Thank you, and good morning. Thanks for the opportunity to be part of the discussion. It's most interesting to follow after the discussion of Mr. Laidler from the veterans transition program.
As we all know, the Department of Veterans Affairs has had a long history of providing quality support to Canadian Forces members, veterans, and their families during the transition from military to civilian life. As you would have heard earlier this week from Charlotte Stewart, we know that leaving the military and returning to civilian life is a major life-changing event. Not only are they leaving behind their chosen career, but they are also leaving a lifestyle and culture that is unique to the Canadian Forces. We also know that transition impacts not only the member, it impacts the entire family. That's why we encourage family members to take an active role in the transition process, and we've developed programs with their needs in mind.
Obviously, modern-day veterans are much younger than our traditional veterans, and often continue working full-time after their release. They have many years ahead of them to be active and full participants at home and in the workforce and their communities. Modern disability management principles emphasize wellness and promote early integration into the workforce. These principles, along with other research and consultations with key stakeholders, are what formed the basis of the programs and services we've developed to support transition.
Veterans Affairs Canada implemented our new suite of programs designed specifically to meet the needs of modern-day veterans and their families. Eligible Canadian Forces members, veterans, and their families can access a comprehensive package of programs and services designed to promote wellness, including rehabilitation services, health benefits, career transition services, financial benefits, disability awards, and case management services—all supported by mental health programs.
From the moment a CF member prepares to leave the service, our staff is there working closely with the Department of National Defence to support a seamless transition. We now have more than 100 staff working side-by-side with DND staff in 24 integrated personnel support centres across the country to provide care and support to ill and injured military personnel and their families.
Transition interviews are available to every releasing Canadian Forces member, and, as I mentioned earlier, family members are encouraged to attend and participate. During meetings with a VAC staff member, the transition needs of the entire family are discussed and information is provided on the programs and services we have available to meet those needs.
For those with more complex needs, comprehensive case management services are available. A VAC staff member will work with the veteran and family members to assess needs, set achievable goals, and to establish a plan to reach those goals. Veterans Affairs case managers are members of interdisciplinary teams that have access to various professionals who may become engaged in the process. These would include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, mental health specialists, and rehabilitation specialists.
Earlier this year, in an effort to enhance service, case managers were given more authority to make timely decisions that are critical to the veteran’s recovery, rehabilitation, and transition to civilian life. Case managers have been allocated to areas with the greatest need, such as the integrated personnel support centres I mentioned earlier, and to key locations across the country with large numbers of Canadian Forces deployments. These include Canadian Forces bases in such places as Edmonton, Shilo, Gagetown, Petawawa, and Valcartier.
For those without a disability, our career transition services program provides eligible Canadian Forces members, veterans, and certain surviving spouses or common-law partners, help with finding suitable civilian employment. The career transition services program provides workshops on how to complete résumés, interview basics on identifying transferable skills from the military to the civilian world, and on exploring self-employment. It also provides individual career counselling to practise interview techniques, evaluate skills and experience, and develop a plan to enter the civilian workforce. As well, it provides job-finding assistance to help market the participant to potential employers and to prepare for job interviews.
For CF members and veterans with a service-related disability, there is vocational assistance available through our rehabilitation program. It includes a range of medical, psycho-social, and vocational rehabilitation services and financial benefits to meet the recovery and rehabilitation needs of a veteran and his or her family. Vocational assistance helps the veteran, or family member in some cases, identify and acquire the skills needed to transfer to a civilian life.
Together, our staff work with the veterans to transfer skills gained in the military to jobs in the civilian workplace. When necessary, training is available to support this move. Many of the costs of training or schooling are covered under this program, including child care, so that individuals can participate in retraining programs.
If a veteran is unable to participate in the rehabilitation program due to illness, the veteran's spouse or partner--or if there was a service-related death, a survivor--can have access to the program.
The results speak for themselves. Based on a recent survey, compared with those entering the program, our rehabilitation program clients at program completion are more often employed. Seventy-nine percent of those who want to and can return to work find employment. They feel better prepared to find and keep civilian employment. And they're more knowledgeable about job-finding activities.
A quality job, post-release, is what Canadian Forces veterans themselves told us was one of the most important things they needed to transition to civilian life. Veterans Affairs listened, and we delivered. We continue to listen to our veterans and to deliver the services required to best address those expressed needs.
As you would have heard earlier this week from Bernard Butler, we recently made changes to enhance the new Veterans Charter. We have increased case management support for severely injured veterans and their families. We are making progress.
I'd like to now turn to my colleague, Janice Burke, who will speak in more detail on research and any mental health supports we have that would support veterans in transitioning.
Thank you.