Family Court and a Review of Family Services in the Department of Veterans Affairs

Abstract

Behavioral health family services provided by the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can play an important role for U.S. military veterans and their family members who are involved in family court. VA Family services provided to veterans may include education about family reintegration, posttraumatic stress disorder, and reactions to trauma; couples therapy; family consultation; and family psychoeducation. Coordination of VA staff with family court officers can occur at several levels, including education about family services available within VA and, with the consent of the veteran, progress reports to family court of services provided to veteran families. It is important for family court officers to understand some limitations to family services provided to Veterans and their families, which could be based on the veteran's eligibility for services as well as the determination that a particular clinical service is not deemed appropriate. There is room for an expansion of social supports for veterans involved in family court, and this may involve veterans' peers and volunteers, burgeoning approaches that may have significant promise and benefit for veterans involved in family court. Key Points for the Family Court Community This article provides background in the development of couple and family services provided to veterans and their family members. Key concepts regarding the role of family services can play in supporting the work of family court officers. Opportunities and limitations in the relationship between mental health providers in the Department of Veterans Affairs and family court personnel are discussed.