50 Motor Coaches to Bring Services Closer to Veterans

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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.

Note: A list of the cities where the 50 vehicles will be based is below.

    Home Bases of Planned Vet Center Vehicles

    Alabama                     Louisiana
     - Birmingham                - New Orleans

    Arizona                     Maine
     - Chinle                    - Caribou
     - Prescott                  - Lewiston

    Arkansas                    Massachusetts
     - Fayetteville              - Springfield

    California                  Michigan
     - Corona                    - Escanaba
     - Fresno
     - Santa Cruz               Minnesota
     - Eureka                    - St. Paul

    Colorado                    Montana
     - Colorado Springs          - Missoula
                                 - Billings
    Florida
     - Pensacola                Nebraska
                                 - Lincoln
    Georgia
     - Savannah                 New Mexico
     - Macon                     - Santa Fe
                                 - Las Cruces
    Idaho
     - Boise                    New York
                                 - Watertown
    Kansas
     - Wichita                  North Carolina
                                 - Greenville
    Kentucky
     - Lexington                North Dakota
                                 - Minot
    Illinois                     - Fargo
     - Springfield
                                Ohio
                                 - Dayton
    Oregon
     - Eugene                   Utah
                                 - Salt Lake
    Pennsylvania
     - Erie                     Vermont
     - Scranton                  - White River Junction

    South Carolina              Virginia
     - Columbia                  - Richmond

    South Dakota                Washington
     - Rapid City                - Spokane
                                 - Tacoma
    Tennessee
     - Johnson City             West Virginia
     - Memphis                   - Morgantown
                                 - Beckley
    Texas
     - Amarillo                 Wyoming
     - Midland                   - Casper
     - San Antonio

SOURCE U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs