VHA Veterans Justice Programs: Presentation to Executive Committee - ASCA

1. VHA Veterans Justice Programs: Presentation to Executive Committee - ASCA Joel Rosenthal, Ph.D. National Training Director, VHA Veterans Justice Programs January 23, 2012

2. Veterans Justice Programs Office of Homeless Programs–Homelessness Prevention (End Veteran Homelessness) VA umbrella – Programs to Assist Justice Involved Veterans Health Care for Reentry Veterans (outreach and reentry planning – prisons) Veterans Justice Outreach (jail outreach, law enforcement education and liaison, linkage to court system) Partnership with Corrections – Current Major Projects Veterans Reentry Search Service (VRSS) Video Outreach Tools

3. Veterans Reentry Search Service (VRSS) Overview • Electronic web-based electronic identification system • Successful Pilot Testing, significant difference VRSS vs. self-report: 8-9% vs. 3-6% • Goal: Encourage use by as many justice system partners as possible Potential Issues and Solutions – Corrections Leadership Perspective • Implementation • Information and confidentiality • VA access to identified Veterans

4. Video Outreach Tools • “Suits” – Informational Video for inmate viewing • “Helping Veterans Help Themselves” – companion Instructional Video • Insure Veterans know of VA services (upon release) and access through VJO • Insure Corrections staff know of VA services, Suits, and their role vis-à-vis Veterans • Distribution status Potential Issues and Solutions – Corrections Leadership Perspective • Distribution to prison facilities • Barriers to use in facilities • Expansion of distribution to additional jails

5. VIDEO “Helping Veterans Help Themselves”

6. Contact Joel Rosenthal, PhD National Training Director, VHA Veterans Justice Programs Joel.Rosenthal@va.gov (650) 444-7247 Veterans Justice Programs and Specialist Contact Information • http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/Reentry.asp • http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/VJO.asp