Veteran Community Partnerships

About VCP
VCP Reporting System
VCP Resources
VA Resources
Get Involved
About VCP
Veteran Community Partnerships (VCP) is a national initiative to ensure that all Veterans and their caregivers have access to the widest range of choices and services. VCP is a joint project of Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Offices of Geriatrics and Extended Care, Community Engagement, Rural Health, Mental Health, Voluntary Services, and Caregiver Support.
What is a VCP?
VCPs are coalitions of Veterans and their caregivers, Department of Veterans (VA) facilities, community health providers, organizations, and agencies working together to foster, seamless access to, and transitions among, the full continuum of care and support services in VA and the community.
Why VCP?
Of 22 million Veterans, only eight million are enrolled with VA and 47% of those Veterans are over age 65. More importantly, 70% of Veterans receive additional health care from OUTSIDE the VA.
VCP provides an innovative, flexible, relevant and useful approach that assists a VA facility to establish and nurture community partnerships that facilitates access to and coordination of the broad spectrum of healthcare needs of all Veterans and their families.
VCP equals greater Access for Veterans
The Secretary for VA priorities include: customer service and transforming VA business systems into more modern ones which include focusing on more robust partnerships with state and local communities – and VCPs provide the following:
- VCPs increase communication and collaborations among VA and their respective communities;
- VCPs improve coordination of care and services from VA and non-VA partners;
- VCPs offer more opportunities for new enrollments;
- VCPs develop interpersonal and inter-professional contacts and relationships between VA and community organizations; and
- VCPs educate Veterans, families, and health care providers on VA and community resources.
Where are VCPs located?
Over 61 VA Medical Centers and their surrounding communities have received training to develop a VCP. To find a VCP in your area, view the VCP Roster.
VCP Expansion: Veteran Community Partnerships - Office of Community Engagement (va.gov)
VCP Reporting System
The VCP Reporting System is a database that VCP Coordinators can use to keep track of their VCP activities and events throughout the fiscal year. This information is compiled at the end of each fiscal year for the VCP Annual Report. The VCP Reporting System captures and displays data, locally and nationally, that includes the number of VA staff participating in a VCP, the number and type of community organizations involved in VCPs, the number of meetings held, and the number and type of events that occurred within VCP locations throughout the VA community. VCP Coordinators can access the VCP Reporting System by clicking on the link below to enter their data or to view what is happening at other VCP’s across the country. If you are unable to gain access to the VCP reporting system, email vcp@va.gov or use the VCP User Instruction Guide for assistance.
https://www.vcprs.org/
VCP Resources
Annual Reports:
- VCP FY19 Annual Report
- Previous Annual Reports are available by request
Communication:
Training/Education:
- VCP Toolkit
- VCP Toolkit Appendicies
- Veteran Community Partnerships Overview: VCP 101 on TMS VCP 101
- VCP Overview PowerPoint
- VA Training for community partners
- VA 101
- VA Benefits
- Empathy for Our Heroes
- Suicide Prevention for Veterans
- PsychArmor Institute (free online courses to engage effectively with the military community)
- 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know – Online Course
- For community outreach/education: https://psycharmor.org/courses/15-things-veterans-want-you-to-know (15 minute version)
- For healthcare providers: https://psycharmor.org/courses/15-things-veterans-want-know-healthcare-providers (CE credits available)
- Course Notes
VA Resources
VA Information:
- Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) Map
- Veteran Demographics
- VA Core I CARE Values and Characteristics
VA Benefits:
VA Offices:
- MyVA Communities
- VA Caregiver Support
- VA Center for Compassionate Care Innovation
- VA Geriatrics and Extended Care
- VA Patient Centered Care
- VA Homeless Veterans
- VA Returning Service Members
- VA Center for Women Veterans
- VA Office of Diversity and Inclusion
- VA Mental Health
- VHA Office of Rural Health
- VA Voluntary Service
Miscellaneous Resources:
Get Involved
How can my VA Medical Center or Community Based Outpatient Clinic develop a VCP?
VCP trainings are available to assist VA facilities to develop a VCP within their communities. To learn more about VCP and training opportunities, please contact VCP's Leadership Team at VCP@va.gov.
External Link Disclaimer: This page contains links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.