The VA in Oklahoma City has unveiled an innovative program, the Veterans Mobile Evaluation Team (VMET), designed as a new approach for addressing mental health crises among veterans. This initiative signals a pivotal collaboration between the VA and local law enforcement, aiming to redirect veterans from potential legal troubles to suitable mental health interventions.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and stay up to date.

.beta-base .preheader, .beta-base .header, .beta-base .sidebar, .beta-base .body, .beta-base .footer, #mainContent {
text-align: start;
}
.beta-base .preheader, .beta-base .header, .beta-base .body, .beta-base .sidebar, .beta-base .leftSidebar, .beta-base .rightSidebar, .beta-base .footer {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
border: none;
white-space: normal;
line-height: normal;
}
.beta-base .title, .beta-base .subtitle, .beta-base .text, .beta-base img {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
background: none;
border: none;
white-space: normal;
line-height: normal;
}
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.preheader{
padding: 10px 0;
}
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.header {
padding: 0;
height: 30px;
}
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.body, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.footer,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.sidebar, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.leftSidebar, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.rightSidebar {
padding: 20px;
}
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.header p, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.preheader p, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.body p,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.footer p, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.sidebar p,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.leftSidebar p, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.rightSidebar p {
margin: 0;
color: inherit;
}
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.header div.title, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.preheader div.title, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.body div.title,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.footer div.title, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.sidebar div.title,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.leftSidebar div.title, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.rightSidebar div.title,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.header div.subtitle, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.preheader div.subtitle, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.body div.subtitle,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.footer div.subtitle, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.sidebar div.subtitle,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.leftSidebar div.subtitle, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.rightSidebar div.subtitle,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.header div.text, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.preheader div.text, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.body div.text, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.body div.text div,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.footer div.text, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.sidebar div.text,
.beta-base .bodyContainer td.leftSidebar div.text, .beta-base .bodyContainer td.rightSidebar div.text {
overflow: auto;
}
.beta-base .optout {
margin-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 10px;
}
div.infusion-captcha {
width: 220px;
padding: 10px;
}
div.infusion-captcha input, div.infusion-captcha select, div.infusion-captcha textarea {
width: 95%;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: middle;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container {
padding-bottom: 12px;
}
table.infusion-field-container td + .infusion-field-input-container {
padding-bottom: 0 !important;
}
table.infusion-field-container td + .infusion-field-label-container {
padding-bottom: 12px !important;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’text’],
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’email’],
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’tel’],
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’password’],
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container textarea {
width: 100%;
margin: 0;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’text’],
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’email’],
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’tel’],
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’password’],
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container select {
background-color: #fff;
border-radius: 6px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
box-sizing: border-box;
padding: 8px 16px;
height: 40px;
line-height: normal;
outline: none;
-webkit-appearance: none;
-webkit-transition: border .3s ease;
transition: border .3s ease;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input.infusion-field-required {
border-color: red;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input.infusion-field-required::placeholder,
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container textarea.infusion-field-required::placeholder,
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-label-container .span-required-field {
color: red;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container div.infusion-field-input-container select.infusion-field-required,
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container select.infusion-field-required {
border-color: red;
color: red !important;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container textarea.infusion-field-required {
border-color: red;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container div.infusion-field-required-errorMessage {
color: red;
font-size: 12px;
font-family: Arial;
padding-left: 4px;
padding-top: 2px;
padding-bottom: 5px;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container select {
background-image: url(“data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=’http://www.w3.org/2000/svg’ viewBox=’0 0 24 24′ id=’chevron-down’%3E%3Cpath d=’M6.293 9.293a1 1 0 0 1 1.414 0L12 13.586l4.293-4.293a1 1 0 1 1 1.414 1.414l-5 5a1 1 0 0 1-1.414 0l-5-5a1 1 0 0 1 0-1.414z’ fill-rule=’evenodd’%3E%3C/path%3E%3C/svg%3E”);
background-size: 20px;
background-position: calc(100% – 6px) center;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container select {
width: 100%;
margin: 0;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container select.infusion-multiselect {
height: auto;
background-image: none;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’text’]:focus,
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’email’]:focus,
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’tel’]:focus,
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-input-container input[type=’password’]:focus {
border-color: #bbb;
}
table.infusion-field-container td.infusion-field-label-container {
padding-right: 5px;
max-width: 200px;
}
.infusion-label-checkbox {
position: relative;
top: -3px;
}
span.infusion-checkbox {
display: block;
margin-left: -5px;
}
td.header .image-snippet img {
vertical-align: bottom;
}
#webformErrors {
color: #990000;
font-size: 14px;
}
html, body {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
height: 100%;
}
.infusion-form {
margin: 0;
height: 100%;
}
.infusion-option {
display: block;
text-align: left;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 675px) {
.infusion-form .infusion-field-container,
.infusion-form .infusion-field-container tr,
.infusion-form .infusion-field-container td,
.infusion-form .infusion-field-container tbody {
display: block;
}
.infusion-form .infusion-field-container .pika-table tr {
display: table-row !important;
margin-bottom: 0 !important;
}
.infusion-form .infusion-field-container .pika-table td {
display: table-cell !important;
}
.infusion-form .infusion-field-container .pika-table tbody {
display: table-row-group !important;
}
.infusion-form table.bodyContainer {
width: 100% !important;
}
.infusion-form img {
max-width: 100%;
height: auto;
}
.infusion-form .image-snippet[contentid=”spotlight”] {
width: 64px;
}
.infusion-form .infusion-field-input-container {
width: 100% !important;
}
.infusion-form .video-container iframe {
width: 100%;
}
.infusion-form .infusion-submit button {
width: 100% !important;
}
}

