Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

10-13-2026

Abstract

California is home to over 1.8 million veterans and 18,000 National Guard members, representing one of the largest military-connected populations in the United States. Despite substantial demand, over 50% of veterans experiencing mental health symptoms do not seek treatment, while those seeking care within federal systems frequently face significant wait times. This academic white paper evaluates the operational framework, clinical effectiveness, and workforce expansion model of the University of San Diego (USD) Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic – Veterans Initiative. Utilizing a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth model paired with a tiered supervision structure, the clinic provides evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) at no cost to veterans, National Guard service members, and their families across California. Since launching clinical services in March 2025, the clinic has completed nearly 6,000 clinical hours across nearly 400 clients. Longitudinal psychometric outcome monitoring using validated tools demonstrates statistically and clinically significant reductions in depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5), paired with high client retention and Net Promoter Scores in the “Excellent” range. This paper presents the clinic's clinical methodology, quantitative outcome metrics, strategic inter-agency partnerships, and proposed funding framework for sustainable clinical expansion.

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