Department of Veterans’ Affairs

At a Glance

EUGENE A. MIGLIARO, JR., Commissioner

Tasi Vriga, Deputy Commissioner

Established - 1986

Statutory authority – CGS Secs. 27-103 through 27-137

Central office - 287 West Street,

Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Number of full-time employees - 313

Recurring operating expenses - $31,157,078

Mission

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs was established in 1986 with the Office of Advocacy and Assistance as its sole program. The Veterans’ Home and Hospital, was incorporated as a program within the department in July 1988. The Veterans’ Home and Hospital, which has been in operation since 1864 and is the oldest state run veteran’s facility in the country. A commissioner was appointed to lead the agency and the department embarked on a new and challenging mission to provide comprehensive health, social and rehabilitative services to veterans of the State of Connecticut. Subsequently, the Veterans’ Home and Hospital program was reorganized into two separate and distinct programs; Veterans’ Hospital Services and Residential and Rehabilitative Services.

Statutory Responsibility

The Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs oversees: the collection of information concerning services available to veterans; the determination of the number of veterans who are receiving and are entitled to benefits; the cooperation with service agencies and organizations in furnishing counsel and assistance to veterans; the assistance in the presentation of claims accruing to veterans under federal, state and local laws; the cooperation with all government and private agencies in securing benefits for veterans; the development of an agency-wide long range plan; the review of all appeals and final decisions made by veterans regarding adverse decisions affecting benefits to veterans participating in state programs; the enforcement of all regulations and procedures enacted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 (Uniform Administrative Procedure Act).

The Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs has all of the statutory powers and duties formerly vested in the Veterans’ Home and Hospital Commission.

A board of trustees advises and assists the Commissioner on various matters affecting policy and operation of the department.

The Office of the Commissioner, currently comprised of a commissioner, deputy commissioner, hospital services, rehabilitative and recreational services, fiscal/administrative services, human resources, planning, safety and security, food services, a physical plant, and affirmative action, guides the development of agency policy as well as provides administrative direction and support.

The purpose of the Affirmative Action Program at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is to ensure equality in state government by developing a work force that is truly representative of all segments of our population. The department recognizes the need and pledges continued strong support for affirmative action. Accordingly, the agency will continue its long-standing policy of applying affirmative action criteria to all its personnel actions. The Affirmative Action Office is also responsible for investigating employee as well as patient discrimination complaints.

Public Service

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Hospital/Healthcare Services fulfills its promise to Connecticut’s veterans by offering a progressive, caring continuum of healthcare, social and rehabilitative services dedicated to excellence. The hospital administrator, director of medicine, director of nursing, and program administrator for substance abuse lead a team of professional healthcare practitioners. In addition to medicine and nursing, specialty areas include dental, physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapy, laboratory, radiology, cardiopulmonary, pharmacy and social work.

During 2001-02, the department also entered into an agreement making the University of Connecticut Medical Health Center the sole source for specialty medical treatment and care for the agency’s patients and residents. In the past, patients were transported to several hospitals in the area for special treatment. Under the new agreement, all patients are treated at the Health Center in Farmington. This has resulted in better and more coordinated care.

The hospital is licensed by the state Department of Public Health Services for 300 chronic disease beds. The programs in the hospital include: general medical care, Alzheimer’s and related dementia’s, hospice care, pain-management, respite care, detox, and long-term substance abuse rehabilitation. Furthermore, primary care clinics are available in-house for domicile and hospital patients.

The Residential and Rehabilitative Services Program features the Veterans’ Improvement Program (VIP). This residential program provides veterans with a continuum of rehabilitation designed to, ultimately, return veterans to independent living in the community. Emphasis is directed toward developing an individualized rehabilitative plan which addresses a veteran’s goals. The components of the program include room and board, substance abuse treatment, a patient work program, an interagency work experience program, vocational testing and counseling services, social work services, a transitional living program, an alternative living program, and various educational programs.

The Office of Advocacy and Assistance (OA&A), a unit within the department to aid and benefit veterans, is comprised of a deputy commissioner, veterans’ service officer supervisor, and either one or two service officers in each of the six congressional district offices. Its mission is to provide advice, assistance and formal representation to the state’s 305,000 veterans and their dependents in obtaining comprehensive rights, benefits and privileges to which they may be entitled under law.

Since its inception, the OA&A unit has brought more than $135 million into the state in the form of new or increased federal veterans’ benefits to Connecticut veterans and their families. In fiscal year 01/02, the Office of Advocacy and Assistance completed more than 2,243 applications and reviewed the eligibility status of an additional 77 veterans and/or dependents of veterans in the state’s 340 nursing homes. These benefits have provided a direct savings to the state where the clients are Medicaid recipients and in other cases serve to delay the time when clients may be forced to rely on state funded services.

