Veterans' use of programs and services as they transition to civilian life: Baseline assessment for the veteran metrics initiative

Perkins, D. F., Aronson, K. R., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Vogt, D., Copeland, L. A., … Gilman, C. (2020). Veterans’ use of programs and services as they transition to civilian life: Baseline assessment for the veteran metrics initiative. Journal of Social Service Research, 46(2), 241-255. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2018.1546259

Some veterans experience difficulties in the transition to civilian life. As a result, many programs have been established by various organizations to assist veterans across four primary domains: 1) employment/education, 2) social and intimate relationships, 3) financial and legal matters, and 4) physical and/or mental health. However, there is limited information regarding the types of programs used by veterans, particularly within the months following military separation. The purpose of this study was to assess the types of programs that veterans are using (N = 9,566) within the first 90 days of their transition to civilian life and to describe the components of these programs that veterans find helpful as a means to inform policy work and intervention. "Programs" was defined broadly to include those offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as well as those offered by community, government, private, or faithbased organizations. Results indicate that programs targeting employment and education are those most used by veterans.

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