VA PACT
Social Work
Northern Arizona
Veterans Affairs
Health Care System
In 2016 VA Social Work has celebrated
90 years of service!
VA Social Workers assist the medical
profession by helping Veterans identify
and work through psycho-social
problems.
Often there are barriers which are not
directly related to medical care but do
impact overall functioning. This is
where the social worker comes in; a
social worker can assist in the problem
solving with the patient and/or family to
meet the Veteran’s needs.
Social workers are well connected to
the community in which they work and
often share resources with patients to
meet their needs.
The VA Mission and Core Values are
taken seriously by Social Workers as
they encompass some of our own
professional values. These values are
used in service to Veterans.
PACT Social Worker: Kate Pentz, LCSW
VA core values underscore the obligations essential to
VA’s mission: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy,
Respect, and Excellence. The core values define “who
we are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans,
their families and caregivers. Our values are more than
just words; they affect outcomes in our daily
interactions. Taking the first letter of each word:
Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect,
Excellence - creates a powerful acronym, “I CARE.”
This reminds each VA employee of the importance of
their role. These core values focus our minds on our
mission and commitment to serving Veterans.
LAKE HAVASU
COMUNITY BASED
OUTPATIENT CLINIC
(CBOC)
2035 Mesquite Ave. Suite D
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
Phone: 928-505-7100 x7107
Fax: 928-680-0447
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.socialwork.va.gov
VA Social Work
How can social workers help
veterans with needs and
concerns?
Assessment
The first step is generally for the social worker to meet with
you, and often with your family. The social worker will ask you
questions about your health, your living situation, your family
and other support systems, your military experience and the
things you think you need help with. The social worker will
then write an assessment that will help you and your VA
health care team make treatment plans.
Social Work Helping Cont.
VA Mission
To fulfill President Lincoln's promise “To care for
him who shall have borne the battle, and for his
widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring
the men and women who are America’s Veterans.
VA Core Values
Integrity: Act with high moral principle. Adhere
to the highest professional standards. Maintain the
Crisis intervention
In a crisis situation, social workers can provide counseling
services to help you get through the crisis. The social worker
will then help you with more long-term needs. The social
worker can help you apply for services and programs in your
community and through the VA to meet emergent needs.
trust and confidence of all with whom I engage.
High-risk screening
Social workers work particularly closely with those veterans
who are at high risk, such as those who are homeless, those
who have been admitted to the hospital several times, and
those who cannot care for themselves any longer.
belief
Case management
Social workers often provide long-term case management
services to veterans who are at high risk of being admitted to
a hospital, those who have very complex medical problems,
and those who need additional help and support. They are
available when needed to provide and coordinate a variety of
services you may need, including counseling or support services or just helping you figure out what you need and how to
get it.
Advocacy
Sometimes it can be hard for a veteran to speak up for
himself or herself. And sometimes veterans are confused by
such a big, bureaucratic agency like the VA. Social workers
can advocate for you and go to bat for you when you have a
hard time doing it by yourself.
Commitment: Work diligently to serve Veterans
Education
Social workers can help educate you and your family about
your health care condition, what services and programs are
available to you, how you can live a more healthy life, how
you can deal with stress and loss, and how you can find
support groups and other self-help programs in your
community.
Social workers also educate other staff in the medical center
and in the community about VA programs and services and
about how problems veterans may be having in their personal
lives can impact their health.
Psychotherapy
Clinical social workers provide individual therapy, group
therapy, and family therapy to address emotional, behavioral
and mental health needs.
and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest
in
VA’s
mission.
Fulfill
my
individual
responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.
Advocacy: Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying,
fully considering, and appropriately advancing the
interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries.
Respect: Treat all those I serve and with whom I
work with dignity and respect. Show respect to
earn it.
A List of Some Areas a Social
Worker Can Help:
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Excellence: Strive for the highest quality and
continuous
improvement.
Be
thoughtful
and
decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions,
willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting
them.

Marriage or family problems;
Help with moving to an assisted living facility;
A board and care home or a nursing home;
Counseling references if someone close to the
Veteran has passed away and you want to talk
about it;
Problems with drinking or drug use;
Counseling about those who feel they are
mistreated in a relationship;
If you are a parent who feels overwhelmed with
child care;
Help a Veteran’s parent or spouse is in failing
health; depression; financial or housing
assistance;
Those who need help in applying for benefits
from the VA, Social Security and other
government and community programs can seek
help from a VA social worker.