VA Health Care for Reentry Veterans Program

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VA Health Care forRe-entry Veterans Program

• Creating a fresh start for veterans being
  released from
• New York State DOCS facilities

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Introductions

• For Downstate NY
• (Hudson Valley, NYC Long Island)
• Valerie Johnson
• Health Care for Re-entry Veterans Specialist
• VA Hudson Valley Health Care System
• Montrose Campus
• [phone] x3739

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Introductions

• For Upstate New York
• (North of Dutchess County)
• Jonathan Pollack, LCSW
• Health Care for Re-entry Veterans Coordinator
• VA Albany Medical Center
• [phone]

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Introductions

• For Western New York
• Cynthia Thayer, LMSW
• Healthcare for Re-Entry Veterans Specialist
• VA Canandaigua Medical Center
• [phone]

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An Overview
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
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VHA Network 2 Upstate NY
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VHA Network 3 Downstate NY
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Who Is Eligible for VHA?

• Veterans with Honorable or General Under
  Honorable Conditions discharges from the Army,
  Navy, Air Force, Marines, or U.S. Coast Guard.
• Veterans who enlisted before Sept. 8, 1980 need
  to have completed 180 days active duty.
• Veterans who enlisted after Sept. 8, 1980 need to
  have completed 24 months active duty.

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Who Is Eligible for VHA?

• NOT Reservists or those discharged from the
  National Guard unless they were called up and
  actually served in a combat zone.
• NOT individuals with the following types of
  discharges
• General Under Other Than Honorable Conditions
• Bad Conduct
• Undesirable
• Dishonorable
• Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have automatic VHA
  eligibility for 5 years after discharge (unless
  they have bad papers - although exceptions
  exist)

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Who Is Eligible for VHA?

• A computerized verification can be done if the
  veterans has lost his/her DD-214 (military
  discharge papers)
• Dont try to figure this out on your own
  Lots of exceptions and special circumstances
  exist.
• Veterans may be eligible for certain services
  even if they are not eligible for VA health care.
• There are eligibility specialists at every VA
  medical center and HCRV staff can help

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Discharge Upgrades

• Application must be within 15 years of the
  discharge
• We strongly recommend postponing an application
  for a discharge upgrade until after the veteran
  is released from incarceration
• The Department of Veterans Affairs cannot assist
  with discharge upgrades
• Veterans should go to a Veterans Service
  Organization and/or New York State Division of
  Veterans Affairs (offices in each county)

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HCRV Program Goals

• Optimize veterans chances for successful
  community reintegration and readjustment through
  comprehensive psychosocial services and
  transition planning.
• Decrease veterans potential for relapse into
  substance abuse.
• Decrease veterans potential for mental health
  problems.
• Target behaviors and attitudes that can lead to
  additional criminal actions and
  re-incarceration.

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HCRV Program Objectives

• Outreach to veterans in DOCS facilities who are
  within 6 months of their earliest possible
  release.
• Educate veterans about services and options
  available to them through the VA.
• Assess veterans needs and goals in anticipation
  of release.
• Collaborate with the veteran, DOCS and Parole
  around pre-release planning
• Provide short-term case management after release
  (as needed).

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What the VA Offers

• Primary and specialty medical care
• Mental health treatment (including PTSD, Military
  Sexual Trauma)
• Substance abuse treatment (residential and
  outpatient)
• Pharmacy
• Psychosocial rehabilitation (Domiciliary)
• Homeless programs
• Dental Care

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Managing Expectations

• What the HCRV program cannot do
• Provide medical or mental health treatment while
  the veteran is incarcerated
• Provide letters of reasonable housing assurance
  to the Parole Board
• Guarantee admission to specific programs before
  the veterans release
• Overcome barriers to services as a result of a
  history of
• Sexual offense(s)
• Arson

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Managing Expectations

• What the HCRV program CAN do
• Educate the veteran about options at the VA and
  in the community
• Guarantee screening for many programs and
  services after release
• Provide documentation to the Parole Board that
  the veteran has been assessed and recommend a
  re-entry plan
• Help the veterans follow through with his/her
  plan and address any problems after release

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Veterans Benefits

• Non-Service Connected Pension
• Illness/injury/disability not a result of
  military service
• 100 disabled (unable to work)
• Must have served during a period of war to be
  eligible
• Needs based

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Veterans Benefits

• Service Connected Compensation
• Illness/injury/disability must be a result of
  military service
• Awarded in increments of 10 (0 - 100)
• Tax free income
• Not affected by other sources of income

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Veterans Benefits

• Vocational Rehabilitation for veterans with at
  least 20 disability rating
• VA Regional Offices in New York State
• 245 West Houston St. (_at_ Varick St.)
• New York, NY 10014
• 130 South Elmwood Avenue
• Buffalo, NY  14202
• [phone]

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How to Contact Us

• Veterans should speak with the Veterans Liaison
  or Parole Officer within the facilitys Guidance
  or Transition Services office
• The facility Parole Officer should complete the
  VA HCRV Services Referral Form with the veteran
• Depending upon where the veteran will be
  released, have it faxed to Valerie Johnson,
  Jonathan Pollack, or Cynthia Thayer
• Valerie, Jonathan or Cynthia will follow up
  through the Veterans Liaison or the facility
  Parole Officer during the next scheduled facility
  visit