VA VET CENTERS: Opportunities Exist to Help Better Ensure Veterans’ and Service members’ Readjustment Counseling Needs Are Met

Some veterans and service members experience challenges, such as mental illness, when readjusting to civilian life or to continued military service. This can be due to trauma experienced during military service. VHA’s Vet Centers provide services to eligible veterans, service members, and their families.

The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 included a provision for GAO to review VHA’s RCS. This report examines (1) how VHA assesses whether Vet Centers are meeting clients’ needs, (2) how Vet Centers assess the effectiveness of their outreach, and (3) barriers to Vet Center care VHA has identified and steps it has taken to address them. GAO reviewed VHA policies and interviewed officials from RCS and counselors and outreach staff from five Vet Centers. GAO selected Vet Centers for variation in geographic location and other factors. GAO also interviewed representatives from two veterans service organizations.