Question 42C.

Answer 42C.

How many veterans participated in the Incentive Therapy Program in 1983?

30,347 Incentive Therapy; 7,250 Compensated Work Therapy.

Answer 420. Data not available, however, the majority of patients in Incentive Therapy were either in domiciliaries or had a psychiatric diagnosis.

Question 42E.

Answer 42E.

What were their average lengths of stay in the program?
One year or less.

Question 43A.

Answer 43A.

What kinds of outcome measures are employed to determine the success of the therapy?

Success of therapy is determined by the achievements of the therapeutic goal, e.g.,

D.

Providing opportunity for maintaining physical well being through physical activity.

III.

Work Restoration for Chronic Psychiatric Patients with Little to no
Potential for Vocational Rehabilitation

Question 43B.

What percentage of FY 83 program participants had a successful outcome?

Question 43C.

Answer 43C.

Question 43D.

Answer 43D.

What kinds of follow-up occurs once the program participants complete the program?

Primary follow-up is maintained on veterans in the program for employment and vocational goals. Follow-up on these programs are usually accomplished through the Case Management program or Psychology Service since they have the major responsibility for job referral and placement.

With what frequency does such follow-up occur?
As frequently as necessary but no less than quarterly.

Question 44A.

Answer 44A.

Question 44B.

Answer 44B.

What was the average income earned among participants? The Compensated Work Therapy budget for FY 1983 was approximately $3,045,934. Of this amount, $2,184,662 was obligated, leaving a balance of $893,154. The average earnings for veterans in this program has little meaning since patients are paid either by piece rate or hourly, depending on the contract and the program. The average amount for geriatric patients would be significantly lower than the average earnings for patients in a vocational/employment readiness program. Therefore, the overall average of $164.38 in Compensated Work Therapy has little bearing on the impact of this legislation or for those veterans who may receive a significant annual income from the program. Within the total number of patients, a certain number may earn as little as $5.00 and be discharged or change programs. The average income earned in Incentive Therapy was $166.37. This, too, is misleading since the majority of all patients in domiciliaries are in the program from one day to one year which could represent a patient earning as little as 50 cents.

What was the average total income of such participants, including pension income during that time period?

Unknown. This information has not been recorded.

RESPONSE OF THE VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. ALAN CRANSTON, RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

Question 1

Answer 1.

On page 3 of your statement, you mention the "Information and Referral program" and note that it is "the subject of an Interagency Agreement." Please provide further detail about the Information and Referral Program including a copy of the relevant Interagency Agreement.

The Veterans Administration, through the Department of Medicine and Surgery and the Department of Veterans Benefits, participates in the Information and Referral (I&R) Program at the national and local levels. The program goal is "to stimulate the development and strengthen I&R network systems through cooperative and coordinated efforts of a consortium of federal and public agencies, selected national voluntary organizations and the private sector." (1983 Interagency Agreement, page

3.)

Underlying the purpose of I&R is the concept that through a working knowledge of all services and programs offered in a community, a client can receive the best possible combination of health, social, financial, and other assistance, as needed. In addition, gaps in services for the elderly can be identified and addressed by the community. For the VA, involvement in a community's Information and Referral System provides a positive addition to the array of VA extended care programs and eases appropriate placements into the community where support services are required.

Each VA facility has an I&R representative who maintains a twofold responsibility: (a) to bring information about available community resources to the VA staff on a continual basis, for use in discharge planning and other outplacement processes; and (b) to provide relevant,

accurate information about VA services to community agencies. The duties of the I&R representative include, but are not limited to:

Participating in activities designed to identify and meet the needs of older veterans, such as community planning meetings and outreach activities.

Encouraging or maintaining I&R mechanisms which integrate veterans into non-VA community settings, such as Senior Citizen Centers, Outreach Adult Centers, service organizations post activities, and other related health and social programs.

- Providing consultation to and sharing knowledge with state, area, and community agencies concerned with the planning and delivery of benefits and services to aging beneficiaries of the VA.

Maintaining contact and coordinating presentations to community groups with the Department of Veterans Benefits, whenever possible.

Distributing VA information materials-"Veterans Benefits for Older Americans," "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents, Fact Sheet," and other printed matter--to the local AAA and I&R offices for use and further dissemination.

A copy of the "Working Agreement for the Consortium on Information and Referral Services for Older People" is attached. The VA's action steps for implementing the agreement are listed on page 11.