UCLA/VA Center of Excellence for Training and Research
in Veteran Resilience and Recovery
Core Initiatives
Each academic year, the COE funds a core research initiative that is aligned with its mission. 2020-2021: Evaluating the impacts of a novel program for Veterans experiencing unsheltered homelessness during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
To mitigate risk for COVID-19 among Veterans experiencing homelessness, the VA Greater Los Angeles created the Care, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Service (CTRS), an outdoor, low-barrier sanctioned encampment where Veterans can live, access hygiene resources, and receive three meals/day. In close partnership with CTRS staff and Veterans, this project evaluates the CTRS program and facilitates iterative improvement of its services.
PIs: Lisa Altman, MD and Sonya Gabrielian, MD, MPH
2020-2021: Evaluating the impacts of a novel program for Veterans experiencing unsheltered homelessness during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
To mitigate risk for COVID-19 among Veterans experiencing homelessness, the VA Greater Los Angeles created the Care, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Service (CTRS), an outdoor, low-barrier sanctioned encampment where Veterans can live, access hygiene resources, and receive three meals/day. In close partnership with CTRS staff and Veterans, this project evaluates the CTRS program and facilitates iterative improvement of its services.
PIs: Lisa Altman, MD and Sonya Gabrielian, MD, MPH
Projects
The COE funds pilot studies that advance research on Veteran homelessness, mental health, and substance use disorders.
Quality Improvement Projects
Evaluating Impacts of the Care Treatment and Rehabilitation Services (CTRS) for Veterans Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The CTRS is an innovative low barrier housing program that serves a highly vulnerable group of Veterans experiencing homelessness (VEHs). This quality improvement project aims to identify program enhancements (e.g., provider training, clinical processes, Veteran resources) that can be implemented and tested using a rapid-cycle improvement approach that engages the COE. Should results from this project suggest the value of the CTRS for VEHs – within and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic – it will also inform plans to disseminate this innovation at VA facilities throughout the nation.’
PIs: Lisa Altman, MD, Sonya Gabrielian, MD, MPH
Further Adaptation of Hearing Voices Group Facilitation Training for VA Stakeholders
The CTRS is an innovative program that serves a highly vulnerable group of Veterans experiencing homelessness (VEHs). This quality improvement project will evaluate and further improve a support group training for adapted for VA stakeholders/future group facilitators.
PIs: Erica Fletcher PhD, Ippolytos Kalofonos MD, PhD
Research Pilot Studies
Tackling Structural Determinants of Homelessness: Training on Eviction and Racial Inequality
This project will train VA and community partner staff in community-based interventions to address eviction, grounded in a structural understanding of how racism contributes to eviction and homelessness. The training will be evaluated using qualitative methods.
PI: Peter Capone-Newton, MD, MPH, PhD
Helping Families: Improving Outcomes for Veteran Families Experiencing Homelessness
This project evaluates the impacts of the Families Overcoming Under Stress (FOCUS) program—an eight session, trauma-informed psychosocial intervention for families—on the mental health, family functioning, and housing status of Veteran families experiencing homelessness.
PI: Roya Ijadi-Maghsoodi, MD, MSHPM
Veteran Voices and Visions: A Peer-facilitated Group Intervention Improving Community Integration for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness and Serious Mental Illness
This pilot study will develop a peer co-facilitated group intervention to improve community integration and reduce self-stigma among Veterans experiencing psychosis. This meaning-centered approach is inspired by the Hearing Voices Movement.
PI: Ippolytos Kalofonos, MD, PhD
Primary Care Treatment of Depression for Veterans with Experiences of Homelessness
Using secondary database analyses, this project examines the quality of depression care provided by homeless-tailored (H-PACT) versus mainstream primary care teams for Veterans with past-year homeless experiences. It is focused on understanding the quality of depression care received by homeless-experienced Veterans newly diagnosed with depression, comparing H-PACT versus mainstream primary care.
PI: Lucinda Leung, MD, MPH, PhD
Affiliated Projects
Support for Decision Making in Veterans with Homelessness and Behavioral Health – VA Health Services Research Pilot
This project will evaluate and pilot decision making resources to determine their impact on Veterans with homelessness and behavioral health needs.
PI: Jared Greenberg, MD
COVID-19 impact on behavioral health systems
This project engages university, VA, community, and policy partners in identifying initial COVID-19 pandemic impact on behavioral health services for at-risk populations, and lessons learned for systems interventions.
PI: Armen Arevian, MD, PhD
Impact of Medical-Financial Partnership Services on Acute Care Utilization and Housing – VA SWIFT grant
This project compares medical and psychiatric acute care utilization of residential recovery program participants who received financial counseling services from a community organization partnering with VA, to those who did not receive such services.
PI: Jared Greenberg, MD