NYS Veteran Survey Fall 2025

Union Community Health Center: Veteran Liaison Expansion Project

Supported by a grant from the NY Health Foundation

Background/Purpose: In 2018 the MISSION Act was passed to improve and strengthen access to health care for Veterans through the development of the Veterans Community Care Program. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are key providers in Veterans Community Care Program Networks (VCCN) who provide primary care and specialty care including mental health services. Due to numerous social determinants of health challenges, and to assist Veterans with the navigation of systems to access community-based healthcare and support services. To support Veteran access to services and navigating complex systems of care, Union Community Health Center (UNION), a FQHC system in Bronx, NY, developed a Veterans’ Liaison program. The intent was advocacy and outreach; to complement health and support services available through the Veterans Administration (VA) and improve the health journey.

This project seeks to expand Veteran Liaison capacity developed in the pilot project and develop training curriculum to support providers in addressing Veterans’ unique needs in their care journey in New York State. FQHCs are best positioned to strengthen access to healthcare as they are mandated to serve medically underserved areas (rural, urban, suburban) and populations. The following questionnaire will help guide the development of a training curriculum that is responsive to the needs of Veterans and FQHC providers.

The purpose of this questionnaire is to identify the most common successes of service and service barriers/gaps to meeting the needs of veterans and their families in our communities.

Introduction:

Question Title

* 1. What Zip Code is your primary residence?

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* 2. Do You Receive Health Care MOSTLY at:

	YES:	NO:	UNSURE:
VA Health Provider	VA Health Provider YES:	VA Health Provider NO:	VA Health Provider UNSURE:
Community Health Provider	Community Health Provider YES:	Community Health Provider NO:	Community Health Provider UNSURE:

Access and Availability
(Please circle your response to the following questions)

Please think about all of the healthcare you have received over the past 12 months when answering the following questions.

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* 3. Did you have an illness, injury, or condition that needed care right away in a clinic, emergency room, or doctor’s office?

Yes

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* 4. When you needed care right away, how often did you get care as soon as you thought you needed it?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always

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* 5. How often was it easy to get appointments with VA specialists?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always

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* 6. Have you experienced any challenges in accessing specialized medical services tailored to veterans' needs?

Yes

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* 7. If yes, check all that apply:

Do not have a personal doctor

Language barrier

Lack of available provider

Limited availability of weekend, evening and holiday hours

Concern about the cost of care

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* 8. How often did you get an appointment for a check-up or routine care as soon as you needed?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always

Care Coordination:
(Please circle your response to the following questions)

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* 9. In the last 12 months, how often did you and a VA doctor or other health provider talk about specific things you could do to prevent illness?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always

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* 10. In the last 12 months, did a VA doctor or other health provider tell you there was more than one choice for your treatment or healthcare?

Yes

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* 11. Did a VA doctor or other health provider talk with you about the pros and cons of each choice for your treatment or healthcare?

Yes

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* 12. When there was more than one choice for your treatment or healthcare, did a VA doctor or other health provider ask which choice was best for you?

Yes

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* 13. In the past year, have you utilized telehealth services for healthcare consultations?

Yes

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* 14. How often did your personal doctor explain things in a way that was easy to understand?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always

I do not have a personal doctor

Question Title

* 15. How often did your personal doctor listen carefully to you?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always

I do not have a personal doctor

Quality:
(Please circle your response to the following questions)

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* 16. Are you satisfied with the accessibility of healthcare services for veterans within your community?

Yes

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* 17. How well do you feel your mental health needs as a veteran are addressed within the current healthcare system?

Not at all

Somewhat met

Totally met

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* 18. Have you received comprehensive information about available healthcare services for veterans?

Yes

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* 19. Are your service-related health conditions or needs being met?

Yes

Challenges:
(Please circle your response to the following questions)

Question Title

* 20. Have you faced any barriers to seeking preventive care services as a veteran?

Yes

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* 21. If yes, check all that apply:

Do not have a personal doctor

Language barrier

Lack of available provider

Concern about the cost of care

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* 22. Do you have difficulty keeping your appointment?

Yes

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* 23. If you answered yes, was the challenge due to (check all that apply)

Difficulty finding transportation

Could not afford transportation

Could not get off from work

Family/Childcare commitment

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* 24. In the past year, have you or any family members you live with been unable to get any of the following when it was really needed? Check all that apply.

Food

Clothing

Utilities

Child Care

Medicine

Any Health Care (Medical, Dental, Mental Health, Vision)

Phone

I choose not to answer this question

Other (please write):

Referral:
(Please circle your response to the following questions)

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* 25. In the past did you try to get any care, tests or treatment through the VA?

Yes

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* 26. How often was it easy to get the care, tests or treatment you thought you needed through VA?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always

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* 27. In the last 12 months, did you try to make any appointments to see a VA specialist?

Yes

Demographics:
(Please circle your response to the following questions)

Question Title

* 28. What is your age?

18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 or older

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* 29. Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin or descent?

Yes, Hispanic or Latino

No, Not Hispanic or Latino

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* 30. What is your race? Please choose one or more.

White

Black or African American

Asian

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

American Indian or Alaska Native

Other

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* 31. What language do you mainly speak at home?

English

Spanish

Some other language

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* 32. Gender Identity (select all that apply):

Male

Female

Prefer not to disclose

Other Gender Identity

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* 33. What is the highest level of school that you have finished?

Less than high school degree

High school diploma or GED

College degree

I choose not to answer this question

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* 34. What is your current work situation?

Unemployed

Part-time or temporary work

Full-time work

Otherwise unemployed but not seeking work (ex: student, retired, disabled, unpaid primary care giver)

I choose not to answer this question

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* 35. What is your main insurance?

None/uninsured Medicaid

CHIP Medicaid Medicare

Other public insurance (not CHIP)

Other Public Insurance (CHIP)

Private Insurance

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* 36. Do you currently receive care from Union Community Health Center?

Yes

Thank you for completing this survey.

Questions or to return a completed paper version of the questionnaire, please contact:

Emily Pring, Grants Director
epring@uchcbronx.org
Union Community Health Center

Thank you so much for your time!