VA’s Outreach and NASVHFebruary 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 GoalsWe 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

8.9M 40%13

.8M60%

~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

8.40%

32.60%

31.00%

28.00%

A Lot Some A Little Not at All

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

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Differences in enrollment vary dramatically even in proximity

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These differences impact veterans and expenditures

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These differences impact veterans and expenditures

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These differences impact veterans and expenditures

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These differences impact veterans and expenditures

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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

8.9M 40%13

.8M60%

~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

8.40%

32.60%

31.00%

28.00%

A Lot Some A Little Not at All

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

DDBVA

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

Every Vet has the first thing they did when theyleft the military. They played catch with theirson, 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

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Separate but complimentary is a national “Boots on the Ground” outreach campaign

Situation• March 4th is the 149th Anniversary of Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural “To care for whom hath borne

the battle”• From March 4th, 2014 to March 4th, 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

Who will be the first state to enroll 50%, 75%, or all veterans?

What help do you need from us?

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