Department Of Veterans Affairs To Deploy Mobile Counseling Centers Across America

Main Category: Veterans / Ex-Servicemen
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 24 Oct 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The first of a fleet of 50 new mobile counseling centers for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vet Center program was put into service today with the remainder scheduled to be activated over the next three months.

"Our widespread distribution of this fleet from coast to coast marks a new chapter in VA's innovation to reach rural and underserved veterans with high-quality readjustment counseling," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.

Each vehicle will be assigned to one of VA's existing Vet Centers, enabling the center to improve access to counseling by bringing services closer to veterans.

The 38-foot motor coaches, which have spaces for confidential counseling, will carry Vet Center counselors and outreach workers to events and activities to reach veterans in broad geographic areas, supplementing VA's 232 current Vet Centers, which are scheduled to increase to 271 facilities by the end of 2009.

Vet Centers, operated by VA's Readjustment Counseling Service, provide non-medical readjustment counseling in easily accessible, consumer-oriented facilities, addressing the social and economic dimensions of post-war needs. This includes psychological counseling for traumatic military-related experiences and family counseling when needed for the veteran's readjustment.

The team leader at each Vet Center will develop an outreach plan for use of the vehicle within that region, not being limited to the traditional catchment area of a particular Vet Center.

These vehicles will be used to provide outreach and direct readjustment counseling at active-duty, reserve and National Guard activities, including post-deployment health reassessments for returning combat service members.

The vehicles will also be used to visit events typically staffed by local Vet Center staff, including homeless "stand downs," veteran community events, county fairs, and unit reunions at sites ranging from Native American reservations to colleges.

While most of their use will be in Vet Centers' delivery of readjustment counseling services, the local manager may arrange with VA hospitals or clinics in the region to provide occasional support for health promotion activities such as health screenings.

The normal counseling layout can be converted to support emergency medical missions, such as hurricanes and other natural disasters.

The 50 vehicles are being manufactured for VA by Farber Specialty Vehicles of Columbus, Ohio.

Home Bases of Planned Vet Center Vehicles

Alabama
Birmingham

Arizona
Chinle
Prescott

Arkansas
Fayetteville

California
Corona
Fresno
Santa Cruz
Eureka

Colorado
Colorado Springs

Florida
Pensacola

Georgia
Savannah
Macon

Idaho
Boise

Kansas
Wichita

Kentucky
Lexington

Illinois
Springfield

Oregon
Eugene

Pennsylvania
Erie
Scranton

South Carolina
Columbia

South Dakota
Rapid City

Tennessee
Johnson City
Memphis

Texas
Amarillo
Midland
San Antonio

Louisiana
New Orleans

Maine
Caribou
Lewiston

Massachusetts
Springfield

Michigan
Escanaba

Minnesota
St. Paul

Montana
Missoula
Billings

Nebraska
Lincoln

New Mexico
Sante Fe
Las Cruces

New York
Watertown

North Carolina
Greenville

North Dakota
Minot
Fargo

Ohio
Dayton

Utah
Salt Lake

Vermont
White River Junction

Virginia
Richmond

Washington
Spokane
Tacoma

West Virginia
Morgantown
Beckley

Wyoming
Casper

US Dept of Veterans Affairs