Homeless Veterans Services Birmingham VA Medical Center

Transcription

1 Homeless Veterans Services Birmingham VA Medical Center

2 Veteran Justice Outreach Contact Person: Ahmad Brewer: The Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) is an outreach program that targets Veterans involved in the legal system. The VJO Specialists provides outreach to the local courts, jails, etc. The VJO program is responsible for identifying these Veterans and providing treatment resources that may be able to be used by the court in lieu of incarceration. Community Residential Care Contact Person: Ahmad Brewer: Community Residential Care (CRC) is a program designed to provide a form of enriched care for Veterans that are not 100% able to care for themselves. The CRC Program consists of independently owned homes or facilities that provide 24 hour care for these Veterans. The Veterans are responsible for paying the monthly board rate for the care they receive. SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYMENT Contact Person: Monica Williams Supported Employment helps veterans with serious illnesses secure and maintain meaningful employment in the community. Participation based on zero exclusion criteria. Employment specialists closely coordinate with other rehabilitation and clinical treatment practitioners, creating a comprehensive treatment program. Employment specialist's helps veterans with a serious mental illness find jobs in the open labor market that pay at least minimum wage and that anyone could have, regardless of their disability status. Once a job is found, employment specialists provide ongoing support and guidance, as needed. Choices about work are based on veteran's preferences, strengths, and experiences. HCHV Homeless Intake Social Worker Contact Person: Julie O'Connor, LCSW, PIP (205) ext 6871 Complete homeless intake assessments to determine need and placement. A placement in a VA contract halfway house (GEMMS, Steps and Traditions, Fellowship House, and Three Hots and A Cot) requires an individual to participate in OSAC (Outpatient Substance Abuse Clinic - Coordinator, Cathy Prellwitz ext 6761) and/or MH services. At Mickens Boarding Home, an individual does not have to be involved in MH and/or OSAC, but does have to meet with me weekly for case management services. There are a total of76 halfway house beds available. Fellowship House is an inpatient substance abuse treatment program. There are an additional 20 beds available at the Salvation Army vet dorm (SAVE - Salvation Army Veteran Empowerment). An individual has to be involved in OSAC in order

3 to participate in this program. Placement in a VA contract halfway house is a short term placement option. I also coordinate placement at other area shelters when needed. Provide case management services to individuals receiving a Section 8 housing voucher through Shelter Plus Care. Contact individuals identified as needing housing assistance though Homeless Consults. Important Contact Information: Steps and Traditions If trying to locate a veteran at this facility, please ask to speak to Olivet Thompson. Three Hots and A Cot GEMMS (Greater Expectations Millennium Ministry) Fellowship House Salvation Army Mickens Boarding Home HUD-VASH Contact Person: Lillie McLemore The Department of Housing and Urban Development - VA Supportive Housing (HUD- VASH) Program is a joint effort between HUD and VA to move Veterans and their families out of homelessness and into permanent housing. HUD provides housing assistance through its Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) that allows homeless Veterans to rent privately owned housing. VA offers eligible homeless Veterans clinical and supportive services through its health care system across the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Veterans must meet the definition of homelessness defined in The McKinney Homeless Assistance Act as amended by S. 896 The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of Veterans who are appropriate candidates for this program must need case management services in order to obtain and sustain independent community housing. Veterans who need case management services have serious mental illness, substance use disorder history, or physical disability. Veterans with the most vulnerability are excellent candidates for this program. Eligible candidates for the program are expected to participate in case management and utilize the supportive services, treatment recommendations and assistance needed to successfully maintain recovery and sustain housing in the community. Case Management is the heart of this program and is a requirement for participation in the HUD-VASH voucher program.

4 VA determines clinical eligibility for the program. The PHA determines if the Veteran participant meets HUD's regulations for this program. The PHA will determine eligibility based on income limits. Also, the PHA will determine if any member of the household is required to maintain Lifetime Sexual Offender Registry status - those who do are not eligible to participate in this program. HUD-VASH provides permanent housing for eligible homeless Veterans who are single or eligible homeless Veterans with families. The program is developed for the homeless Veteran, so eligible Veteran families must include the Veteran. Because HUD-VASH provides for Veterans with medical, mental health and/or substance use disorders, eligible Veterans must be able to complete activities of daily living and live independently in the community with case management and supportive services. To apply for HUD-VASH, please contact your local VA Homeless Program. Veterans can contact the HUD-VASH program directly, or obtain a referral from a case manager From FY 2008 through FY 2011, HUD has allocated funding to local public housing authorities to provide over 37,000 Housing Choice Vouchers to homeless Veterans while VA has hired dedicated VA case managers to assist homeless Veterans in securing and maintaining permanent housing through intensive case management. Grant and Per Diem Contact Person: Rene Elliott VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is offered annually (as funding permits) by the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Programs to fund community agencies providing services to homeless Veterans. The purpose is to promote the development and provision of supportive housing and/or supportive services with the goal of helping homeless Veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or income, and obtain greater self-determination. Only programs with supportive housing (up to 24 months) or service centers (offering services such as case management, education, crisis intervention, counseling, services targeted towards specialized populations including homeless women Veterans, etc.) are eligible for these funds. The program has two levels of funding: the Grant Component and the Per Diem Component

