Bill Overview
Title: Solid Start Act of 2022
Description: This act permanently authorizes and expands the Solid Start program, which is an outreach program for veterans in their first year of separation from the military. Specifically, the act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate with the Department of Defense to collect updated contact information during transition classes or separation counseling for members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service; explain the existence and purpose of the program; call veterans three times within the first year of separation; publish information about the program in booklets and on the VA website; provide women veterans with information tailored to their health care and benefit needs; provide information on access to state and local resources, such as Vet Centers; gather and analyze data that assesses the effectiveness of the program; ensure calls are tailored to each veteran's needs by conducting quality assurance tests; and prioritize outreach to veterans who have accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed Forces. Under the act, the VA is authorized to (1) encourage members of the Armed Forces to provide additional contact information if they are unreachable following their separation, and (2) follow up on missed phone calls.
Sponsors: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Target Audience
Population: Recently separated military veterans
Estimated Size: 225000
- The Solid Start Act of 2022 is designed to support veterans during their first year after leaving military service.
- The program aims to improve outreach and contact with these veterans, helping them transition into civilian life.
- The focus of this act lies in making contact with recently separated service members and providing necessary information and resources.
- Support tailored to veterans with specific needs, such as women veterans and those who have sought mental health resources, is emphasized.
Reasoning
- The budget constraints of $300,000,000 in the first year and $3,515,000,000 over ten years will determine the scale of operations, including staffing, outreach efforts, technology, and data analysis for effectiveness.
- The target population of 225,000 recently separated veterans annually guides the need to focus on efficient communication and information dissemination strategies.
- Given the emphasis on reaching out to all veterans and tailoring outreach to specific needs like mental health, the policy must ensure resources are allocated to address the diverse requirements of recipients.
- Policy effectiveness will also depend on the ability to maintain contact and provide meaningful support during the critical transition period of the first year after separation, which is already a challenging time.
- While the policy directly targets veterans, the societal and familial benefits of better-adjusted veterans transitioning to civilian life can indirectly affect a broader community, including families and local communities.
Simulated Interviews
Software Developer (Austin, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The outreach calls help me feel connected and supported during a confusing time.
- Tailored information for mental health is crucial and appreciated.
- The program could improve by offering more proactive job placement assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Nursing Student (San Diego, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The information tailored for women veterans is extremely helpful.
- Balancing studies, single parenthood, and post-service transition is tough. The Solid Start program partially alleviates this stress.
- It would be beneficial if more local community resources are highlighted.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Unemployed (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having someone reach out is reassuring, but more substantial follow-up and resources are needed.
- The PTSD-specific support shows potential, but I would need more information and actual services.
- There is a significant gap in job readiness resources for veterans like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Construction Worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The transition was quite smooth for me, so I haven't needed much support.
- I appreciate the effort, but I haven't needed to rely on the program, so a more targeted approach may have been better.
- It might be more beneficial for those struggling with family issues or unemployment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Financial Advisor (Miami, FL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm relatively informed about my benefits, but the policy offers reassurance.
- The tailored health benefits information for women is nice, though generic at times.
- Follow-up on the financial aspects of transitioning would be greatly beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Stay-at-home parent (Seattle, WA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The program was initially helpful but lacked long-term support.
- There should be more focus on childcare services for transitioning veterans.
- The tailored healthcare information was useful for someone like me with specific needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Retail Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The support for job transitions is good, though it could focus more on specific sectors like retail.
- The contact initiative is a nice gesture but could be more focused.
- Providing networking opportunities and job fairs could greatly enhance the experience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Consultant (Denver, CO)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have a fair understanding of my post-service benefits, thanks to prior preparation.
- The policy's outreach efforts are better suited for those less informed.
- Support focused on entrepreneurship could help veterans pursuing business ventures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Freelance Photographer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The initial contacts were positive, but lacked depth for long-term benefits.
- Tailored outreach for creative fields wasn't available as much as I'd hoped.
- More networking opportunities could help veterans in non-traditional fields.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Entrepreneur (Boston, MA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy offers a commendable start but more business-focused support is essential.
- Assistance in understanding veterans' business benefits would be helpful.
- Enabling connections with veteran business owners could facilitate shared learning and support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 2: $310000000 (Low: $260000000, High: $360000000)
Year 3: $320000000 (Low: $270000000, High: $370000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Year 10: $400000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $450000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Key Considerations
- Coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense is crucial for program success.
- Outreach effectiveness depends on contact information accuracy and the ability to reach veterans promptly.
- Tailored resources, especially for women veterans and those needing mental health support, are crucial.
- Long-term effectiveness metrics and processes need to be established and refined.