required for Reserve

Component Service Members (DoD, VA, DOL and DTAP)Component Service Members (DoD, VA, DOL and DTAP)

Combat Combat Veteran Call Veteran Call

Center Center InitiativeInitiative

#3

Call Center Call Center StatisticsStatisticsCall Center Call Center StatisticsStatistics Phone calls to 676,093Phone calls to 676,093 VeteransVeterans

Made contact with 504,189 Veterans Made contact with 504,189 Veterans (74.6%)(74.6%)

Spoke with 165,904 Veterans Spoke with 165,904 Veterans (24.5%)(24.5%)

Sent 36,651 information packages to VeteransSent 36,651 information packages to Veterans

Monitoring of calls for quality revealed an average quality score of 98 out Monitoring of calls for quality revealed an average quality score of 98 out of a possible 100of a possible 100

Transition Assistance Transition Assistance AdvisorsAdvisors

VAVA and National Guard and National Guard Partnership andPartnership andState CoalitionsState Coalitions

#4

TAA Outreach TAA Outreach Summary in 54 Summary in 54

States/TerritoriesStates/TerritoriesTotals 2008-2009Totals 2008-2009

DateDate

#NG #NG ParticipantParticipant

ss

VHAVHA VBAVBAVet Vet

CenterCenter

EnrolledEnrolled ReferRefer ReferRefer ReferRefer

FEB-DECFEB-DEC20082008 182,136182,136 7,3017,301 9,7949,794 9,0449,044 3,4533,453

JAN-MAYJAN-MAY20092009 91,62491,624 2,3802,380 9,0749,074 9,5399,539 6,7996,799

TotalTotal 273,760273,760 9,6819,681 18,86818,868 18,58318,583 10,25210,252

NGB/VANGB/VALiaisonLiaison

Warrior Support Warrior Support

NGBNGB

NGB/VANGB/VALiaisonLiaison

Warrior Support Warrior Support

NGBNGB

National GuardSTATE JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS

National GuardSTATE JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS

VA/NG Transition Assistance AdvisorVA/NG Transition Assistance Advisor

StateDirectors

Of VA

StateDirectors

Of VA

AdjutantGeneral

AdjutantGeneral

Governor’sOffice

Governor’sOffice

VA Health care andBenefits as supportServices to Veterans

VA Health care andBenefits as supportServices to Veterans

NCANCAVBAVBA

State Coalition ModelState Coalition Model Goal: To Ensure an Integrated Delivery of Goal: To Ensure an Integrated Delivery of

State Services and BenefitsState Services and Benefits

NationalGuard Support ServicesIn each state for NG and family

NationalGuard Support ServicesIn each state for NG and family

DoDServices

and Programs for Injured

DoDServices

and Programs for Injured

All Service Members and Family Members Returning Home To the State: State Coalition as the Safety Net

TrainingSupport

Information ServicesServices

VHAVHA

Community ServicesAnd Organizations Supporting Veterans in Each state/community

Community ServicesAnd Organizations Supporting Veterans in Each state/community

VA/NGB Liaison

VHA OEF/OIF OutreachOffice

VA/NGB Liaison

VHA OEF/OIF OutreachOffice

Faith-basedCommunityInitiatives

Yellow Ribbon Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Reintegration Program YRRPYRRP

Pre-Deployment---30-60--90 Pre-Deployment---30-60--90 days Post Deployment days Post Deployment eventsevents

#5

HealthFinancesStressSuicide PreventionSubstance AbuseMarriageLegalFinancial PracticesEmploymentFamily and Children Coping

21

FY 09 YRRP Service/Component FY 09 YRRP Service/Component SupportSupport

Service/ComponentService/Component # of Events (31 July 09)# of Events (31 July 09)

ANGANG 6363

ARNGARNG 249249

USAFRUSAFR 2626

USARUSAR 7575

USMCRUSMCR 1515

USNRUSNR 1515

USCGRUSCGR 11

Post-Post-Deployment Deployment Health Health ReassessmentReassessmentPDHRAPDHRA

#6

Reserve Component PDHRA Reserve Component PDHRA FY 06, 07, 08 & 09 Referral FY 06, 07, 08 & 09 Referral Summary Summary (As of July 2009)(As of July 2009)

