Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC)
Join the Veteran Reintegration Initiative
The Veteran Reintegration Initiative
Join our effort to improve Veteran reintegration experiences
Why is this initiative important?
Approximately 200,000 service members separate from the military each year. Although most Veterans will thrive after service:
- One-third will experience chronic physical health problems
- Half will experience mental health concerns
- Half will experience challenges with friendships, relationships, and feeling like they don't belong in civilian society
- Too many Veterans will take their own lives.
We need to change the course of Veterans' reintegration into civilian life to reverse these numbers. You can help.
About the Veteran Reintegration Initiative
The Veteran Reintegration Initiative is a research project funded through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and is led by a national team of researchers. The overall goal of the initiative is to improve the reintegration experience for all Veterans; to increase the likelihood of a successful transition to civilian life. Information gathered as part of this research initiative will enable VA and other organizations to:
- Identify gaps in reintegration support
- Develop additional reintegration support services
- Match the right support services to each Veteran at the right time
We need to hear all types of Veterans’ experiences — from those who are thriving to those who are experiencing challenges.
How do I know this work will actually lead to change?
- First, our project is guided by a group of Veterans to ensure the information we gather is relevant to Veterans’ reintegration experiences, challenges, successes, and needs. This Veteran team will also help guide what is done with the information gathered — that is, they will recommend changes to programing and support based on what we learn.
- Second, this is a VA-supported effort, in partnership with the VA’s Office of Social Work and Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. These offices are instrumental in developing, disseminating, and overseeing programs and support services for reintegrating Veterans.
- Third, information gathered as part of this effort may also help reduce risk of suicide among Veterans during their reintegration into civilian life. This is top priority for the VA and the Department of Defense.
- Finally, you will have the option to opt-in to receive email updates from us on the progress and findings of the initiative.
What does participation look like?
Participating in the initiative is simple: we ask that you complete a series of 7 surveys online over the next three years, each one taking approximately 30-45 minutes. Your survey responses will be kept confidential and will NOT affect your benefits, so feel free to be frank with us. For each survey you complete, you will receive $20. There will also be two $50 completion bonuses; you can receive up to $240 if you complete all surveys. Although you will not directly benefit from participation in this research, your participation — sharing your reintegration experiences with us — will help us learn how to benefit other Veterans in the future. We look forward to working with you!
Our Approach
The surveys will cover topics that are commonly reported by Veterans as important to a successful reintegration into civilian life: role functioning, mental and physical health, financial satisfaction, relationships, and spirituality.
To talk with us about this initiative,
please call Sarah Shklanko at 503-220-3461
Download a pdf version of this brochure here
VA Portland IRB Study Number: 6051
Principal Investigator: Lauren Denneson, PhD
VA Portland Health Care System
3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd
Portland, OR 97329
No treatment is provided as part of this research initiative. Veterans eligible to participate are those who have recently separated from military service.