.beta-font-b h1, .beta-font-b h2, .beta-font-b h3, .beta-font-b h4, .beta-font-b h5, .beta-font-b h6 {
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b h1 {font-size: 24px;}
.beta-font-b h2 {font-size: 20px;}
.beta-font-b h3 {font-size: 14px;}
.beta-font-b h4 {font-size: 12px;}
.beta-font-b h5 {font-size: 10px;}
.beta-font-b h6 {font-size: 8px;}
.beta-font-b address {font-style: italic;}
.beta-font-b pre {font-family: Courier New, monospace;}
.beta-font-b .title, .beta-font-b .title p {
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: bold;
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b .subtitle, .beta-font-b .subtitle p {
font-size: 11px;
font-weight: normal;
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b .text, .beta-font-b p {
font-size: 12px;
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b .preheader .text, .beta-font-b .preheader .text p {
font-size: 11px;
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b .footer a {
font-size: 11px;
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b .footer .text {
font-size: 10px;
font-family: verdana,sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b .sidebar .title, .beta-font-b .leftSidebar .title, .beta-font-b .rightSidebar .title {
font-size: 15px;
font-weight: bold;
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b .sidebar .subtitle, .beta-font-b .leftSidebar .subtitle, .beta-font-b .rightSidebar .subtitle {
font-size: 12px;
font-family: arial, sans-serif;
}
.beta-font-b .sidebar .text, .beta-font-b .sidebar .text p, .beta-font-b .leftSidebar .text, .beta-font-b .rightSidebar .text {
font-size: 11px;
font-family: arial, sans-serif;
}
.infusion-field-label-container {
font-size: 14px;
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}
.infusion-field-input-container {
color: #000000;
font-size: 12px;
}
.infusion-option label {
color: #000000;
font-size: 14px;
font-family: arial,sans-serif;
}

.custom-36 .background{
background-color:#F7FAFC;
;
}
.custom-36 .title{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .subtitle{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .text{
color:#333333;
;
}
.custom-36 a{
color:#0645AD;
;
}
.custom-36 .background .preheader .text{
color:#1a242e;
;
}
.custom-36 .background .preheader a{
color:#0645ad;
;
}
.custom-36 .header{
background-color:#FFFFFF;
;
}
.custom-36 .header .title{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .header .subtitle{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .header .text{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .header .a{
color:#157db8;
;
}
.custom-36 .hero{
background-color:#025c8d;
;
}
.custom-36 .hero .title{
color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .hero .subtitle{
color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .hero .text{
color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .hero .a{
color:#157db8;
;
}
.custom-36 .quote{
background-color:#013b5a;
;
}
.custom-36 .quote:after{
border-color:#013b5a transparent transparent transparent;
;
}
.custom-36 .quote .title{
color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .quote .subtitle{
color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .quote .text{
color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .quote .a{
color:#157db8;
;
}
.custom-36 .body{
background-color:#F7FAFC;
;
}
.custom-36 .main{
background-color:#FFFFFF;
;
}
.custom-36 .main .title{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .main .subtitle{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .main .text{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .main .a{
color:#157db8;
;
}
.custom-36 .sidebar{
background-color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .sidebar .title{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .sidebar .subtitle{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .sidebar .text{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .sidebar .a{
color:#157db8;
;
}
.custom-36 .leftSidebar{
background-color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .leftSidebar .title{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .leftSidebar .subtitle{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .rightSidebar{
background-color:#ffffff;
;
}
.custom-36 .rightSidebar .title{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .rightSidebar .subtitle{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .footer{
background-color:#FFFFFF;
;
}
.custom-36 .footer .text{
color:#0D0D0D;
;
}
.custom-36 .footer .title{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .footer a{
color:#1B38DE;
;
}
.custom-36 .footer .subtitle{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .infusion-field-label-container{
font-size:5px;
;
}
.custom-36 .infusion-field-label-container{
font-family:Arial;
;
}
.custom-36 .infusion-field-label-container{
color:#F7FAFC;
;
}
.custom-36 .infusion-field-input{
font-size:20px;
;
}
.custom-36 .infusion-option label{
font-size:14px;
;
}
.custom-36 .infusion-option label{
font-family:Arial;
;
}
.custom-36 .infusion-option label{
color:#000000;
;
}
.custom-36 .webFormBodyContainer{
border-width:0px;
;
}
.custom-36 .webFormBodyContainer{
border-style:Hidden;
;
}
.custom-36 .webFormBodyContainer{
border-color:#000000;
;
}

