Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks

Social Work

*Locating Social Work Service: From the main entrance of Specialty Care-Building 21, take the elevators down to the Basement, and Social Work Service is to the left.

Mission

The mission of VA Social Work Service is to maximize health and well-being, through the use of psychosocial interventions for Veterans, Families and Caregivers.

Social Workers at VHSO

Social Workers are an integral part of the VHSO health care team, working in both inpatient and outpatient areas. Social Workers assist Veterans with making the best possible transition from the hospital to home or other community settings. They provide information about VA and community resources and also help Veterans with a wide variety of patient care and treatment needs.

Working with the Veteran, the family and the treatment team, Social Workers assess problems and develop individualized care plans. Social Workers are responsible for the identification of community resources which best meet the Veteran's needs and for assisting the Veteran to gain access to those resources. Social Work Service is the provider for the VHSO Employee Assistance Program.

VHSO Social Workers are involved in a number of VA programs, some are listed here:

• Primary Care
• Health Care for Homeless Veteran Program
• Housing & Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing Program
• Care Management For Returning OEF/OIF/OND Troops
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Caregiver Support Program
• Oncology & Palliative Care
• Inpatient Medical/Surgical & Psychiatric Discharge Planning
• Blind Rehab
• Veterans Justice Outreach
• Traumatic Brain Injury Case Management
• Minority Veterans Program
• Former Prisoners of War Advocate
• Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program
• Geriatric and Extended Care Programs
  • Community Residential Care
  • Home Based Primary Care
  • Home Health Aide
  • Respite
  • Adult Day Healthcare
  • Contract Nursing Home
  • Medical Foster Home

Referrals are made by a doctor, nurse, patient representative, family member, significant other or a community agency. Veterans can also refer themselves.

Education and Training

All of our social workers have a master's degree in social work, all social workers are expected to be license as a clinical social worker.

How Do I Know I Need A Social Worker?

If you have questions or problems, the social worker will be able to help you or can refer you to the right person for help.  Here are just some of the ways that VA social workers can help:

• Financial or housing assistance
• Getting help from VA programs or from community agencies, so you can continue to live in your own home
• Applying for benefits from the VA, Social Security and other government and community programs
• Making sure your doctor and other VA staff on your treatment team know your decisions about end-of-life issues, generally called Advance Directives and Living Wills.  These documents stipulate whether you want to be on life support equipment, whether you want to be an organ donor, and which family member or other person you have chosen to make decisions on your behalf when you are unable to make those decisions yourself.
• Arranging for respite care for your caregiver so she or he can have a break without worrying about who will be caring for you.
• If you would like information and help with moving into an assisted living facility, a board and care home or a nursing home.
• If you feel that someone is taking advantage of you or if you feel mistreated in a relationship.
• If you are feeling stress because of your health or because your medical condition interferes with your daily activities.
• If you really aren’t sure what you need, but things just don’t feel right.