Native Americans serve in the U.S. Armed Services at a higher rate than any other group, and a 2016 VA Tribal consultation identified treatment for PTSD and mental health as a top priority for Native American Veterans in their communities. Both Native Veterans and Justice Involved Veterans were identified as “heavily impacted groups” in Veteran Affairs’ 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Additionally, most Veterans who died by suicide in 2021 did not receive VA services in the two years prior. This presentation will provide an overview of VA’s services for Veterans and will highlight partnerships providing direct services to Native Veterans. This presentation will also provide an in-depth overview of Veterans Justice Programs (VJP). VJP has grown rapidly over the past decade plus, now serving Veterans in over 2,000 jails, over 1,000 prisons, and over 700 Veterans Treatment Courts. VJP is growing service provision to native justice involved Veterans and partnership building with Tribal criminal justice systems. This session will provide an overview to Tribal courts of assistance available through Veterans Justice Outreach and will also facilitate a conversation about needs of justice involved Veterans in Tribal and Veterans courts – and how VA can best partner with communities to meet those needs.
