1. Military/Civilian Partnerships: The Collective Impact of Collaboration
Opportunities and Lessons Learned May 23, 2016

2. Presenters Christy Collette, MA, LMHC Outreach Specialist, MFRI
Tom Page
Executive Director, Michigan 2-1-1
Tom—I took the partnerships out to clean up slide, figured we can discuss them if that’s ok?

3. Military and Veteran Demographics and needs
Identifying the Needs to Achieve Impact
Military and Veteran Demographics and needs

5. Demographics Active Duty- 1,326,273 Reserve Component- 831,992
Veterans- 21,999,108
Family Members
Active Duty: 1,802,615
Reserve Component: 1,084,069

6. Veterans in Poverty Women Veterans Men Veterans
Increased chance of living in poverty as compared to civilians
True across all ages
15.6% versus 9.4%
Decreased chance of living in poverty as compared to civilian
True across all ages
6.7% versus 12.9%

7. Homeless Veterans 2015 Point in Time Count
47,725 veterans homeless
36% decrease between
34% are unsheltered
11% of homeless are veterans
9% of homeless veterans are female

8. Veteran Suicide VA estimates 22 veterans per day complete suicide
Veterans Crisis Line ( ) took 490,000 calls in 2015
Many veterans are not eligible for VA services
From National Alliance to End Homelessness, April 2015 Fact Sheet on Veteran Homelessness

9. Indiana 2-1-1 Veteran Calls
Caller’s Identified Needs
Utilities (16%)
Housing (15%)
Income support (13%)
Legal (10%)
Health (8%)
Who Calls:
70% Male
Trends in Calls:
+169% since 2012
Length of Calls:
12 Minutes
I took the text out.. We can talk about how 70% are male, the increase in calls since 2012 and how each call is 12 minutes versus the 6 minute typical call…

10. Seeking Civilian Services
Personal problems can effect military service
Financial difficulties
Domestic violence
Guard/Reserve families and veterans can be isolated
Lack of access to bases and services
Not necessarily near a VA or CBOC
Not all veterans are eligible for VA services
Era of service
Discharge status

11. Reasons for Calling 2-1-1 Unfamiliar w/ community resources
Particularly true when transitioning from active duty to veteran status
Lack of understanding of military culture among civilian providers
Stigma of asking for help

12. Why public/private partnerships are necessary
Working Together to Achieve Impact
Why public/private partnerships are necessary

13. The Push For Partnership: From The Top
August 2012 Executive Order
“The VA… shall include recommendations that medical centers and service networks use community-based providers to help meet veterans’ mental health needs.”
August 2014 Executive Action
Encourages public/private partnerships to address employment, homelessness (especially for women vets), and transitioning to civilian life for service members and their families

14. The Push For Partnership: From The Top
Joint Chiefs of Staff October 2013
“Public-private partnerships are critical to improving the support network for our nation’s Military Family… Only through effective public-private partnerships will we witness the full potential of concerted resources applied against a common challenge: the successful reintegration of Veterans and their families into our respective communities.”
Army regulation on Army Health Promotion:
“The GC (General Command) is responsible for synchronizing, integrating, and linking services, infrastructure, and operational support to Soldiers, Families, and senior commanders to enable a ready and resilient Army. This support extends from garrisons to encompass comprehensive communication and outreach to local communities to engage and encourage community leaders and programs in collaborative partnerships to support all Components.”

15. “Public-private partnerships offer a potential opportunity to improve the standard of current care for veterans and their families.”
‘Public-Private Partnerships for Providing Behavioral Health Care to Veterans and Their Families’ - RAND Corporation, 2015

16. Partnerships succeed when they:
They have a champion
Have Stakeholder Support
Have a Clear Description of what they want to accomplish
Draw on the strengths of both the public and private partners
Have a sustainability plan
Are Flexible
A champion is needed. Typically, key people within the public agency take the lead on creating the partnership.
Stakeholder support is critical. Support from the nonpublic communities involved in the partnership is necessary at the regional and local levels.
Successful public-private partnerships develop a clear description of the plan for addressing the established need and consider the risks in addition to the benefits likely to emerge from the partnership.
Successful public-private partnerships draw on the strengths of the public and the private entities so that both can work together toward a common goal.
Sustainability is important to ensure that the partnership is making an impact on the targeted systems or populations.
Flexibility is key. Partners need to be flexible in adapting to technological innovations, information technology, needs of the target population, funding environments, and changes to strategic objectives over time.
‘Public-Private Partnerships for Providing Behavioral Health Care to Veterans and Their Families’ - RAND Corporation, 2015

17. Partnerships Partnerships succeed when they: Have a champion
Have stakeholder support
Have a clear description of what they want to accomplish
Draw on the strengths of public AND private partners
Have a sustainability plan
Are flexible
Public-Private Partnerships for Providing Behavioral Health Care to Veterans and Their Families’ RAND Corporation, 2015

18. Partnerships
Need for partnerships to support service members, veterans and their families
A coordinated, integrated approach is necessary to address all needs including:
Employment
Reintegration
Physical health
Behavioral health
Legal
Education

19. Getting Started
Identify the strengths and needs of veterans and military population in your community
Identify existing resources and gaps
Identify veterans who are using your services
Track/report needs
Increase your cultural competency to serve this population
SBHP

20. Finding Partners Local bases Reserve Units (including National Guard)
Joining Community Forces initiatives
Social service providers
Food pantries
Homeless shelters
Local FSSA
Community action groups (i.e. Chamber of Commerce)
Veteran service orgs (i.e. American Legion, VFW)
VA medical facilities
County veteran service officers

21. Building Relationships
Reach out to National Guard Family Assistance Centers
Under directive to develop database of community (Michigan’s only has 97 resources)
Meeting with your Army OneSource State Liaisons
Their goal is building community capacity to serve all veterans/all branches
Explore VECI- Veterans Economic Community Initiatives
In major metro areas designed to build community capacity
Veteran Treatment Courts

22. Challenges of Military/Civilian Partnerships
Different cultures
Different approaches to problem solving
Funding
Systems may be over-extended
Organizational policies
Conflicting mandates/organizational goals

23. Success Stories

24. Panel Discussion