Military veterans wellness program: Performance measurement framework

Veterans may struggle with numerous challenges, including the transition to civilian life, physical or mental health issues (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder), substance abuse, barriers to help-seeking, and difficulties accessing care. They are also at an increased risk of suicidal ideation and living without a home compared with the general population. These challenges have been associated with an increased risk for law enforcement interactions. The Military Veterans Wellness Program is a novel program whose mission is to improve the well-being of Veterans in crisis by providing law enforcement officers with a better understanding of Veterans, de-escalation training, and a streamlined referral process to three national support services. The program is a collaboration among the Toronto Police Service and multiple organizations, experts, and stakeholders in the areas of law enforcement and Veteran well-being. A performance measurement framework was developed for the program that includes a strategic framework, logic model, and key performance indicators for the purposes of internal program management, performance monitoring, external reporting, and the assessment of program effectiveness. Finally, limitations, preliminary results, achievements, and next steps are discussed.