.infusion-field-label-container {
text-align:Left;
}
.infusion-field-input-container {
width:200px;
}
.infusion-field-label-container {
vertical-align:Middle;
}
.bodyContainer {
width:295px;
}

VMET: Bridging Law Enforcement and Veteran Mental Health Care

Sgt. Ryan Hogle from the OKC VA Police Department emphasizes the program’s intention: “We have a ton of resources here other than someone going to jail,” indicating VMET’s foundational aim to offer veterans an alternative to incarceration by ensuring they receive the mental health care they need during crises.

Tailored Responses to Unique Veteran Needs

The program advocates for a personalized approach to veterans’ mental health issues, acknowledging the specialized needs related to homelessness, substance abuse, PTSD, and military sexual trauma. Leslie Franklin, the community engagement and partnerships coordinator, notes, “Having homeless issues, substance use issues, PTSD, military sexual trauma – these are all things that are very unique to veterans and require a tailored response.”

Veteran-to-Veteran Understanding

A key strength of VMET is its composition of team members, many of whom are veterans. This shared background is crucial for building rapport with veterans in crisis. “Most of us are veterans. We’ve dealt with the system. We know the ins and outs of it,” Hogle shares, highlighting the team’s capability to relate to and effectively assist veterans based on mutual understanding and experience.

A Case Study: From Police Custody to Care

An incident in Harrah illustrates VMET’s role in shifting the focus from punitive measures to care. After a welfare check escalated, VMET intervened to transfer the veteran from police custody to hospital care, showcasing the program’s core mission in action. “Many times, the legal system gets bound down with veterans that don’t need to be there. They need to be getting mental health treatment,” Hogle asserts, reaffirming the necessity of prioritizing mental health support over legal penalties for veterans.

Reflections on Systemic Issues and the Path Forward

The establishment of VMET in Oklahoma City, while a significant advancement, also brings to light the ongoing challenges within the VA’s mental health care system. The program’s necessity speaks volumes about the existing gaps in care and the critical demand for comprehensive reforms to ensure veterans across the country receive the timely, effective support they deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the Veterans Mobile Evaluation Team (VMET)?

The VMET is a specialized unit launched by the Oklahoma City VA, designed to provide immediate, on-the-scene mental health support to veterans experiencing crises. It aims to offer an alternative to legal action by facilitating access to mental health services for veterans in need.

How does VMET interact with law enforcement?

VMET collaborates closely with local law enforcement agencies. When officers encounter a veteran in a mental health crisis, they can call upon VMET to intervene. As Sgt. Ryan Hogle explains, “We have a ton of resources here other than someone going to jail,” emphasizing the program’s role in providing alternatives to incarceration.

What kind of issues does VMET address?

VMET is equipped to deal with a range of issues uniquely affecting veterans, such as homelessness, substance abuse, PTSD, and military sexual trauma. Leslie Franklin notes the importance of a tailored response, stating, “These are all things that are very unique to veterans and require a tailored response.”

Are VMET team members veterans themselves?

Yes, many VMET team members are veterans. This shared experience allows them to relate to the veterans they are helping on a personal level. Sgt. Hogle, a veteran himself, says, “Most of us are veterans… We know the problems that it has. So, we can instantly relate to a veteran on scene.”

How can veterans or their families get in touch with VMET?

While VMET primarily responds to calls from law enforcement during crises, veterans or their families seeking assistance can reach out to the OKC VA for support and resources. For immediate assistance, contacting the VA’s crisis line or local VA Suicide Prevention Team can also direct families to the necessary services.