Social work is an integral part of health care at VA Northern California Health Care System. We help veterans and their families with problems associated with the stress of an illness and assist them meeting their after care needs following a hospitalization. Social workers are located both in the inpatient and outpatient areas.

Services Offered

The scope of services offered by Social Work Service includes —

• information, linkage and referral
• discharge planning
• outreach to homeless veterans
• financial assistance referral
• assistance with nursing home placement
• transportation
• legal assistance
• home health services
• housing and community living
• social assessment, intervention, and aftercare services
• referral for physical, psychological and/or sexual abuse
• combat veteran services

Individual, Family and Group Counseling and Treatment Services are provided —

• to veterans needing assistance with interpersonal relationships and social activities
• to veterans and family members who have problems relating to alcoholism, drug abuse, and other addicted related issues
• to help veterans and their families understand and adjust to an illness or disability
• to veterans and family members who want to prepare advance directives and durable powers of attorney for health care
• to help veterans and their families cope with terminal illness
• to family members seeking assistance with commitment, guardianship, conservator ship, probation, parole, and police protection
• to veterans who engage in decision-making, problem-solving, and participation in the care that they receive