Center for a New American Security

Current Government Framework for Veteran Care Inadequate for Service-Related Needs of America's Veterans, Say CNAS Experts

Washington, April 11, 2012 — While most veterans successfully transition out of uniform and into civilian life, some recent veterans face service-related challenges. Both government agencies and local communities should do more to ensure that these veterans receive the care and services they need to reintegrate into civilian life, argue two CNAS experts in Well After Service: Veteran Reintegration and American Communities, released today by CNAS.

Authors Nancy Berglass, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, and Dr. Margaret Harrell, Senior Fellow and Director of the CNAS Joining Forces Initiative, write that "There is no current infrastructure to facilitate partnerships between federal agencies and the capable veteran-serving organizations in American communities, leaving veterans vulnerable to significant pitfalls in the military-to-civilian transition." The authors begin with a new definition of veteran wellness that differs from the concepts of military or civilian wellness, identify the best practices of community-based veteran reintegration models and offer concrete recommendations for how the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and community-based organizations can work together to close this gap and support a successful transition for America's veterans. Download Well After Service: Veteran Reintegration and American Communities.

CNAS also released today Investing in the Best: How to Support the Nonprofits that Serve Veterans, Service Members and Their Families by Nancy Berglass. "For those veterans and their families who need support, a broad range of nonprofit organizations stands ready to help. Yet, donors who wish to support the most effective organizations that help meet the needs of veterans and the military community face a staggering array of choices," Berglass states. To address this concern, the author provides criteria for both public and private donors to determine which organizations that serve veterans are worthy of investment. Download Investing in the Best: How to Support the Nonprofits that Serve Veterans, Service Members and Their Families.

CNAS is an independent, nonpartisan partner with the White House for Joining Forces, a comprehensive national initiative to mobilize all sectors of society to support U.S. service members, veterans and their families.  These reports represent part of the research conducted for CNAS' Joining Forces project within the Center's Military, Veterans and Society Program and are released today on the first anniversary of the White House's Joining Forces initiative.

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The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is an independent and nonpartisan research institution that develops strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies. CNAS leads efforts to help inform and prepare the national security leaders of today and tomorrow.