Q&A
Challenges in veteran self-identification and outreach
0:37:41
·
3 min
Commissioner Hendon discusses the challenges in veteran self-identification and outreach efforts. He provides statistics on veteran self-identification rates and explains DVS's strategies to improve outreach.
- Only 24.1% of veterans in New York City self-identify
- DVS is working on leveraging partnerships with elected officials and community boards to improve outreach
- The agency is developing a system to provide veteran data to city council members and other officials
- Cultural barriers to help-seeking behavior among veterans are highlighted as a significant challenge
James Hendon
0:37:41
I agree with you.
0:37:42
You know, I when you speak earlier you said, you know, you've got families who have anger towards the military who don't wanna identify.
0:37:51
That's a whole other aspect of this.
0:37:52
There's so many things, and then I wanna just level set.
0:37:54
I was almost every hearing them.
0:37:55
We always say this Most recent data we have as far as self identification, this is the VA's gross domestic expenditure report.
0:38:02
It is in the in the nation.
0:38:06
It's 34.3%.
0:38:09
Of all veterans self identify nationwide.
0:38:11
It drops down to 29.8% in New York state.
0:38:14
It drops down to 24.1% in New York City.
0:38:17
And so we're dealing with how can I even know who that family member is, and I've got a veteran not even coming on the net?
0:38:21
That's one piece of this.
0:38:23
Another piece of it is you have some families who have anger in them from that experience being in that household and who, you know, even if we do it, we can to try to get them to come out of the shadows.
0:38:31
They are reluctant too because of, you know, I watch what it did to my brother.
0:38:35
I watch what it did to my father.
0:38:36
I watch what it did to my son, etcetera.
0:38:38
And so that's his own beast.
0:38:40
Sometimes I wanna add too, Mister Cherry, you talk about Outreach.
0:38:43
We're trying to do, you know, it's no secret.
0:38:45
We're not the richest agency in city government.
0:38:46
I just wanna call that out.
0:38:48
What we've been trying to do is leverage all of our partners, including you, as far as our elected officials.
0:38:53
To get the word out to our veterans.
0:38:55
What you'll see from us in the coming weeks is we finally got no place we can cut up all of our data so that we'll be able to tell all of the city council members, hey, here are the veterans.
0:39:04
We know of the 135,000 we are tracking.
0:39:06
Here are the ones we know who are in your district.
0:39:08
We'll be able to do that for counsel, for the assembly, for the senate, as far as New York State Assembly members, New York State senators, etcetera, also with community board.
0:39:17
And so these are agreements that we've been working on for months now.
0:39:20
They get to a place where between all of us.
0:39:23
If everyone's constantly reaching out to these veterans at some point, there'll be enough touches where our people and their families will come into the light.
0:39:29
So I just wanna call that out because it all comes back to identification identification identification.
Robert F. Holden
0:39:34
Right.
0:39:35
By the way, we've been joined by Council member Paladino, Ariola, and Marmirotto.
0:39:41
You got everybody.
0:39:42
Right?
0:39:42
Okay.
0:39:44
Just to and and, you know, I've been trying to get extra funding for RTM as you know.
0:39:52
And, you know, there there are so many programs.
0:39:55
And the the thing I like about RTM, it does is it's relatively cheap.
0:39:59
There's 4 to 5 sessions.
0:40:02
It's got it has promising results.
0:40:05
And we'll hear I think we'll hear from Doctor.
0:40:06
Burke later.
0:40:07
But, you know, the challenges that we face obviously is just reaching veterans, but also it it's probably another level of reaching the families.
0:40:19
And, you know, so tell me what the VA.
0:40:21
I mean, I you you probably know this, but and we probably spoke about this before, but I just wanna know the steps after a veteran is discharged.
0:40:31
Especially, I don't know, you you were you know veterans that were in combat.
0:40:37
What special counseling do they receive from the VA right away or from let's say, the army, if they if they were in the army navy, what what happens when they're discharged?
0:40:51
Who talks to them?
0:40:53
Who counsels them?
