What Every Veteran Needs To Know: Counseling & Support - Part 4 of a Series

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In the first of this ongoing series we introduce some specific answers to general questions often asked and just as often misunderstood. In Part Two we jumped into one of the "meatiest" of topics, VA Health Care. In Part Three we pulled back a little bit and looked at the overall "other" Federal VA Benefits picture. This week, we'll once again dive back into the "details" as we look at Counseling & Support.

Counseling & Support VA Medical Centers - VA Medical Centers provide a comprehensive range of inpatient, outpatient and residential mental health services for veterans to support post-war adjustment in the community. Individual or group counseling, and medication management services are available for veterans: Residential and outpatient programs for post traumatic stress disorder Residential and outpatient programs for substance abuse disorders Vocational Rehabilitation counseling Inpatient and outpatient programs for adjustment disorders, depression or other mental health concerns Day treatment and community outreach programs for veterans with serious mental illness Behavioral treatments to address lifestyle concerns (i.e. smoking cessation, stress management, sleep problems, etc.)

VA Medical Centers Located in Our Area
New York Harbor Health Care System Brooklyn Campus
800 Poly Place Brooklyn, NY 11209
(718) 836-6600

Bronx VA Medical Center
130 W Kingsbridge Road Bronx, NY 10468
(718) 584-9000

VA New York Harbor Health Care System New York Campus
423 East 23rd Street New York, NY 10010
(212) 686-7500

St Albans Primary & Extended Care Center
179th St. and Linden Blvd. St. Albans, NY 11425
(718) 526-1000

VA Medical Center Northport
79 Middleville Road Northport, NY 11768
(631) 261-4400

VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics - VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics provide individual services and medication management for veterans seeking support for post-deployment adjustment. Counseling staff at these clinics can also provide assessment and referral to more specialized services in the community or at the nearest VA Medical Center.

Locate a VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic
VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics Located in Our Area Bronx Brooklyn (Chapel Street) Harlem Islip Lindenhurst Lynbrook Patchogue Plainview Queens (Thomas P. Noonan) Riverhead Soho Vet Centers - Vet Centers serve veterans and their families by providing professional readjustment counseling services to support post-war adjustment in the community. The Centers focus on counseling for military traumas, employment and family problems. Individual and group counseling is available for veterans and their families, including bereavement counseling for family members who have lost an active duty service member. Vet Centers also provide referral services for VA benefits and medical services, and act as a liaison with community agencies.

Northeast Region of Readjustment Counseling Services - Telephone: (800) 905-4675. Find a Local Vet Center.

Vet Centers Located in Our Area:

Babylon Vet Center
116 West Main Street Babylon , NY 11702
(516) 661-3930

Bronx Vet Center
130 West Kingsbridge Road Room 7A-13 Bronx, New York 10468
(718) 367-3500

Brooklyn Vet Center
25 Chapel Street, Ste. 604 Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 624-2765

Harlem Vet Center
55 West 125th Street, 7th Floor New York , NY 10027
(212) 426-2200

Manhattan Vet Center
32 Broadway, Suite 200 New York, New York 10004
(212) 742-9591

Queens Vet Center
75-108 91 Avenue, Apt 1AR Woodhaven, NY 11421
(718) 296-2871

National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was created within the Department of Veterans Affairs to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America's veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders. Telephone: PTSD Information Line at (802) 296-6300 Website: www.ncptsd.va.gov.

New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) - If you or someone you know needs treatment for an alcohol or drug problem, it's important to remember that there are places to go for help, such as an OASAS certified treatment program, a health professional knowledgeable about addiction or your local council on alcoholism and other drug additions. For more information, call the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services: Telephone: (800) 522-5353 Website: www.oasas.ny.gov.

This Week's Not Commented on Topic The ongoing feud between Democrat Bob Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Republican Steve Buyer, ranking Republican and former chairman. They have been feuding since the 110th Congress convened in January when the Democrats took control. Representative Filner has a demonstrably pro-veteran agenda. Representative Buyer, whose Chairmanship was identified as not-veteran-friendly by many national veteran service organizations, appears to have taken an attitude; he has been reported saying: "Filner is just keeping MY Chair warm for me." Their feud recently took on a new intensity over an issue that pits pensions for Filipino veterans who fought with Americans in World War II against additional pension dollars for a group of elderly American wartime veterans made homebound by non-service connected disabilities.

"The thing that upsets me the most in regards to Mr. Filner is that he has no respect for other people's views or opinions. He is intolerant and he never follows the rules," said Buyer. Filner responded, "If he were fighting for veterans as much as he's fighting me, we'd all be better off." Adding, "He won't admit I'm the chairman... And he's just hurting veterans, as far as I can see." Evidence that personalities fuel their current dispute can be found in how the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee tackled this very same issue. It approved an identical Filipino veterans' provision using an identical funding source. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), the committee chairman, led the effort and former committee chairman Larry Craig (R-Idaho) chose not to criticize or even mention the provision in his own press release on the bill (S 1315).

My Comment Nevertheless And who really looses because of their feud... us veterans. So, what else is new. --- Regards, Walt Schmidt

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