The Department of Veterans Affairs needs to do more to address cultural and language needs of a veteran population that is increasingly more diverse in terms of race, ethnic heritage, sex, and age, according to the Government Accountability Office. In a May 28 report, the GAO noted that the VA began reaching out to newcomers by directing staffs to assess the needs of veterans who speak little English, and offering interpreters and translated materials to them as well. But, the GAO says, “Utilization of [those] services is low.” The report stated that the VA needs to continue the education process so that more veterans become aware of the benefits they earned through military service. Upon reviewing the report, the VA largely agreed with the GAO. The complete report is available online.
