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2023 Summit Veterans Deflection Information
VETERAN DEFLECTION: VETERANS JUSTICE OUTREACH (VJO)
ENGAGEMENT WITH POLICE/FIRST RESPONDERS IN CINCINNATI
- Sequential Intercept Model: National Institute of Corrections (Home | Justice Involved Veterans (nicic.gov)) 2 The Framework
- I/D first responder agencies with whom you might partner.
- Understand police culture: Pew Research Ctr. Article:
-84% worry about their safety at last some of the time.
-86% don’t think the public understand the challenges/risks of job.
-Majority state that their work makes them feel proud.
-Nearly the same majority state that their work makes them feel frustrated. (Police culture | Pew Research Center)
- Cultivate the relationship.
- Be open to learning about police culture.
- Respond to police inquiries ASAP. 3 The Foundation
- VJO Support Role:
- Consultant/navigator for police
- Trainer on Veteran-specific matters encountered in the field (i.e. CIT collaborations)
- Educator on VA resources/programs/clinics as well as community- based resources
- Caveat: Must be clear about limitations of role(s). 4 VJO Roles within Deflection
- Secondary benefits/off-shoots to partnership
- MLG officers now embedded on felony and misdemeanor VTC teams
- Practical effects: Provide real-time police responses to VTC participants in distress; educate VTC team on trends seen on the streets; serves to engage VTC participants in positive interactions w/ police rather than adversarial in nature.
- CIT Trainings
- Police Academy trainings
- Working to create eligibility/benefits events for first responders who are Veterans in Cincinnati and the surrounding area. 5 Other features of the Partnership
- Access to Tech tools
- QR Code Pilot: Cincinnati VA Medical Center is one of four pilot site utilizing a QR code allowing police/first responders access to a repository of emergency and homelessness resources specific to the Cincinnati VA. 6 Cincinnati VA QR Code Project 7 Cincinnati VA QR Code Project 8 Cincinnati VA QR Code Project 9 Cincinnati VA QR Code Project
- VA-hosted application that facilitates access to eligibility information.
- SQUARES users can input basic information for an individual to receive confirmation of Veteran status and eligibility for certain homeless programs and VHA healthcare.
- External stakeholders can obtain access to the application, making Veteran-status confirmation and eligibility determinations in the field for first responders more immediate. 10 Status Query & Response Exchange System (SQUARES)