Social Work at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System is an integral part of health care. We help veterans and their families with problems associated with the stress of an illness.  Social workers provide a holistic, psychosocial approach to working with people in hospitals or clinic settings.  As VA helping professionals, we are trained to work with our clients from a broad view, including from social, environmental, psychological and economic perspectives.

VA social workers:

• provide a variety of services to OEF/OIF returning combat veterans and service members
• provide guidance to individuals, families and communities dealing with complex issues and choices
• connect with individuals, families and communities with available resources
• are dedicated to improving the society in which we live
• help people help themselves, wherever and whenever they need it most

VA social workers can assist you with:

•   counseling for individuals, marital and/or family problems
•   referrals to help with finances, housing and/or transportation
•   education on Advance Directives
•   counseling and/or referrals for drug and alcohol problems
•   reduction of stress caused by medical conditions which interfere with daily activities
•   discussion regarding end-of-life care
•   assistance with hospital discharges and follow-up care
•   resolution of social problems that may contribute to unnecessary hospital readmissions

VA social workers provide services in a variety of areas, including but not limited to:

- Addiction Treatment Clinic
- Adult Day Health Care Program
- Advance Directives
- Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program
- Anger Management Groups
- Bereavement Group
- Chemical Dependency Treatment Unit
- Community Partnership Programs
- Community Residential Care
- Contract Nursing Home
- Day Hospital/Day Treatment
- Dialysis
- Domiciliary
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program
- Education
- Emergency Department/Admissions Center
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Geriatrics and Extended Care
- GET SMART/UPBEAT
- Grant and Per Diem Programs
- Home Based Primary Care
- Homeless Program
- Hospice
- Infectious Disease Clinic
- Inpatient Medicine and Surgery
- Inpatient Mental Health
- Jail Outreach
- Mental Health Clinic
- Mental Health Intensive Case Management
- Nursing Home Care Unit
- OEF/OIF Returning Combat Veterans
- Opiate Treatment Program
- Palliative Care
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Polytrauma
- Primary Care
- PTSD
- Research
- Respite Program
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Stroke Support Group
- Suicide Prevention
- Women Veterans Programs

We have social workers at the following campuses:  West Los Angeles, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, Pasadena, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria.  If you would like to meet with a social worker in West Los Angeles, please call the main Social Work office at (310) 268-3385.  A representative will direct you to the social worker who can best assist you.  If you would prefer to meet with a social worker at the other campuses, please call the main Clinic number for the specific clinic to be referred to the Clinic social worker.