2021 Veterans Day Q&A with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
Sgt (Join to see) SGT Randal Groover SGT (Join to see) SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SGT Charlie Lee Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr CPL Douglas Chrysler SPC Michael Terrell SPC Nancy Greene GySgt Thomas Vick GySgt Gary Cordeiro GySgt Jack Wallace PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Mark Huddleston MGySgt (Join to see) SGT Mary G. SPC Woody Bullard SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt Marian Mitchell SPC Margaret Higgins
Of 1.2 million Veterans who received VHA mental health services and completed a survey following their appointment, 87% reported they received their appointment on a time and date that worked for them.
Through FY 2021 Q3 Veteran satisfaction data reveal a high level of satisfaction with VA mental health care. The vast majority of responding Veterans reported that they are treated with respect and kindness by VHA mental health staff (95%) and that mental health treatment has been helpful in their life (90%). We share this information broadly and work to continue to improve performance where needed.
The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act (Congressional Public Law [PL] 114-2), required an annual, independent evaluation of mental health programs and suicide prevention services carried out by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) beginning in December 2018. The key findings from the most recent report include:
VA mental health and suicide prevention programs are effective at reducing symptoms in the first three months of outpatient treatment, and in the 3-4 months after discharge from a bed program.
VA mental health programs consistently reduce suicidal ideation and attempts in the first three months of treatment.
Veterans who engage in VA mental health services are very satisfied with their care.
Although women entering mental health care are frequently more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation, programs appear equally effective for men and for women at reducing that ideation.
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...
Just heard on the News that President Biden want to give $450,000 to each parents that had their kid separated from them at the border.
So I guess we will get Screwed again
You do know if I take a 4 year old and have them walk from NY to LA they will take my kids from me, for I am an unfit parent.
But Lets give them that are Invading our country $450,000 for the fun of it
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...
https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...
We do have a seamless Veteran data system in place. This means you can go on VA.gov right now and update your contact information, and everyone in VA will have that update.
We also have an effort underway to implement a new electronic health record system, which will connect all health care data and improve our patient’s ability to interact with their health care providers.
The new system will also connect with the Department of Defense.
We started the implementation in Spokane, WA – and we’ve learned a lot. But we’ve also made mistakes.
No other health care organization in the world is attempting something of this scale and complexity.
We are committed to getting this absolutely right for America’s Veterans.
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...
Anyway, they are cutting caregiver program drastically. All level one. Some level two. Only recently included Vietnam vets-my brother in law died the month after my sister/his wife, got into the program and he’d been debilitated for over a decade. Agent orange related. Brain deteriation. Sad.
CSP's Program of General Caregiver Support Program (PGCSS) provides services to caregivers of Veterans of all eras enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare. PGCSS offers a wide array of services to family and friends who care for Veterans, including peer support mentoring, skills training, coaching, telephone support and online programs, and connections with VA and community benefits and services. VA continues to enhance PGCSS. This includes having dedicated staffing at every facility to implement standard programming at every VA medical center. These clinical staff are available to meet individually with caregivers, identifying each caregiver's own unique needs so that together, they can develop a plan of care specific to those needs.
Additionally, VA has developed a system to automatically identify the name of the caregiver of a Veteran who is actively participating in PCAFC and PGCSS within the Veteran's electronic health record. This will allow for improved communication and coordination of care for the Veteran, recognition of the caregiver as an essential member of the Veteran's care team and increased support services for the family caregiver.
However, we recognize that there is still more work to be done. A 2020 Government Accountability Office report found that, since 2016, progress towards ending Veteran homelessness has stalled. The HUD Point-in-Time (PIT) Count estimates that on a single night in January 2020, 37,252 Veterans were experiencing homelessness. Not only that, but between 2019 and 2020, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness increased slightly, by less than one percent (167 more people). This increase was entirely among Veterans staying in unsheltered places (859 more Veterans). We at VA find this pattern concerning. Simply put, to Veteran who has served this country - let alone more than 37,000 on a given night - should experience homelessness.
VA and our partners at HUD are aligning efforts and mobilizing the strength of our two departments to do everything in our power to ensure every Veteran can access safe and stable housing.
Veterans Day Q&A with Secretary McDonough
VA Secretary Denis McDonough answers many questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this Veterans Day Q&A. Hundreds more ques...