March 18, 2024
Sacramento, CA – The California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA) is thrilled to announce the award of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission funding for Veterans. This $2,010,000 grant will be funded over three years and will allow CAVSA and its member agencies to increase the representation and involvement of Veteran Communities in development and implementation of statewide and local mental health programs, policies, and legislation.
“Access to mental health and wellness for our nation’s former servicemembers has been a top priority for CAVSA since our founding nearly three decades ago. This grant represents a tremendous vote of confidence in our organization’s mission and will be a crucial boost to the impactful work we are doing to support Veterans and their families in California,” said Chuck Helget, CAVSA Executive Director.
Through this funding, CAVSA seeks to:
- Encourage state and local policymakers to prioritize veterans as a priority constituency in implementing and funding behavioral health policies and programs.
- Demonstrate the successes and shortcomings of programs that impact behavioral health and wellbeing, like the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Program (VHHP) and the Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) Pilot Program.
- Communicate about system gaps and the potential impact of proposed initiatives and legislation.
- Facilitate self-advocacy by veterans, their families, and local level veteran stakeholders who represent multiple groups with very diverse interests.
CAVSA’s geographic diversity facilitates the delivery of direct services in both urban and rural regions throughout the state, stretching from Eureka to San Diego. Through this diversity, CAVSA is able to gain a clear picture of the challenges faced by local veterans and its member agencies. This grant will allow CAVSA to expand resources and strengthen the systems of care that support veterans and their families.
About CAVSA:
Founded in 1995, the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA) is a consortium of six non-profit veteran service providers working in partnership to address the needs of California’s veterans. Partner organizations include: U.S. VETS, Swords to Plowshares, Nation’s Finest, California Veterans Assistance Foundation, Veterans Village of San Diego, and New Directions for Veterans.
###