Tribal Veterans Representative (TVR) Training Program: The Effect of Community Outreach Workers on American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Access to and Utilization of the Veterans Health Administration.

Tribal Veterans Representative (TVR) Training Program: The Effect of Community Outreach Workers on American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Access to and Utilization of the Veterans Health Administration. J Community Health. 2014 Mar 2; Authors: Kaufmann LJ, Buck Richardson WJ, Floyd J, Shore J Abstract American Indians and Alaska Natives serve at the highest rate of any US race or ethnic group, yet are the most underserved population of Veterans and do not take advantage of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and services. Barriers to seeking care include stigma, especially for mental health issues; distance to care; and lack of awareness of benefits and services they are entitled to receive. In response to this underutilization of the VA, an innovative program-the Tribal Veterans Representative (TVR) program-was developed within the VA to work with American Indians and Alaska Natives in rural and remote areas. The TVR goes through extensive training every year; is a volunteer, a Veteran and tribal community member who seeks out unenrolled Native Veterans, provides them with information on VA health care services and benefits, and assists them with enrollment paperwork. Being from the community they serve, these outreach workers are able to develop relationships and build rapport and trust with fellow Veterans. In place for over a decade in Montana, this program has enrolled a countless number of Veterans, benefiting not only t...
Source: Rural Remote Health - Category: Rural Health Authors: Tags: J Community Health Source Type: research