5 Compensated Work Therapy Contact Person: Walter Robinson What Is Veterans Industries Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Work Experience Program? The Veterans Industries Compensated Work Therapy/ Transitional Work Experience Program (VI/CWT/TWE) is a clinical therapeutic mental health program that assists veterans with substance abuse problems and/or mental health issues in regaining the necessary skills and work habits critical for obtaining and maintaining competitive employment. The Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Work Experience can help to develop basic job skills, fill in gaps in employment history, and give extra support as a veteran reenters the labor force. TWE will provide structured evaluations of work potential as well as allow an opportunity to build a foundation for recovery issues. Most importantly, the program can assist a veteran in finding competitive employment while participating in the program. Veterans' Industries Mission Statement Veterans' Industries is committed to assisting veterans with mental health and/or substance abuse issues reach their highest level of productivity through transitional work experiences. This is accomplished by referrals to employee development services, and community employment services that assist veterans in obtaining competitive employment within six months while encouraging veteran to work a strong recovery program. Program Purpose The purpose of the program is to improve working skills and help veterans return to their highest level of functioning through employee development services. Goal The goal is to assist the Compensated Work Therapy client in finding competitive employment through community employment services within six months of TWE admission. Focus The focus is to provide a skills training program to assist veterans in developing good work habits and behaviors in order to assist in finding and keeping employment. This includes cultivating skills to improve and/or develop: o Ability to work well with others, peers and authority o Ability to complete assigned tasks o Ability to accept supervision o Ability to perform quality work

6 o Ability to attend work site on time everyday and remain the entire scheduled tour of duty o Ability to communicate excused absences prior to day of event o Ability to improve appointment scheduling to minimize disruption in work schedule o Ability to complete Job applications and design an effective resume. Transitional Residence (TR) Contact Person: Willie Fields The Transitional Residence is a therapeutic home for veterans in the Compensated Work Therapy Program. The TR Mission is to support your recovery and rehabilitation goals by providing you with a bridge between hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs and the community. The objective of the program is to provide you with a therapeutic environment while you address issues that will facilitate your return to the community as a productive and responsible citizen. Our goal is to increase your chances for successful re-adjustment and reentry back into the community. Although you are a veteran in a VA program, to your neighbors you will be seen as a citizen and not as a hospital patient. You will do the same things other citizens do, such as pay for your housing, shop, cook, clean house and care for the lawn. Take advantage of what the program has to offer you. We hope that you are motivated and committed to change your life. The handbook will serve as your guide to the rules, policies, and procedures of the program. Following these rules and guidelines will increase your chances of being successful in the program and will enhance your return to the community, to a lifestyle that is independent and productive. Community Outreach Contact Person: Michael Mallory I provide outreach services to Homeless veterans. I'm responsible for outreach services to homeless veterans in the community. Assignment may be to the local Birmingham area or to the rural outreach area in the Huntsville Allis work with the local community homeless staff in the assigned communities to identify Veterans who may need assistance with housing, medical/mental health care, etc. I provide continuing outreach services at a field or community location alone or with subordinate social work staff members without a supervisor available for consultation. I coordination of services with a wide range of residents from various communities such as local lawyers, physicians, law enforcement, public officials, and staff of the local social service agencies. I'm the homeless point of contact for the staff of the VA and Contract Community Based Outpatient Clinics. I provides outreach, assessments, referrals and case management services to homeless veterans identified in the community. I also provides services to homeless Veterans receiving treatment in contract residential treatment and supportive housing programs. My Referrals come from various shelters, soup kitchens, drop-in centers, social service agencies and the

7 medical center..0ther duties may include going to community medical centers or homeless shelter or transition housing to assess homeless Veterans. Phoenix Clinic Contact Person: Caron Griffin Community Outreach Specialist/Phoenix Clinic Phoenix Clinic is a new place to obtain primary medical care for Veterans. It's for Veterans who are homeless, or leaving homelessness behind. The Phoenix Clinic is part of a national initiative. You can walk in for care. You can make appointments You will be provided case management services if desired. We will provide care, second to none-the best care anywhere We will maintain and expand veterans' health care services Phoenix Clinic Services Medical Services Physical examinations Urgent primary care Long-term primary care Laboratory testing STD testing and treatment Referrals to medical specialty clinics Referrals to Birmingham VAMC's Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program Social Work Services Case Management Public Benefits Assistance Help with direct needs like housing or food Assistance with pension and service connection applications H-PACT Partnerships Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program (HCHV) HCHV is the lead partner for the Phoenix Clinic. The HCHV program provides outreach, clinical assessments, long-term transitional residential assistance, case management and employment assistance with linkage to permanent housing. HCHV also provides referrals for medical and mental healthcare services within the Birmingham VA Medical Center. HCHV Program Coordinator: Willie J. Fields HCHV Outreach Contact: Michael Mallory

8 HCHV Hotline: 1(205) Ext Homeless Veteran Supported Employment Program (HVSEP) Contact Person: Robert Lamar HVSEP provides vocational assistance, job development and placement, and ongoing supports to improve employment outcomes among homeless Veterans and Veterans at-risk of homelessness. Formerly homeless Veterans who have been trained as Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists (VRSs) provide these services.