Veterans

Committing to our veterans

Since our founding the Meadows Institute has been committed to improving the quality and availability of mental health care for veterans and their families. Working with federal authorities, state legislators, and regional and local organizations, the Meadows Institute supports policies and provides technical assistance to ensure that veterans and their families can access the care and supports they need, whether they are just leaving the military or are a longtime veteran.

Did you know?
91.7%

veterans did not use a V.A. medical center for mental health service in 2015*

1 in 4

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experience PTSD*

50%

Iraq & Afghanistan received treatment for a mental illness post-deployment*

1.6 million

veterans were living in Texas in 2017*

14%

of all Texas suicides in 2017 were veterans*

*U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, data limited to V.A. patients
Our challenge

Ensuring our veterans and their families are healthy

Multidimendional Grief Therapy Author Julie Kaplow-Kline-Kline (small)

Policies to improve the lives of veterans

The Meadows Institute works with legislators and government at all levels to create, implement, and improve programs that are vital to improving care for Texas veterans and their families. This includes programs like the Texas Veterans + Family Alliance (TV+FA) grant program, which provides matching state funds for local and private organizations that expand mental health care with locally-tailored solutions and support to Texas veterans and their families. Given its success, the TV+FA grant program has become a model for additional legislation to help other vulnerable populations, such as HHSC’s Community Mental Health Program and the Mental Health Grant Program for Justice-Involved Individuals.

Multidimendional Grief Therapy Author Julie Kaplow-Kline-Kline (small)

Working with organizations and initiatives

The Meadows Institute recognizes the importance of identifying and connecting veterans and their families to culturally competent care in their community. Texas boasts one of the largest populations of veterans in the nation, and the Meadows Institute is committed to helping communities and organizations at the local, regional, and national level create innovative solutions for equitable systemic changes so all veterans can obtain effective, efficient behavioral health care when and where they need it.

Multidimendional Grief Therapy Author Julie Kaplow-Kline-Kline (small)

Studying systems of support

The Meadows Institute offers help to communities that are striving to improve their ability to serve veterans and their families by assessing available services and recommending ways they can collectively work together seamlessly and more effectively. These assessments are valuable tools to make sure the resources available to communities are utilized to do the maximum good for the most veterans in a practical, efficient fashion.

Our Approach

Driving Change

The Meadows Institute is proud to support those who have served bravely to defend our freedoms. Alongside our community partners and stakeholders, the Meadows Institute is committed to driving changes that meet the unique challenges of veterans and their families so that health care can be delivered as quickly, efficiently, and effectively as possible.

Multidimendional Grief Therapy Author Julie Kaplow-Kline-Kline (small)

Featured Case Study

Texas Veterans + Family Alliance

SUMMARY – Texas has the second largest population of veterans in the country, and we have an obligation to care for those who have served and the families who have supported their service. Initially passed in 2015, the Texas Veterans + Family Alliance (TVFA) is an important part of our efforts to help fulfill our obligation, enabling local communities to develop solutions and programs to best serve their mental health needs.

Featured Projects

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Updated on:
November 4, 2020

White Paper Series: COVID-19 Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Impacts

SUMMARY - The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute has released a series of white papers on the anticipated mental health impact of the COVID-19...