Minority Veteran Program (MVP)
MVP was implemented by Former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Jesse Brown’s letter on April 25, 1995, to assist the Director’s of their respective facility and the Center for Minority Veterans assess and identify the needs of minority Veterans.
The primary goal of this outreach initiative is to increase local awareness of minority Veteran related issues and develop strategies for increasing their participation in existing VA benefit programs for eligible Veterans.
The MVP consists of a National Program Manager, Analysts, VA Administration Liaisons, and more than 400 MVPCs enterprise-wide from the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration.
Minority Veteran Program Coordinators (MVPCs) provide face-to-face support to Veterans at VA Medical Centers, Regional Offices, and National Cemeteries across the country and are responsible for:
o Promoting the use of VA benefits, programs, and services by minority Veterans;
o Supporting and initiating activities that educate and sensitize VA staff to the unique needs of minority Veterans;
o Focusing outreach efforts to minority Veterans through community networks; and
o Advocating for minority Veterans by identifying disconnects within services and making recommendations to improve service delivery within their facilities.
Contact us to connect with your local MVPC! Email us at MinorityVeteranProgram@va.gov
Support the Resiliency of Our Nation’s Great (STRONG) Veterans Act of 2022
What is the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022?
Public Law (P.L.) 117-328 Division V, STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, was signed into law on December 29, 2022, to address mental health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires VA to increase training for staff, implement pilot programs, expand access to mental health care, conduct analysis
and research, and provide outreach to Veterans
regarding mental health resources.
Section 101 of P.L. 117-328, highlights the importance of ensuring VA is providing culturally sensitive care by mandating all medical centers have an MVPC assigned to the Center for Minority Veterans CMV. It requires MVPCs to receive training in the delivery of mental health and suicide prevention services that are culturally appropriate for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. It also directs MVPCs to collaborate with facility Suicide Prevention Coordinators (SPCs) to develop a written plan for conducting mental health and suicide prevention outreach to all tribes and urban Indian health organizations within the facility
service area that helps “AIAN” Veterans access and engage in mental health care.
For more information on the STRONG Act, email MinorityVeteranProgram@va.gov