Since OA&A was first staffed in 1988,nine editions of A Guide to Benefits for Connecticut Veterans have been published and distributed. This guide has been in great demand throughout the state. The last guide was revised in November of 2001.

In addition to the six District Offices that are manned by Veteran Service Offices to assist veterans, fourteen satellite offices were opened on a monthly or bi-monthly basis during 2001-02 in various regions of the state. These offices literally served hundreds of veterans seeking assistance and made it more convenient for them to visit, rather than traveling a long distance to the nearest District Office.

Improvements/Achievements 2001-02

The Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs has implemented a comprehensive, wide-ranging effort to upgrade safety and security concerns, and to improve the general condition of the Rocky Hill facility. Accordingly, there have been numerous improvements to programs, operations and equipment, and a renewed emphasis has been placed on enforcing existing laws and regulations. State police dogs continue to be used regularly to find contraband, which has resulted in the reduction of drug abuse incidents on the grounds. Announced and unannounced inspections of residents’ rooms are also carried out on a regular basis.

Improving security at the agency’s facility continues to be a major priority. In the past three years, a new vehicle security system was installed along with new camera security systems in the hospital and the hospital’s parking lot. During 2001-02, a new security system was installed in the facility’s main Administration Building. Every employee working in the building was provided with a personal access code to gain entry. This new system has prevented unauthorized personnel from entering the building.

Since the inception of the Veterans Improvement Program in 1991 approximately 511 veterans have returned to independent living, with approximately 284 of those also securing either part-time or full-time employment. Moreover, the department seeks to hire veterans to fill vacancies for classified positions within the agency. Presently, 14 veterans who were former patients are working at the facility.

The Commissioner maintains a toll-free telephone line to aid in constituency service and the dissemination of information to the state’s veterans and their dependents.

The department continues to make numerous improvements in the areas of morale, welfare and recreation. During 2001-2002 contribution(s) of approximately $12,766 were placed into the institutional general welfare fund. Additionally, contributions of $18,892 were collected toward the Medal of Honor Gymnasium project.

Reducing Waste

The department has enhanced its efforts to maximize revenues with new programs and initiatives including the hospital’s participation in the Medicaid Recovery Program. This effort has contributed an additional $62,068,148.54 in new net state revenue in the last eight fiscal years ending June 2002. The agency’s total net revenues for FY 01/02 were approximately $19,831,856. These efforts have further enhanced the capability of the department to provide high quality long-term care and rehabilitative services at a low cost to Connecticut taxpayers.

From July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002, burial allowances of $1,650 were paid. Installation costs for federal headstones for 3,600 veterans were $242,350.

The state Veterans’ Cemetery in Middletown was completed in the fall of 1985. From December 2, 1985, through June 30, 2002, there have been 5,850 interments.

An invaluable contribution was made to the department by volunteers from 267 veterans and service organizations and 213 schools and educational institutions. 5,000 volunteers contributed more than 32,318 hours in on-site and off-grounds events with veterans in residence from July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002. Cash donations, totaling more than $35,615 funded designated projects and regularly scheduled entertainment and activities. Donations of tangible items, as estimated by donors, equaled the value of $164,605.

Please note: For fiscal year 2001-2002, $16.05 is the designated hourly wage used nationally to gauge the value of a volunteer hour (Independent Sector, National Economic Report of the President, February, 2002) That value totaled $518,245 for the services of volunteers to the agency during the fiscal year 2001-2002.

Strategic Planning

The department continuously reviews all programs. Specific items of review include goals achievement, staffing requirements, equipment needs and resource utilization.

Each manager is required to prioritize existing programs and assess whether the department has the need and resources to continue the programs. Managers evaluate each program and activity to ensure that it operates in the most economical way possible. Managers report recommendations for improvements and modifications to the Commissioner.

During fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, a property management company carried out a survey to determine the exact condition of the agency’s buildings and infrastructure. When the final report is delivered, in the fall of 2002, it will provide the department with a ten to 15 year comprehensive capitol projects plan and the cost to carry out the various projects involved.

The department works with the Federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Connecticut medical centers and the Office of Policy and Management to ensure that the combined limited resources available to the state’s veterans are utilized in the most efficient manner possible and to the fullest potential benefit of Connecticut’s veterans.

Information Reported as Required by State Statute

Veterans requesting care from the department must be residents of the State of Connecticut at the time of application. A veteran must have a minimum of 90 days of honorable service in time of war to be eligible, unless separated from service-connected disability rated by the Federal Veterans Administration. Application for admission may be requested in advance. A fact sheet detailing admission requirements is available, along with a general information booklet.

The Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs is committed to continuing cost effective initiatives that will expand the extent and variety of quality services delivered to all Connecticut veterans.