Over the past five years, the Incarcerated Veterans Initiative (IVI) has enrolled over 700+ unique currently and recently incarcerated veteran clients and delivered a combined total of 4,417 services to those clients both in the community and in-prison settings throughout the state of New Jersey.
IVI connects currently and recently incarcerated veterans with:
- Housing Assistance and Placement
- Educational and Vocational Training Opportunities
- Healthcare and Medication Support
- Service Documents and VA Benefits Guidance
- Other Veteran-Specific Support Services
The Mission of Incarcerated Veterans Initiative (IVI) is to provide a transition process for New Jersey’s incarcerated veteran population, from intake throughout their sentence, including discharge planning, assistance, and continued mentorship opportunities upon release.
Eligibility
- Currently or Previously Incarcerated in the state of New Jersey
- Veteran (Any Discharge Status)
- Plans to Reside in the state of New Jersey
Eligibility for various assistance programs will be determined on a case by case basis, by service delivery area, veteran status, employment status, and homelessness/risk of homelessness status.
The Incarcerated Veterans Initiative (IVI) Enrollment Process consists of:
INDUCTION
Begins at the facility where the identified veteran is housed, where the veteran s history is obtained and then, all available documents and information from a military and veteran perspective will be captured.
BASIC TRAINING
An EHCA IVI Case Manager develops an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) and enhances that plan throughout, including, pursuit of records, matching skills with goals and possible employers, and developing preliminary plans for housing, benefits, and sustaining life.
ACTIVE DUTY
An EHCA IVI Case Manager will be assigned to track the veterans transition (from Day 1); identifying and closing gaps in available records, address outstanding fines, obtain prior job history, skills set, career goals; and to develop a basic career training plan.
TRANSITION
Each veteran’s transition has been part of planning since day one, and this is where all of the plans are finalized, all discharge planning; housing, employment, and financial planning is prepared in anticipation of the veteran s release from custody.
PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION
This is the final phase of the veteran’s incarcerated life including assembling all records, military, veteran and New Jersey Department of Corrections documents, coordinated safe landing at housing, confirm transportation upon release, confirm employment and any appointments, e.g. Veterans Administration. Encouragement, mentoring and support continues with EHCA IVI and Veterans Service Organizations.
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Have Questions? Interested in Learning More? Contact us today.
Fill out the contact form with your full name, email address, phone number, and a brief description of your questions or interest and an Education & Health Centers of America, Inc. (EHCA) staff member will get back to you as soon as possible.
The EHCA corporate office can also be contacted directly by phone at (732) 556-4180 during regular business hours.