Indiana Veterans Behavioral Health Network

The Indiana Veterans Behavioral Health Network was created through a partnership between ASPIN and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to bring high-quality mental health care to veterans living in rural communities. The initiative placed teleconferencing units in eight rural community mental health centers across Indiana, giving veterans the ability to connect with their VA clinical providers without leaving their local communities.

Through secure, HIPAA-compliant video technology, veterans were able to attend scheduled appointments at ASPIN member locations, where they could meet virtually with VA clinicians via a dedicated monitor and telehealth system.

This pioneering program — the first of its kind in the state — operated successfully for eight years and served more than 4,000 veterans. By reducing the need for long-distance travel, it improved access to timely behavioral health care for rural veterans, strengthened local community mental health centers as trusted points of care, and demonstrated how innovative partnerships can bridge critical gaps in service delivery.