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VHA Veterans Justice Programs: Presentation to Reentry Committee - ASCA. Joel Rosenthal, Ph.D. National Training Director, VHA Veterans Justice Programs. January 23, 2012. Veterans Justice Programs. Office of Homeless Programs–homelessness prevention (End Veteran Homelessness)
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VHA Veterans Justice Programs: Presentation to Reentry Committee - ASCA Joel Rosenthal, Ph.D. National Training Director, VHA Veterans Justice Programs January 23, 2012
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) Prisons visited, FY 2012 = 1,150 Veterans served 2007 – present = 48,578 (FY ’12: 10,572) Veterans Justice Outreach (jail outreach, law enforcement education liaison, linkage to court system) Jails linked with, FY 2012 = 408 Veterans Treatment Courts = 130 Veterans served 2010 – present = 45,981 (FY ’12: 27,251) Link Veterans to VA care Estimated 82% justice involved Veterans eligible for VA health care (post release)
Partnership with Corrections and Reentry Federal Reentry Council Workgroups – benefits, female offenders, child support Development of capacity to measure and evaluate impact of reentry support Reentry myth busters http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/reentry-council/activities Access To and Coordination with Corrections Facilities Current Key Projects Veterans Reentry Search Service Informational and Instructional Videos
Veterans Reentry Search Service (VRSS) • Electronic system to identify incarcerated Veterans • Secure website located outside VA firewall • Users: Prison, jail, court staff • Status: Pilot testing, preparing for national rollout • Early results: VRSS identifies significantly more Veterans than self-report (8-9% vs. 3-6%) • Goal: Encourage use by as many justice system partners as possible
Video Outreach Tools: Suits and Helping Veterans Help Themselves • Audience: Suits - Veterans in prisons and jails Helping Veterans Help Themselves – Corrections staff • Suits Message to Veterans: VA services available to you after release; VA outreach staff can help you begin planning your successful reentry; use this time wisely • HVHT Message to Staff: VA services available after release; presence of VA staff; utilization of Informational Video Suits; staff linking Veterans to VA Specialists • Partnership with state and federal correctional leaders re: content, filming, distribution – currently to 1,150 state and federal prisons; 408 jails • Assistance in insuring utilization – Distribution List
VIDEO “SUITS: VA Support for Incarcerated Veterans” Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, Iraq Veteran Producer/Director
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(HCRV) • http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/VJO.asp(VJO)