Michelle Watts comes from a military family and works at the VA, so she is tuned in to some of the issues that may be keeping African-American veterans from seeking out services.
“Misinformation and a history of mistrust” are factors, said Watts, veterans justice outreach coordinator for Milwaukee’s Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The VA Center, in collaboration with the Military and Veterans Resource Center at UW-Milwaukee June 23.
The summit will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the UWM Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
Sessions on health care, trauma, pain management
Guest speakers include: Delphine Metcalf Foster, the first woman and first African-American to serve as national commander for the Disabled American Veterans, and Reggie Jackson, head griot (docent) for America’s Black Holocaust Museum.
Breakout sessions will focus on eligibility for VA health care and benefits, racial trauma and inequality, chronic pain management, Afro-centered approaches to healing, disparities in African-American health care and gun violence as a public health issue.
The summit is part of efforts to reach out to specific groups of veterans to let them know what services are available to them, Johnson said. Previous summits have focused on Afghan-Iraqi war veterans, as well as veterans who are female, disabled and LGBT. Plans are to focus on Latino veterans next year, Johnson said.
MAVRC has been partnering with the VA on a number of projects over the past few years, said Jayne Holland, interim director. The VA’s mobile vet center visits the campus regularly, and many UWM graduates have gone on to jobs at the VA. “They’re just an outstanding community partner,” said Holland.
This year’s program was developed with input from questionnaires sent to church, community and mental health organizations and focus groups, according to Johnson. He estimates that there are approximately 11,500 African-American veterans in the five-county Milwaukee metropolitan area. However, because the VA does not track patients by race, it’s difficult to know whether all those who are eligible know what services are available to them.
Offering a helping hand
Many veterans return home from the service and thrive in their lives, said Johnson, but some may need help with medical, mental health, substance abuse or housing, and the VA can provide that, he added. Last year, in addition to providing medical services, the VA found housing for 300 veterans and graduated another 300 from substance abuse recovery programs.
“We work to help veterans who are at risk of losing housing or unstably housed or actually homeless, said Watts.
In addition, her office works with veterans who are involved with the justice system. “We know in communities of color, the incarceration rates are higher than they would be for the general population,” she said. “This is particularly critical for African-American males, who have had historically higher rates of incarceration.”
Many African-American veterans have traditionally relied on family and church for mental health support, feeling there was a stigma attached to seeking counseling through organizations such as the VA, but that is one of the reasons the VA is reaching out, according to Watts and Johnson.
“We are hoping with the summit that we can improve or increase their knowledge. We want to make sure they are aware of the benefits they’ve earned and the care they deserve,” said Watts.
For more information, contact the VA Minority Veterans Program Office at 414-384-2000, Ext. 47129, or email William.Johnson1@va.gov or mavrc@uwm.edu.
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