ALLALL

RESERVERESERVECOMPONENCOMPONENTT

COMPLETEDCOMPLETEDPDHRAPDHRA

SCREENSSCREENS

TOTALTOTAL

REFERRALSREFERRALSVAMCVAMC

REFERRALS*REFERRALS*VET CENTER VET CENTER

REFERRALS*REFERRALS*

FY 06FY 06 29,73329,733 15,38015,380 8,3918,391 4,5814,581

FY 07FY 07 90,40490,404 42,03842,038 19,15619,156 9,0699,069

FY 08FY 08 97,94297,942 29,02629,026 18,67218,672 6,8676,867

FY 09FY 09 68,06768,067 17,84017,840 12,95912,959 4,3064,306

TOTALTOTAL**overlap may overlap may existexist

286,146**286,146** 104,284**104,284** 59,178 24,82359,178 24,823

Total 84,001Total 84,001

Internet Internet WebPageWebPage

www.oefoif.va.gov

#7

www.oefoif.va.govwww.oefoif.va.gov

BlogsBlogs

FaceBookFaceBook

Working InitiativesWorking Initiatives::

• Women Veterans’ Call Center: Collaboration Women Veterans’ Call Center: Collaboration between OEF/OIF Outreach Office and Women between OEF/OIF Outreach Office and Women Veterans Strategic Health Care Group---pendingVeterans Strategic Health Care Group---pending

• Warrior Transition Units and Linkages with VAWarrior Transition Units and Linkages with VA

Wounded Warriors Wounded Warriors Healing in Healing in Warrior Transition Units Warrior Transition Units (WTUs)(WTUs)

VA Outreach for the injured warriors at 44 VA Outreach for the injured warriors at 44 WTUs in the Army, 9 of these are Community WTUs in the Army, 9 of these are Community Based WTUs for Guard/Reserve members, 2 Based WTUs for Guard/Reserve members, 2 Navy and 2 MarinesNavy and 2 Marines

Enroll into VA health care prior to separation Enroll into VA health care prior to separation from active dutyfrom active duty

Enroll in VRE programs while on active dutyEnroll in VRE programs while on active duty

and healing at the WTU siteand healing at the WTU siteNintendo Games TherapyNintendo Games Therapy

Ft. Drum

Ft. Dix

Ft. Eustis

Ft. Carson

Ft. Riley

Ft. Leonard Wood

Ft. Lewis

Ft. Stewart

Ft. Benning

Ft. Jackson

Ft. Knox

Ft. Gordon

Ft. BraggFt. Campbell

Ft. Sam Houston Ft. Polk

Ft. Sill

Ft. Hood

Ft. Bliss

PR

Ft. Richardson

TAMC

West Point

CA

AR

AL1

UT

MA

WI

FL

WTU CO - 20

WTU BDE - 1

CHBCO - 9

WTU BN - 14

Ft. Irwin& Balboa

Ft. Wainwright

WRAMC

Ft Huachuca

Ft. Leavenworth

Ft. Belvoir

Ft. LeeVA

Ft Meade

Redstone Arsenal

Ft Rucker

Landstuhl WT 114

Heidelberg WT 19

Wuerzburg WT 116

Current WT Population (assigned or attached to a WTU) is 8,943 Soldiers Warrior Transition UnitsWarrior Transition UnitsVHA & VBA Personnel on Army Installations

On-Hand Locations Army: 9400Navy: 460USMC: 500

USMC

USMC

NAVY

NAVY

29

SummarySummary • VA’s RC Deployment Cycle Support Outreach Initiatives also knows as VA’s RC Deployment Cycle Support Outreach Initiatives also knows as the “7 Touches”-- provides a “military platform” for VA staff to:the “7 Touches”-- provides a “military platform” for VA staff to:

1. 1. Provide a Face to Face Encounter with VA staffProvide a Face to Face Encounter with VA staff

2.2. Reach-out to combat Veterans in need of readjustment counseling and Reach-out to combat Veterans in need of readjustment counseling and behavioral health services during early post-deployment periodbehavioral health services during early post-deployment period

3. 3. Facilitate on site enrollment & access to VA health careFacilitate on site enrollment & access to VA health care

4. 4. Provide “Boots on the Ground” support to combat Veterans & their Provide “Boots on the Ground” support to combat Veterans & their

familiesfamilies 5 5 Promote the development of long-term relationships between local Promote the development of long-term relationships between local

VHA facilities and Reserve Component Units VHA facilities and Reserve Component Units

6. Select VA has their choice for health care now and for a lifetime6. Select VA has their choice for health care now and for a lifetime

QuestionsQuestions