VA Aspire Center CUP Approval

The Aspire Center is a Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (DRRTP). There are 107 domiciliary programs throughout the U.S. DRRTPs provide a structured and supportive residential environment as part of rehabilitation for U.S. Veterans with medical, mental health, and/or substance use problems. San Diego has been selected as one of five new sites for a DRRTP as part the national initiative to end homelessness. In order to open, the Aspire Center must be approved for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) by San Diego's City Council. As disclosure, fears have been raised by some about the safety of children attending the Old Town Academy Charter School across the street from the chosen site at the old Thomas Jefferson School of Law building.

The Aspire Center will be a unique DRRTP in that it will focus on aiding Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) Veterans to reintegrate into civilian life once discharged from active duty. The goal is for all Veterans to leave the program with the basic skills necessary for leading a self-sufficient and independent life, including gaining employment and maintaining housing.

To be admitted into the Aspire Center, all Veterans must undergo screening through an intake process that occurs at the La Jolla VA Medical Center (no walk-ins are allowed). Each candidate for admission to the Aspire Center will undergo a comprehensive intake evaluation that integrates information from medical records, interview, and physical examination. The Aspire Center treatment team, which includes physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses and allied health professionals, will determine if the Veteran meets criteria for admission. If the Veteran does not meet criteria for admission, he or she will be offered other services.

All Veterans must…
1. Be honorably discharged from the armed forces.
2. Have identified treatment and rehabilitation needs, which can be met by the program.
3. Be lacking a stable lifestyle or living arrangement that is conducive to recovery.
4. Have tried a less restrictive treatment alternative, or one was unavailable.
5. Be assessed as requiring the structure and support of a residential treatment environment.
6. Be capable of basic self-care (such as dressing, eating).
7. Voluntarily commit to participate in program activities and to abide by program rules

Veterans CANNOT be admitted if they…
1. Have a history of violent behavior, aggression, or behavioral “flags” on their medical record.
2. Are a registered sex offender or are on parole.
3. Have emergent medical needs (such as chest pain or difficulty breathing; these Veterans may be
admitted to the medicine ward in La Jolla).
4. Have acute psychiatric needs, such as being assessed as at risk for being a danger to themselves or
others (these Veterans will be admitted to the inpatient psychiatry ward in La Jolla).
5. Need acute detoxification from drugs or alcohol (these Veterans will be admitted to the Alcohol &
Drug Treatment Program in La Jolla).

Of utmost concern is the ability to provide a center that is safe for our Veteran residents as well as the neighboring community. A 7-layer system will be in place to ensure safety including: careful prescreening, rules, evidence-based treatment, close monitoring, strong communication, zero-tolerance violent behavior/drug abuse policy, and security.