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> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> June 28, 2006
>
> **Secretary Nicholson Announces New Phoenix 'Vet Center'**
>
> ***VA Continues to Expand Mental Health Services for Veterans***
>
> WASHINGTON \-- Newly-returning veterans from the War on Terror will
> have greater access to readjustment counseling, Secretary of Veterans
> Affairs R. James Nicholson said today in announcing that VA will soon
> open a second "Vet Center" in Phoenix. Secretary Nicholson also
> announced that VA is moving the employment status of 50 additional
> Global War on Terror Outreach Specialists nationwide from temporary to
> permanent.
>
> "VA remains committed to treating the 'whole veteran,' and this new
> Vet Center will enhance Phoenix-area veterans' access to important
> mental health services," said Nicholson. "The permanent hiring of 50
> additional Global War on Terror Outreach Specialists -- who themselves
> are veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan -- is another important step in
> bolstering access and ensuring returning veterans get the treatment
> they need to overcome their common reactions to the uncommon
> experiences of combat."
>
> VA's Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) Vet Center program is a
> special program designed to help veterans exposed to the unique stress
> of serving in combat. The program features professional readjustment
> counseling for war trauma and other social readjustment problems,
> family readjustment counseling, and community-based services,
> including outreach, education, extensive case-management, and
> referral.
>
> VA has 207 community-based Vet Centers across the country. The centers
> are easily accessible and are staffed by small multi-disciplinary
> teams. In most cases combat theater veterans,, including Global War on
> Terror Outreach Specialists, serve as counselors.
>
> The search for a location for the new Phoenix Vet Center, which will
> open later this year or in early-2007, is now underway. Once opened,
> the Vet Center will be staffed by a team leader, two counselors, and
> an office manager. The new location will help serve the more 315,000
> veterans in the Phoenix area. VA already operates a Vet Center at 77
> East Weldon, Suite 100, in Phoenix.
>
> "Vet Centers are a vital part of VA's mission of serving the men and
> women who have borne the battle," said Dr. Jonathan Perlin, VA Under
> Secretary for Health. "The additional center will ensure that we
> provide veterans in the Phoenix area with the counseling services they
> need when they need them."
>
> The 50 newly-permanent Global War on Terrorism Outreach Specialists
> join 50 others who were hired by VA as full-time employees earlier
> this year. The specialists, one of whom is stationed in Phoenix,
> augment other VA staff at the Vet Centers. Nationwide, they are now
> averaging more than 13,000 outreach contacts each month with returning
> Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans and
> their families.
>
> Last year, the Vet Centers had 1,046,628 visits by 132,853 veterans
> and their families. This represents an increase of 9,477 veterans and
> 14,863 veteran visits from the previous year.
>
> Last year, VA spent more than \$1.5 billion to serve the state's
> 550,000 veterans. More than 115,000 Arizona veterans received health
> care from VA last year, while 120,000 obtained disability compensation
> or VA pensions. VA runs major hospitals in Phoenix, Prescott and
> Tucson, plus 15 outpatient clinics, three nursing homes and three Vet
> Centers.

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