McGuire James
Department of Veterans Affairs Northeast Program Evaluation Center, Los Angeles, USA.
J Prim Prev. 2007 Jul;28(3-4):389-400. doi: 10.1007/s10935-007-0091-y. Epub 2007 Jun 5.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been identified as a mainstream institution to help prevent homelessness among America's veterans. The large numbers of incarcerated veterans with serious mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders who are at risk for homelessness support the need for expanded VA outreach to this population. Since 2002, the VA has contacted almost 6,500 veterans in prison or jail. Its leadership role in affording comprehensive health, mental health, social resources, corrections outreach, and current policy and planning strategies positions the VA to provide system wide service to veterans leaving correctional institutions. As this VA outreach program proceeds, examining the links among program assumptions, veteran needs and outcomes, and existing evaluation processes can help to maintain focus on homelessness prevention strategies.
美国退伍军人事务部（VA）已被认定为帮助美国退伍军人预防无家可归的一个主流机构。大量患有严重精神疾病和药物滥用障碍、面临无家可归风险的在押退伍军人表明，有必要扩大退伍军人事务部对这一群体的外展服务。自2002年以来，退伍军人事务部已联系了近6500名在监狱或看守所中的退伍军人。其在提供全面医疗、心理健康、社会资源、惩教外展服务以及现行政策和规划战略方面的领导作用，使退伍军人事务部能够为离开惩教机构的退伍军人提供全系统服务。随着退伍军人事务部这一外展项目的推进，审视项目假设、退伍军人需求与成果以及现有评估流程之间的联系，有助于持续关注无家可归预防策略。
