Empowering Justice-Involved Veterans

Mental health

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Veterans face significant mental health challenges, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which often lead to homelessness, substance abuse, and involvement with the criminal justice system. Despite the availability of resources, many veterans do not receive the care they need due to systemic barriers such as stigma, lack of awareness, and logistical obstacles in dealing with bureaucratic healthcare systems. Addressing these issues requires focused trauma-informed peer support tailored to the unique experiences and needs of veterans. CVJP addresses the trauma an arrest can bring, reducing the potential for catastrophizing in this vulnerable population. Veterans face higher rates of suicide than the general population, particularly following arrests, and without our intervention, many justice-involved veterans will continue to struggle, potentially leading to tragic outcomes and further exacerbating the cycle of mental health crises and criminal justice involvement.

CVJP is designed specifically for the veterans in Los Angeles County. Our project includes the following key components: Outreach and Training: CVJP conducts outreach programs across Los Angeles to raise awareness about the mental health issues faced by our veteran community and available resources among veterans and their families. We also help educate and train many in Los Angeles' justice system (District Attorneys, Public Defenders, Judges) on critical pathways that are available to justice-involved veterans that allow them to forego incarceration and obtain the mental health services they need.
Counseling Services and Peer Support Groups: Provide one-on-one and group peer support sessions with experience in veteran-specific issues that continue for the duration of the veteran's case, and allow our veterans to connect with others who have similar experiences, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.
Crisis Intervention: We are in the process of developing a digital application specifically for veterans, where they can connect with our team 24/7, and we will be able to offer immediate support and referrals to necessary services.
Partnerships: Collaborate with local veteran organizations, healthcare providers, and government agencies to create a seamless network of support, trying to take down the silos of services offered in LA County and foster a sense of openness and collaboration in our veteran service community.

If successful, CVJP’s initiative will transform Los Angeles County into a supportive environment where veterans have equitable access to the mental health care they need. The project will lead to reduced rates of veteran homelessness, substance abuse, and involvement in the criminal justice system. Additionally, it will foster a stronger sense of community and belonging among veterans, contributing to their overall mental well-being and integration into society. Long-term, this initiative will serve as a model for other regions, demonstrating the effectiveness of community-based, veteran-focused mental health interventions as well as support for progressive criminal justice sentencing reform.

For this proposed initiative, success will be defined and measured through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics. Key performance indicators will include the number of veterans reached through outreach efforts, the number of counseling/ peer support sessions conducted, and the utilization rates of peer support groups and the digital application. Pre- and post-program surveys will assess changes in mental health status, well-being, and satisfaction with services. Additionally, we will track long-term outcomes such as reductions in homelessness, substance abuse, and recidivism among participants. Regular feedback from veterans and stakeholders will inform ongoing improvements to the program.