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Dates, Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc.

Improving Mental Health Care for Veterans and Their Families

In 2009, the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC) began to focus more attention on veterans’ mental health and substance use issues.

Veterans’ Health

Grantee Name

Dates, Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc.

Funding Area

Veterans’ Health

Publication Date

December 2014

Grant Amount

$125,004

Grant Date:

Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc.

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In 2009, the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC) began to focus more attention on veterans’ mental health and substance use issues.

In partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City, MHA-NYC organized the Veterans’ Mental Health Coalition of New York City (VMHC-NYC). VMHC-NYC, along with Veterans’ Health Alliance of Long Island (VHA-LI), seeks to address limited access to appropriate mental health supports by servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Both organizations include experts from the fields of mental health/substance use, health, social service, the Veterans Administration, and government, as well as representation from veterans and their families.

In 2010, the New York Health Foundation awarded a grant to MHA-NYC to enable the VMHC-NYC and VHA-LI to share a part-time project director.

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

  • Tripled combined membership of VMHC-NYC and VHA-LI from approximately 230 to more than 750 individuals;
  • Drafted a joint 10-point policy agenda with input and feedback from organization members, which is still being used to build support among VMHC-NYC and VHA-LI members, State and local policymakers, and other localities seeking to form coalitions;
  • Produced a joint, bi-weekly veterans’ bulletin board that disseminates information about events in New York City and on Long Island that are related to veterans’ behavioral health;
  • Assisted with the development of the Veterans Treatment Court in Nassau County, which identifies nonviolent veteran offenders and provides them with supportive services and treatment with the goal to keep them out of jail; and
  • Encouraged eight New York City graduate schools of social work to recruit, train, and graduate veterans to become social workers.

Related Links

Key Facts: The Health & Mental Health of Returning Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

Learn more

The Needs of New York State’s Returning Veterans and Their Families

Learn more
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