Articles for the Topic "Homeless Veterans and Their Families"

"Ask the Expert" Welcomes Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton

2011-05-02T11:04:40

We are pleased to welcome Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Born to missionary parents in Bangkok, Thailand, she spent her childhood in Southeast Asia at the height of the Vietnam War. At age 18, she returned to America alone, with only a few hundred dollars in her pocket. In 1989, she became the first woman to be elected judge of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. It was there that she earned her reputation as “The Velvet Hammer” for her approach to sentencing in serious felony cases. She has served on the Supreme Court of Ohio since 1996. Justice Stratton’s efforts in the community and her commitment to family have led to major changes in adoption law and significant mental health reforms in the courts, both in Ohio and nationally. She focuses on trying to divert persons with mental illness from the court system back into care in the mental health system. This reduces costs, improves public safety and helps people regain their lives. Her latest focus in Ohio and nationally is on establishing veterans courts to help those returning veterans with PTSD and other issues, whose problems may lead to involvement in the criminal justice system.

Addressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in substance abuse treatment

2011-02-14T03:36:08

This video on Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment was developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with SAMHSA. The video adapted the contents from the SAMHSA TIP 50, Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment, and is reformatted as a didactic tool for staff who work with persons with suicidal behaviors. A moderator and three member panel discuss ways to manage and address suicidal thoughts and behaviors among individuals with substance abuse issues. Case scenarios are presented and discussed by the panelists. This video provides information on "what," " why," and "how" one should treat clients with substance abuse issues and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It provides information on suicide and substance use disorders, including risk factors, warning signs, and follow-up care. The counseling sessions portrayed in the video employ the specific counseling techniques and the four-step process recommended by TIP 50. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) Web site, http://www.sprc.org/, supported by SAMHSA, features resources, news, and research articles related to preventing suicide and treating persons with suicidal behaviors.

Applying the chronic care model to homeless veterans: Effect of a population approach to primary care on utilization and clinical outcomes

2011-01-18T04:27:19

The authors compared a population-tailored approach to primary care for homeless veterans with a usual care approach. A retrospective prolective cohort study of homeless veterans enrolled in a population-tailored primary care clinic matched to a historical sample in general internal medicine clinics was conducted. Overall, 177 patients were enrolled: 79 in the Homeless-Oriented Primary Care Clinic and 98 in general internal medicine primary care. Homeless-oriented primary care-enrolled patients had greater improvements in hypertension, diabetes, and lipid control, and primary care use was higher during the first 6 months (5.96 visits per person vs 1.63 for general internal medicine) but stabilized to comparable rates during the second 6 months (2.01 vs 1.31, respectively). Emergency department (ED) use was also higher (2.59 vs 1.89 visits), although with 40% lower odds for nonacute ED visits than for the general internal medicine group (95% confidence interval = 0.2, 0.8). Excluding substance abuse and mental health admissions, hospitalizations were reduced among the homeless veterans between the 2 periods (28.6% vs 10.8%; P < .01) compared with the general internal medicine group (48.2% vs 44.4%; P = .6; difference of differences, P < .01).Tailoring primary care to homeless veterans can decrease unnecessary ED use and medical admissions and improve chronic disease management.

Benefits Assistance, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Outreach Programs, Homeless Veterans

2009-01-22T06:18:25

The DAV Homeless Veterans Initiative promotes the development of supportive housing and necessary services to assist homeless veterans become productive, self-sufficient members of society. Its goal is to establish a partnership between DAV and Federal, State, county, and local governments to develop programs to assist homeless veterans in becoming self-sufficient.

Effects of childhood abuse on relapse in a recently homeless substance-dependent veteran population

2011-05-16T02:19:04

The impact of childhood abuse, both childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and childhood physical abuse (CPA), is well documented. Both CSA and CPA have been associated with a number of mental health difficulties, including substance dependence. Though the association between abuse and mental health problems is well documented, what has received little attention is the impact that abuse histories may have on the ability to complete treatment for these problems. This study evaluates the association between abuse and failure to complete treatment due to substance relapse in 70 substance-dependent homeless men served by a Veterans Affairs Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program. Demographic and mental health variables were compared with incident rates of sexual and physical abuse as well as with rates of relapse prior to program completion. Contrary to predictions, results found that physical abuse, not sexual abuse, was associated with higher relapse rates. Limitations, implications, and future directions are discussed.

Ending Homelessness Among Veterans

2009-01-22T05:23:59

This report analyzes data from VA and the Census Bureau to examine homelessness and the severe housing cost burden among veterans.

Homeless Veteran Fact Sheet

2009-01-22T05:13:20

This fact sheet provides definitions, demographics, and the estimated numbers of homeless veterans.

Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP)

2009-01-22T05:17:00

This fact sheet explains HVRP, which is aimed at helping reintegrate homeless veterans into meaningful employment in the labor force. The program also seeks to stimulate development of service delivery systems to address the complex issues facing homeless veterans.

Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET), Programs/ Services

2009-01-22T06:20:16

MCVET is a nonprofit corporation providing homeless veterans and other veterans in need with comprehensive services that will enable them to rejoin their communities as productive citizens. HUD has declared MCVET the "National Model" for seamless services to homeless veterans.

