In this episode of theSITREP, Paul and Mike chat with Colleen Richardson about the Department of Veterans Affairs' Caregiver Support Program and how Caregivers are supported with a multitude of programs and services, to include a monetary stipend for qualified Caregivers. To learn more, visit the links below or call 1-855-260-3274 for the Caregiver Support Line.

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TOPIC LINKS

For additional information about Caregiver Support, visit:
https://www.caregiver.va.gov

For additional information about Caregiver Support (general), visit:
https://www.caregiver.va.gov/Care_Car...

For additional information about Caregiver Support (comprehensive), visit:
https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/...

ADDITIONAL VIDEO LINKS

For videos on VA Disability & Pensions, visit:
   • VA Disability & Pensions  

For videos on VA Health Care, visit:
   • VA Health Care  

For videos on VA Education, Entrepreneurship & Employment, visit:
   • VA Education, Entrepreneurship & Empl...  

For videos on VA Home Loans, visit:
   • VA Home Loans  

For videos on Specialty Topics, visit:
   • Special Interests  

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Colleen Richardson

Dr. Colleen Richardson serves as the Executive Director (ED) of the Caregiver Support Program (CSP), Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Dr. Richardson is the principal advisor for the Caregiver Support Program which provides resources and education to Veterans and their Caregivers. Dr. Richardson is currently responsible for the national implementation and oversight of two national programs and associated services for the CSP, the Program of General Caregiver Support Services and the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. As the Executive Director of the CSP, her responsibility is to sustain the program in accordance with Public Law 111-163, Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 and the VA MISSION Act of 2018. Dr. Richardson directs a Program Office with an annual budget of $1.8 billion, overseeing the delivery of care to more than 55,000 Veterans and caregivers.
Prior to joining the CSP, Dr. Richardson served as the Chief of Psychology at the North Texas Health Care System in Dallas, Texas where she oversaw the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and the clinical practice of over 85 psychologists within the Mental Health Service. Dr. Richardson spent four years on Active Duty as a Navy Psychologist, and completed one combat deployment to Fallujah, Iraq with Regimental Combat Team – One, 1st Marine Division (MARDIV). She was the first female Operational Stress Control and Readiness Provider (OSCAR) embedded within the US Marine Corps infantry troops, providing frontline mental health support to Marines assigned to the 1st MARDIV. She was the first Program Director and Clinical Psychologist at Wounded Warrior Battalion – West, directing mental health care services for all the wounded Marines and Sailors, west of the Mississippi.

ABOUT THE VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is comprised of three different administrations:

(1) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Provides health care at 1,298 facilities, including 171 hospitals and 1,113 outpatient clinics, serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.

(2) Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) - Provides a variety of benefits and services for Service Members, Veterans, and their families including compensation, pension and fiduciary, insurance, education, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and more.

(3) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) - Provides burial space for Veterans and their eligible family members, and maintains national cemeteries as national shrines, sacred to the honor and memory of those interred or memorialized there.

DISCLAIMER: The Department of Veterans Affairs does not endorse or officially sanction any entities that may be discussed in this video, nor any media, products, or services they may provide.

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