After World War I, the readjustment problems of servicemen returning to civilian life, especially those with neuropsychiatric disabilities, were turned over to the American National Red Cross workers who were stationed by the Red Cross in government offices of the War Risk Insurance Bureau, the United States Public Health Service, and the Federal Board of Rehabilitation. In 1921, Congress established the Veterans Bureau by consolidating the administration and functions of those three agencies. The World War Veterans Act of June, 1924 authorized the furnishing of hospitalization so far as existing government facilities permitted to “…veterans of any war, military occupation, or military expedition since 1897 not dishonorably discharged and without regard to nature or origin of their disabilities.”

A medical council advisory to the Director and Medical Director of the Bureau was established in 1924. Members of this Council included a number of prominent physicians such as Dr. Allen K. Krause, Dr. H.A. Jettison, Dr. William A. White, and Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur. In 1924, the Council recommended that social workers be placed in the Veterans Bureau regional offices and hospitals. As a result, Frances A. Foster was brought in as Chief Social Worker to develop a program of social work for the Veterans Bureau. In 1926, the Red Cross withdrew its social workers from the Veterans Bureau neuropsychiatric hospitals and casework positions in the regional offices. However, many former Red Cross psychiatric social workers remained in their jobs as government civil service staff. By 1927, the Red Cross had withdrawn all its social workers from the general medical and tuberculosis hospitals as well.

The establishment of the Veterans Administration came in 1930 when Congress authorized the President to “consolidate and coordinate Government activities affecting war veterans.” The three component agencies became bureaus within the Veterans Administration. Brigadier General Frank T. Hines, who directed the Veterans Bureau for seven years, was named as the first Administrator of Veterans Affairs, a job he held until 1945.  Cutbacks resulting in a greatly reduced social work staff were ordered as necessary for government economy during the depression years. Despite economic problems, the Social Work Service continued to grow in the late 1930s, and the United States entrance into World War II necessitated even greater increases in the social work staff. Meanwhile, the educa­tional requirements for social workers gradually increased. In the early 1940’s, the Veterans Administration began its cooperation with certain schools of social work through agreements which provided for the placement of students for field work at various Veterans Administration facilities. The use of volunteers in Veterans Administration social work was initiated in the 1940s.

Reorganization of the Veterans Administration was effected by Public Law 293 in 1946 which “… abolished the Medical Services as then constituted and authorized a Department of Medicine and Surgery under a Chief Medical Director; appointments of doctors, dentists, and nurses were to be made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Administrator without regard to civil service requirements, . . .” Public Law 293 also established the Special Medical Advisory Group to advise the Administrator and Chief Medical Director on medical problems. The Social Work Advisory Council, established in 1946_f acted in a similar capacity to the Social Work Service in developing a sound program of social services in the Veterans Administration. Many institutes were held at various Veterans Administration facilities to inform social workers about new ideas and trends in Veterans Administration social work and the profession of social work itself.

During the twenty years after World War II, services to veterans were expanded to include out-patient care, foster home care, trial visits, and increased work with the blind. Patients with chronic illnesses and tuberculosis patients who had not been properly discharged caused particular concern. Recruiting social workers from schools of social work and increas­ing the educational standards and salaries of social workers are continuing concerns to the Veterans Administration Social Work Service. The Social Work Service also works with the community to which a veteran returns following hospitalization. It attempts, through education and counseling of the patient and his family, to make the physical and personal home environment as favorable to the patient as possible.

Some landmark dates concerning the Veterans Administration Social Work Service are:

1921   Veterans Bureau established.

1924   World War I Veterans Act furnished hospitalization to veterans.

1926-27 Withdrawal of American National Red Cross social workers from Veterans Bureau hospitals.

1931 Veterans Administration formed combining Veterans Bureau, Pension Bureau, and National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

1940’s Work with schools of social work in placing students at Veterans Administration facilities for field work. Beginnings of Veterans Administration Voluntary Service.

1943   Public Law 16 provided rehabilitation for disabled veterans.

1946   Public Law 293 reorganized Veterans Administration and established Special Medical Advisory Group. Social Work Advisory Council established.

1950s Institutes held at various Veterans Administration facilities.

1953   Reorganization of Veterans Administration.

The VA health care system has grown from 54 hospitals in 1930, to include 171 medical centers; more than 350 outpatient, community, and outreach clinics; 126 nursing home care units; and 35 domiciliaries. VA health care facilities provide a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care. The responsibilities and benefits programs of the Veterans Administration grew enormously during the following six decades. World War II resulted in not only a vast increase in the veteran population, but also in large number of new benefits enacted by the Congress for veterans of the war. The World War II GI Bill, signed into law on June 22, 1944, is said to have had more impact on the American way of life than any law since the Homestead Act more than a century ago. Further educational assistance acts were passed for the benefit of veterans of the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Era, Persian Gulf War, and the All-Volunteer Force.

In 1973, the Veterans Administration assumed another major responsibility when the National Cemetery System (except for Arlington National Cemetery) was transferred to the Veterans Administration from the Department of the Army. The Agency was charged with the operation of the National Cemetery System, including the marking of graves of all persons in national and State cemeteries (and the graves of veterans in private cemeteries, upon request) as well and administering the State Cemetery Grants Program.

Sources:

United States. Veterans Administration.  Social Work Service Records. Historical Note. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Social Welfare History Archives. Minneapolis, MN. 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs  —  www.va.gov/about_va/vahistory.asp