Governor Rell Announces Assessment

of Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans' Needs

Survey by CCSU Center for Public Policy

and Social Research Underway

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that Connecticut is conducting a first-ever needs assessment study of the experiences and concerns of recent Afghanistan and Iraq veterans in an effort to better formulate state veterans programs and policies.

“This is a different type of warfare that is creating new issues and stresses on our veterans and their families,” said Governor Rell.  “We cannot wait ten or twenty years to begin planning how best to take care of this latest generation of heroes.  We must be proactive in determining their needs now.  This study is an important step forward in that effort.”

The needs assessment study and analysis was commissioned by the Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs and is being conducted by Central Connecticut State University’s Center for Public Policy and Social Research.  

The 205-question needs assessment survey is being sent to over 1,000 state veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2003.  Some of the areas covered by the survey include personal finances, employment, family and peer relationships, education, physical and mental health, other readjustment issues faced when returning to civilian life and experiences with federal and state programs and services.  Veterans are able to respond anonymously to the survey.                         

Additionally, CCSU researchers have held a series of focus groups with Afghanistan and Iraq veterans and federal and state service providers who work with veterans on a daily basis to draw on their personal knowledge and experiences for further insight.

The assessment study’s goals are to identify the salient medical, psychosocial and economic needs of returning veterans as well as any barriers that are preventing those needs from being met and to develop recommendations for changes in public policy to improve veterans’ capabilities to successfully transition back into civilian life.  The Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs expects to use the study to develop more focused agency services for returning veterans to help develop the Administration’s legislative initiatives.

It is estimated that over 12,000 Connecticut residents have deployed overseas for service in Afghanistan or Iraq since the start of the Global War on Terror.

“We waited too long during the Vietnam-era to prepare for the extensive needs of those who served their country.  We cannot make that mistake again,” said Dr. Linda S. Schwartz, commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs and a Vietnam veteran.  “I strongly encourage all those veterans who have received this needs assessment to take the time to register their voice by completing and returning this survey.  You can help make a difference in your future.”

“Your experience – and the experience of your family – is important to help us develop meaningful legislation, services and programs,” Governor Rell wrote in a letter to all veterans who received the needs assessment.  “It is important we hear from you in order to accurately understand your problems, issues and needs in order to put in place the programs and support you may need in the future.  It is critical to identify potential gaps in the support systems for veterans early on – so Connecticut will provide the best for you and future generations of service members.”

According to Steve Kliger, executive director of  the CCSU Center for Public Policy and Social Research, “we will analyze the assessment survey data primarily by computer and will attempt to identify issues of concern to veterans and what programs and services they are currently using to deal with those issues.” 

The Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs randomly selected recent Afghanistan and Iraq veterans to receive the assessment survey through data maintained in the Connecticut Veterans Registry.

A needs assessment study report is expected to be completed this fall.  

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