A Strategic Roadmap to Enhance the Role and Impact of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services

Improving timely access to services is crucial to improving the wellbeing of veterans and their families.

Today, every U.S. state has a Division of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) dedicated to assisting veterans with the numerous issues they may face, including benefits and claims, cemetery and memorial services, and veteran homes administration for the elderly. But wide variations exist across DVAs in terms of budget, structure, and services offered. While some states offer a wide variety of services from employment to mental health programming, others act as central navigators that refer veterans to external service providers.

How does New York State’s DVA compare with others? What services does it provide? What are the strengths of New York State’s DVA that other DVAs should replicate? And are there ways to make it stronger and more responsive to the needs of the veterans that call New York home?

A new NYHealth-funded report by Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families, “A Strategic Roadmap to Enhance the Role and Impact of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services,” examines the organizational structure, financial stability, and array of services provided by New York State’s DVA. The report draws from a companion study of all state DVAs across the nation and highlights what is working well and what could be improved in New York State. It outlines an actionable set of recommendations that the New York State DVA can follow to increase its reach and impact on veterans and their families.