The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to open three new Vet Centers and six Vet Center Outstations to improve access to counseling for eligible veterans and service members.
The new Vet Centers and Outstations – smaller satellite locations – will be located in Arizona, California, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
“In 300 communities across the country, Vet Centers provide veterans, service members, and their families with quick and easy access to the mental health care they need,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough in a statement. “We’re expanding this program to make sure that these heroes get the support they so rightly deserve – no matter where they live.”
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including no-cost professional counseling to eligible veterans, service members, and their families.
“Vet Centers provide veterans with high-quality counseling, community engagement, and referral services in nearby and comfortable environments,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal in a statement.
Services provided by Vet Centers include counseling for depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma. The facilities also provide referrals to connect veterans with their VA health care or benefits.
According to VA, in Fiscal Year 2023 more than 115,000 veterans, service members, and their families received counseling at more than 300 Vet Centers nationwide.
The newly approved Vet Centers, Vet Center Outstations, and their statuses are as follows:
Sierra Vista (Arizona) Vet Center Outstation: This Outstation is in the leasing phase, with an anticipated with an opening date in 2024.
Solano County (California) Vet Center Outstation: This Outstation will be located at 420 Executive Ct. N, Suite A, Fairfield, CA 94534 and is anticipated to open in early 2024.
St. Cloud (Minnesota) Vet Center Outstation: This Outstation is located at 330 Hwy 10, Suite 101, St. Cloud, MN 56304 and is anticipated to open at the beginning of 2024.
Vineland (New Jersey) Vet Center Outstation: This Outstation is in the leasing phase, with the anticipated opening date to be determined.
Clarksville (Tennessee) Vet Center: The current Clarksville Vet Center Outstation will convert to a full-sized, independent Vet Center, staffed by a Vet Center Director, Outreach Specialist, Program Support Assistant, and three counselors. The location will remain at 141 Chesapeake Lane, Suite 101, Clarksville, TN 37040. The anticipated date of the transition is to be determined.
Fredericksburg (Virginia) Vet Center: This Vet Center is in the leasing phase, with the anticipated opening date to be determined. The Vet Center will be staffed by a Vet Center Director, Outreach Specialist, Program Support Assistant, and two counselors.
Leesburg (Virginia) Vet Center Outstation: This Outstation is in the leasing phase, with the anticipated opening date to be determined.
U.S. Virgin Islands Vet Center: The current St. Thomas Vet Center Outstation will convert to a full-sized, independent Vet Center, staffed by a Vet Center Director, Outreach Specialist, Program Support Assistant, and two counselors. The new Vet Center will be located at 9164 Estate Thomas, St. Thomas, VI 00802 and is planned to open by early summer 2024.
Saipan (Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands) Vet Center Outstation: This Outstation is in the leasing phase, with the anticipated opening date to be determined.
During a Nov. 30 call with reporters, VA’s Chief Readjustment Counseling Officer for Vet Centers Michael Fisher said the new site locations were selected to fill the projected future needs of veterans in those areas.
"What's important is that we're going out and being able to increase our outreach in those communities,” he said.
Fisher said Vet Center services are confidential. That means the center will only release information to other groups with the permission of the veteran.
"Our staff are mandated reporters,” he continued. “At that point, once we get into a crisis situation, it's really about getting that veteran or service member the level of care they need to be able to stop whatever that situation is.”
To learn more about Vet Centers, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
