Role of the VHA Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist Julie Bergstresser, LCSW VJO Specialist, Northport VAMC Sean Clark, J.D VJO National Coordinator Sherri Claudio, LCSW, CAP Homeless Prog. Supervisor, Orlando VAMC Giovanna Delgado, Psy.D. VJO Coord., Miami VA Healthcare System Matt Miller, LCSW VJO Specialist, St. Louis VA Healthcare System July 29, 2015
VJO Specialists in Context Link to mission/vision based services and benefits delivery structure of VA and VHA Exceptional care to promote health and well-being Patient-centered, evidence-based services Collaborative teams
Mission and Vision Veterans Justice Programs MISSION To partner with the criminal justice system to identify Veterans who would benefit from treatment as an alternative to incarceration. VJO will ensure access to exceptional care, tailored to individual needs, for justiceinvolved Veterans by linking each Veteran to a VA and community services that will prevent homelessness, improve social and clinical outcomes, facilitate recovery and end Veterans cyclical contact with the criminal justice system. VISION Every justice-involved Veteran will have access to the health care and other benefits necessary to pursue and realize a full, meaningful life as a selfreliant, positively contributing member of the community.
Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Program Operational since 2009 Outreach + VA case management to Veterans in contact with law enforcement, jails, and courts (178 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists) Education and training of law enforcement Provide timely access to VA services for eligible justice-involved Veterans to prevent homelessness and avoid unnecessary criminalization and incarceration of Veteran defendants and offenders with mental illness and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI) 3 3
Service/Treatment Delivery Emphasis Homelessness and homelessness prevention Medical care (including TBI) Mental health (including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) and addiction Cognitive risk (and personality characteristics) Psychosocial Needs Housing, financial/employment, interpersonal, social
Scope and Demand Direct VJO Duties Liaison with law enforcement Jail outreach Linkage with and coverage of treatment courts (and other courts) Catchment area POC justice involved Veterans Support of ancillary needs of justice involved Veterans (e.g. child support, legal, financial stability and benefits) Documentation and clinical record keeping Data tracking, monitoring, and reporting Program planning/development, coordination, and promotion Linkage development internal VA, justice partners, community providers
Other VJO Duties (examples) Homeless Program Coverage Mental Health Assessments Program Screenings Committee Participation Accreditation Preparation * Hybrid Justice Specialists
Who VJOs are not. Specialty Care Coordinators Homeless or Mental Health Case Manager Forensic Evaluator Mentor Coordinator Residential Programs Admissions Coordinator Enrollment Clerk/Benefits Specialist Hospital Director/Policy Maker 7
General VJO Approach Direct Support to Veterans/Linkage to Services Program Umbrella Coordination and Planning Internal VA and External Community/Justice Partnership
General VJO Strategies Program planning and prioritization Planning in conjunction with community processes POC and utilization of others structure Solutions when facing capacity Program promotion/public relations and media
Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists: Roles with VTCs Treatment Team Member Veteran Culture Educator VA System Educator Service and Benefits Facilitator Service Provider Data Collaborator
VA Role with VTCs: Practical Solutions VHA Teams VBA Involvement Teleconferencing
VTC Program Promotion Combined Effort Between VA/Court Leadership Familiarity and Dialogue Showcasing the Court Media Coverage
For Additional Information Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists http://www.va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp Joel Rosenthal, Ph.D. Sean Clark, J.D. National Training Director, VJP National Coordinator, VJO 650-444-7247 859-233-4511 x3188 Joel.Rosenthal@va.gov Sean. Clark2@va.gov
Discussion: Issues/Themes Expectations/boundaries Drug testing Advocacy What VJO can t do
Discussion: Issues/Themes (cont.) Information sharing Flexibility/adaptation Access barriers and strategies