Our mission: To assist Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to “keep the promise’ by acting as facilitator, change agent, strategic thinker, honest broker and cheerleader to the men and women of VA in executing its MISSION. As internal consultants to the organization, we will facilitate VA’s ability to deliver services to veterans worldwide by approaching our mission with a “Veteran Comes First” philosophy based on a deep respect for the men and women who dedicated themselves to the defense of our Nation. We acknowledge the diversity of our veterans and profoundly value the strength and unique character this diversity has contributed to our great Nation.
The Center’s activities include:
- Makes recommendations to the Secretary, the Under Secretary for Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and other Department officials for the establishment or improvement of programs in the Department for which Veterans who are minorities are eligible.
- Promotes the use of benefits authorized by this title by Veterans who are minorities and the conduct of outreach activities to Veterans who are minorities, in conjunction with outreach activities carried out under chapter 77 of this title [38 USCS §§ 7701 etseq.].
- Disseminates information and serve as a resource center for the exchange of information regarding innovative and successful programs which improve the services available to Veterans who are minorities.
- Conducts and sponsors appropriate social and demographic research on the needs of Veterans who are minorities and the extent to which programs authorized under this title meet the needs of those Veterans, without regard to any law concerning the collection of information from the public.
- Analyzes and evaluates complaints made by or on behalf of Veterans who are minorities about the adequacy and timeliness of services provided by the Department and advise the appropriate official of the Department of the results of such analysis or evaluation.
- Consults with, and provides assistance and information to, officials responsible for administering Federal, State, local, and private programs that assist Veterans, to encourage those officials to adopt policies which promote the use of those programs by Veterans who are minorities.
- Advises the Secretary when laws or policies have the effect of discouraging the use of benefits by Veterans who are minorities.
- Publicizes the results of medical research which are of particular significance to Veterans who are minorities.
- Advises the Secretary and other appropriate officials on the effectiveness of the Department’s efforts to accomplish the goals of section 492B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289a-2) with respect to the inclusion of minorities in clinical research and on particular health conditions affecting the health of members of minority groups which should be studied as part of the Department’s medical research program and promote cooperation between the Department and other sponsors of medical research of potential benefit to Veterans who are minorities.
- Provides support and administrative services to the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans provided for under section 544 of this title.
- Performs such other duties consistent with this section as the Secretary shall prescribe.
