VA’s Outreach and NASVH February 25, 2014 Dr. Tommy Sowers Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

How do we transform the VA and deliver for Veterans quickly? President’s Goals We also owe our Veterans the care they were promised and the benefits that they have earned. We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America. …Too many wounded warriors go without the care that they need. Too many veterans don't receive the support that they've earned. - President Barack Obama, March 19, 2009 VA Goals Veterans’ homelessness to zero in 2015 Backlog of claims to zero in 2015 Increase access

Source: Unique Veterans Utilization of VA Benefits and Services FY 2010, Office of Policy and Planning, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics ~60% of Veterans do not currently access VA services and understand little to nothing about their benefits. Users more likely to own a home, be employed and educated. Non-users more likely to be homeless and commit suicide Q: How much do you understand the VA benefits available? Veteran Awareness of VA Benefits/Service % of overall veterans utilizing a VA benefit/service Veteran Utilization of VA Benefits/Service UsersNon-Users We estimate there are over 1 million uninsured veterans who could qualify for VA Health Care

Not all cities are created equal 4

Differences in enrollment vary dramatically even in proximity 5

These differences impact veterans and expenditures 6

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Source: Unique Veterans Utilization of VA Benefits and Services FY 2010, Office of Policy and Planning, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics ~60% of Veterans do not currently access VA services and understand little to nothing about their benefits. Users more likely to own a home, be employed and educated. Non-users more likely to be homeless and commit suicide Q: How much do you understand the VA benefits available? Veteran Awareness of VA Benefits/Service % of overall veterans utilizing a VA benefit/service Veteran Utilization of VA Benefits/Service UsersNon-Users We estimate there are over 1 million uninsured veterans who could qualify for VA Health Care

In order to increase awareness, OPIA partnered with the Ad Council and VSOs to develop and launch our first ever national outreach campaign Ad Council relies on pro-bono services: Ad agencies: Strategic and creative development Media: Donated airtime and space Corporate: Operating support Ad Council DDB VA Communications Expert Public Service Advertising Expert Subject Matter Expert The campaign will run: TV, Radio, Print, Outdoor, Web, Campaign specific websites Objective: Increase awareness of the breadth of VA services and benefits Target Veterans Spouses / Families Active duty military Intent A simple concept (three words) Veteran actors (interviewed 300 +) An emotional appeal 12

Every Vet has the first thing they did when they left the military. They played catch with their son, ate a home cooked meal or just got on a motorcycle and rode, alone. Whatever their first thing was, applying for VA benefits should be The Second Thing. Whether it has been days or decades it is never too late to do The Second Thing 13

Separate but complimentary is a national “Boots on the Ground” outreach campaign Situation March 4 th is the 149 th Anniversary of Lincoln’s 2 nd Inaugural “To care for whom hath borne the battle” From March 4 th, 2014 to March 4 th, 2015, VHA’s Mobile Vet Centers are planning to visit all 7,000 counties to conduct data-driven outreach Mission: OPIA, in partnership with VHA, VBA, NCA, OCLA, coordinates a national outreach campaign, featuring a events that focus on Veterans in specific regions (state, cities, counties) accessing the VA Objectives Continue VA Key Priority of increasing veterans' access to benefits and services through Federal/State partnerships Surface and feature stories of Veterans in every community that benefit from VA Two broad methods of engagement—ongoing county level events and a weekly state-wide event Events will be registered and tracked at a central website Objectives Continue VA Key Priority of increasing veterans' access to benefits and services through Federal/State partnerships Surface and feature stories of Veterans in every community that benefit from VA Two broad methods of engagement—ongoing county level events and a weekly state-wide event Events will be registered and tracked at a central website

Who will be the first state to enroll 50%, 75%, or all veterans? What help do you need from us? 15