San Francisco VA Health Care System

Through an exciting SFVAMC program, Veterans like Gregory King are finding healing and improved quality of life through meaningful work experiences. Read this article to learn more about the VIP-STAR Program.

Veterans in the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) are getting the opportunity to find meaningful work while learning to cope with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other challenges. This opportunity is connected to a study conducted by SFVAHCS researchers, called Veterans Individual Placement and Support Towards Advancing Recovery (VIP-STAR). This study assesses the effectiveness of individual job placement and support services in helping Veterans with PTSD become steady workers. Though the VIP-STAR study itself has concluded, the process of connecting Veterans to meaningful work experiences continues.

Veterans are referred to the program from the PTSD Clinic. From there, staff meet with the Veterans outside of the clinical setting to assess their interests and see what kind of work might be fulfilling for them. Then, staff reach out to local businesses to see what kind of relevant opportunities could be available to the Veterans. The staff then help Veterans prepare for job interviews, and then ultimately serve as liaisons for both the Veterans and their employers to make sure the Veterans’ job experience goes as smoothly as possible.

“I think the benefits of this program are tremendous,” says Kristen Hay, Employment Specialist for the San Francisco VA Health Care System. “We have seen significant PTSD symptom reduction in these Veterans who are doing work that interests them. It really improves their social ties and their confidence. It is incredibly rewarding to talk to a Veteran who may be discouraged, and then seeing that spark of hope return.” Kristen notes that many Veterans in the program are particularly drawn to hands-on, creative work. Examples of recent job placements for Veterans include a sign shop, the Tesla factory, and a mechanical shop.

One Veteran who has benefited from the VIP-STAR program is Gregory King. Gregory is an Army Veteran and a longtime Bay Area resident. Gregory fell on hard times and was homeless for a while, sleeping in his coat for two and a half years. With the help of Swords to Plowshares, Gregory was connected with the HUD/VASH program and has been living in his own San Francisco apartment since May 2014. With the encouragement of his VA primary care provider, Gregory entered the VIP-STAR program last year. Gregory’s background and skills in the culinary arts made him a perfect fit for The Cake Gallery, where he has been baking cakes for the last six months.

“I love this job. This is the best job in the world,” says Gregory. “I’m having fun.”

If you’d like to learn more about these work opportunities, talk to your VA provider, or reach out directly to Kristen Hay at 415-519-7950 or Kristen.Hay@va.gov