Meeting The Needs Of Homeless And At Risk Veterans

2009-01-22T06:21:54

The United States Interagency Council supports and encourages the development of local 10-year plans to end chronic homelessness. These plans need to give special attention to homeless veterans. The development of jurisdictional data on the needs of homeless veterans and the creation of strategic partnerships and investments that prevent and/or their homeless are key to these plans. This web site provides resources, including resources and innovations in planning and programs for veterans, 10-Year Plans With Veterans Strategy Examples, and Federal Agency Web Sites With Homeless Specific Pages.

New England Center for Homeless Veterans (NECHV)

2009-01-22T05:39:51

The goal of NECHV is to help homeless veterans address the challenges of addiction, trauma, severe and persistent mental illness, and unemployment. In addition to providing information about services and employment for veterans, the Web site allows site visitors to sign up for the organization’s newsletter.

Primary Care Quality and Service Customization for the Homeless

2009-01-22T06:16:53

The goal of this study is to assist VA in determining how best to arrange primary care services for homeless veterans.

Spotlight: Experience and Innovation at The Barracks

2011-02-01T12:36:38

Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA) was awarded a SAMHSA General Treatment for Homeless grant that began September 30, 2009. VOALA’s program, The Barracks, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides a holistic, evidence-based, culturally appropriate recovery program. The Barracks links substance abuse and/or mental health treatment with residential housing, case management, wrap-around support services and aftercare to meet the emerging and underserved needs of male veterans who are homeless in Los Angeles County, California.

Starting a Homeless Veteran Program

2009-01-22T05:11:50

The nonprofit NCHV is a resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, State, and Federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid, and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year.

Statement of Peter H. Dougherty Director, Homeless Veterans Programs U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

2009-01-22T06:09:17

The focus of this oversight hearing was to gather information on the effectiveness of Federal grants to community-based organizations addressing the needs of homeless veterans.

Substance use comorbidity among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric illness

2011-05-16T02:15:43

There is considerable concern about the emergence of significant substance abuse among younger veterans of war in the Middle East, especially among those with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but little information exists on the magnitude of this problem. Using national administrative data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) (n = 1,001,996), we examined rates of diagnosed substance use disorders in Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan diagnosed with PTSD compared to other psychiatric disorders; and compared rates among veterans of other service eras. Of VA patients with a selected mental disorder, 21.0% had a comorbid substance diagnosis. Veterans who served in the post-Vietnam era (VET) (1973-1991) had the highest rates of comorbidity. Logistic regression models indicated that veterans with each selected psychiatric diagnosis were significantly more likely to be dually diagnosed in comparison to veterans with PTSD; post-Vietnam veterans were significantly more likely to be dually diagnosed than veterans from other eras. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are most strongly associated with dual diagnosis in OEF/OIF (Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom) veterans. There are high rates of substance use disorders among veterans with mental illness. The highest rates of comorbidity occur among those with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia; and in post-VET veterans. (Am J Addict 2011;00:1-5).

The American Veterans and Servicemembers Guide

2009-01-22T05:15:38

This survival guide includes vital information for service members and veterans from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are three parts to the book: Veterans and Their Families; Special Non-VA Programs, Opportunities and Problems, and Issues Related to Active Duty Servicemembers and Their Families. An entire chapter of the book is devoted to homelessness.

The relationship between military service eras and psychosocial treatment needs among homeless veterans with a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder

2010-12-20T01:59:46

The MISSION Program is a transitional case management program for homeless veterans. This article will examine baseline assessment data from consecutive admissions to the MISSION Program in order to more fully understand the differences across military service eras that impact the psychosocial treatment needs of veterans who are homeless, mentally ill, and have substance-abusing issues (COD). In all, 373 homeless veterans with a COD received the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Diagnosis, a modified Addiction Severity Index, the BASIS-32, and a comprehensive assessment battery focusing on other psychosocial treatment needs. Chi-square analysis and ANOVA were used to measure differences in mental health, substance use, physical health status, and homelessness across service eras, broken down by Vietnam era, post-Vietnam era, and Persian Gulf/Middle East era. Persian Gulf/Middle East era veterans were significantly more likely to have mental health problems than other veteran cohorts, especially problems with post-traumatic stress disorder (p <= .001), and reported more days of mental health problems in the past month (p = .01). Mideast veterans also became homeless at a significantly earlier age than other veterans (p <= .001), were more likely to report housing instability in their families of origin (p <= .05) and to attribute their homelessness to mental health problems (p = .01). Service providers need to be aware of the diversity of homeless veterans' service needs by period of military service in order to develop well-targeted, effective interventions.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veteran Resource Center (VET)

2009-01-22T05:42:45

HUD is committed to resolving the issue of homelessness for all Americans, including those on active duty in the military and veterans and their families. HUDVET is the result of a partnership between national veteran service organizations and HUD. The directory on the Web site provides information about the array of HUD homeless assistance programs and services for veterans and others who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.