Improving the Role and Impact of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services

• Conducted the first-ever survey of all 50 states’ respective DVAs to establish a baseline understanding of veterans’ needs addressed by DVAs across the country. Among the top needs: benefits and claims assistance; behavioral and mental health; employment and training; long-term care; and housing.
• Compiled an in-depth analysis of all state DVAs that highlights unique and successful approaches to addressing issues involving technology, service delivery, administration, and governance.
• Created two interactive data visualization dashboards that provide additional information about each state’s innovative practices.
• Developed criteria for identifying high-performing DVAs and examined 10 case studies to reveal key characteristics leading to each state’s success, which include:
  • diversity of experience and continuity of leadership;
  • stable federal, state, and local funding;
  • independent political structure; and
  • political engagement.
• Published a report on New York State’s DVA, “A Strategic Roadmap to Enhance the Role and Impact of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services,” that analyzes how the State compares with its counterparts across the nation and outlines areas for improvement. Among the key findings:
  • New York’s organizational structure is well configured when compared with other states, but can be improved with continuous leadership and by establishing a direct reporting line between the DVA director and the governor.
  • New York spends nearly $200 less per veteran compared with the average DVA.
  • New York should adapt best practices from other states to improve its own service innovations.
  • New York’s DVA should play a larger role in coordinating services between other local, State, and federal agencies to better assist veterans with navigating available resources.
• Worked with the VA Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs to brief key leaders on report findings.
• Briefed members of the New York State Assembly’s veterans’ affairs committee and other State legislators on report findings.

Within New York State, IVMF’s findings were well received, and nearly all recommendations were publicly supported by the director of New York State’s Division of Veterans’ Services (DVS) at an NYHealth event in September 2019. Two key recommendations—a budget increase and restructuring of the organization—were seen as unlikely to be implemented because of interruptions in the continuity of leadership, as well as State budget constraints. However, both recommendations were realized after new attention was placed on strengthening DVS by members of the State’s legislature. NYHealth President and CEO David Sandman provided testimony in October 2021 at an assembly hearing focused on restructuring the division, and as part of the State’s 2023 budget, DVS was elevated to a fully independent department with its commissioner having a seat in the governor’s cabinet.

Though successful, one challenge of this project was overcoming differing priorities between NYHealth and the IVMF team. While IVMF was focused on collecting national-level data to inform the baseline for analysis, NYHealth was seeking emphasis on New York State. Similarly, miscommunication surrounding the structure of the report, as well as key personnel turnover, contributed to delays in this project. In the future, NYHealth will work on creating and maintaining clearer lines of communication with grantees to ensure an alignment of priorities.

Co-Funding and Additional Funds Leveraged: N/A