Sorenson’s Straight Talk
STRAIGHT TALK by Representative Kent Sorenson
August 30, 2010
Final Veterans Mental Health Task Force Report
The Iowa Veterans Mental Health Task Force issued its final report last week.
The final report included 9 recommendations, three of which will likely require legislative action.
Recommendation: Enhance the existing veteran’s database by capturing veteran’s information through existing state data collection systems. Identifying veterans across the state has proven to be a barrier to providing full support to Iowa’s veterans. Coming up with a way to maintain an accurate database of veterans in the state will help officials provide outreach by getting out current information as it relates to veterans benefits.
Recommendation: Initiate process to create a jail diversion program for veterans in Iowa. With rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) being high in soldiers returning to civilian life after tours of duty, some are finding themselves in the jail system due to their mental health conditions. Jail diversion programs are becoming increasingly implemented across the United States, with studies showing lower rates of recidivism. Federal money is available for such programs through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and a pilot program could be established without legislative action.
Recommendation: Establish a state fee basis program for behavioral health services to serve veterans in their local communities. Veterans in Iowa often face the challenge of distance and location when they need access to mental health services, especially in rural areas. Adding to this problem, rural areas in Iowa are facing a shortage of mental health professionals. A state fee basis program would allow veterans to use their VA benefits to access a local behavioral health provider of their choice. This would give veterans much greater access to help in their local communities without requiring those who are elderly or disabled to travel great distances.
Other Recommendations: Other recommendations in the report include providing mental health first aid training to first responders and veteran stakeholder groups so they will be aware of what to watch for in situations dealing with veterans; developing an outreach strategy and social marketing campaign to promote awareness of mental health issues veterans may be facing; encouraging law enforcement training to include crisis intervention training especially focusing on veteran issues; creating a community based peer support pilot program for veterans and their families; securing a mobile outreach vehicle to help bring information and support to Iowa’s veterans in both rural and urban areas; and developing a veterans screening process that will enable non-VA service providers a framework to reference in identifying and appropriately referring veterans with mental health issues. The full report can be read at: http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/wp-content/uploads/Veterans-Final-Report-2010-7-22.pdf
Please feel free to contact me if you have any issues or concerns you would like to discuss.
Representative Kent Sorenson
515-962-2192
Kent@kentsorenson.com