NYSHealth Initiative for Returning Veterans and Their Families

In exploring the needs of individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders throughout the State, NYSHealth identified returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and their families as a high-need, sub-population whose needs are not being met. Three specific gaps are:

1. Families of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are in dire need of readjustment mental health services, but are ineligible for care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.
2. Veterans do not consistently have timely access to primary care or mental health and substance use services through the VA health care system because of real and perceived stigma, and bureaucratic barriers.
3. A knowledgeable and credible voice on improving health policy issues for returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans is strongly needed.

The NYSHealth Initiative for Returning Veterans and Their Families seeks to underscore that health and mental health issues returning veterans and their families face are not solely military issues, but public and community health issues that should be addressed by local and national government agencies, community-based organizations, and health funders. NYSHealth has committed $2 million over the next two years to help:

1. address veteran’s reintegration needs, including access to timely primary and specialized care, and mental health and substance use services; and
2. strengthen collaboration between public and private sectors, including targeted funding and coordination of reintegration services.

Click here for background on the NYSHealth Initiative for Returning Veterans and Their Families, click here for a fact sheet, and click here for a press release announcing the initiative.

Among projects funded:

• Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services (JBFCS)
• Rochester Veterans Outreach Center

Statewide Needs Assessment

There is currently no comprehensive assessment of the health, mental health, and social service needs of returning veterans and their families in New York State. NYSHealth will commission a statewide needs assessment to address this gap. On August 20, 2008, NYSHealth issued the following Request for Proposals for a Statewide Health & Social Service Needs Assessment of Returning Veterans and Their Families in New York State. The Needs Assessment will provide quantitative and qualitative data on the needs of returning veterans and their families, catalog existing resources, and identify potential state-level strategies. NYSHealth will use the outcomes of the Needs Assessment to foster dialogue across public and private sector organizations throughout the State, inform the Foundation’s programs, and advance a strategic response for addressing the needs of returning veterans and their families. Questions related to this initiative can be directed to Program Officer Kavita Das at das@nyshealth.org.