Lanterna Rally

Author: U S Government Accountability Office (G

Publisher: BiblioGov

Published: 2013-07

Total Pages: 50

ISBN-13: 9781289242947

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Vet Center program, focusing on: (1) the individuals served and the services provided; and (2) VA methodology for determining whether Vet Center services are appropriate and effective. GAO found that: (1) vet centers help certain veterans make a successful transition from military to civilian life; (2) vet center services range from assistance with basic needs and benefits to drug and alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counseling; (3) veterans who have more serious psychological problems, such as PTSD, visit vet centers more often than veterans with employment or benefit concerns; (4) about 283,000 new clients used vet centers during fiscal years 1993 through 1995; (5) many veterans have social concerns that can be addressed by other VA and non-VA programs, thus limiting the number of center visits needed; (6) client visits are generally recorded accurately in the workload reporting system, but program managers and supervisors lack the information needed to oversee the program and monitor staff activities and resources; and (7) VA has established standards for determining whether treatment plans are appropriate, but it has not developed a systematic approach for demonstrating that vet center services are effective in meeting veterans' psychological needs.