Congress established Vet Centers in 1979 because a significant number of Vietnam combat and era veterans were not accessing VA services at the same levels as Korean and World War II veterans.
Over the past 40 years, veterans have used Vet Centers as a place for assistance as well as camaraderie.
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers. They provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling. Eligible veterans, active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families can use the services.
Vet Center staff offers readjustment counseling to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military. Staff offer individual, group, marriage and family counseling in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services.
Vet Center counselors and outreach staff are many times veterans themselves. Experienced staff can discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief and transition after trauma.
One of the main benefits at Vet Centers is confidential readjustment counseling services. Clients can receive confidential readjustment counseling services at 300 Vet Centers, 80 mobile Vet Centers, numerous outstations and community access points as well as 24/7 through the Vet Center Call Center. More than 2,000 staff are ready to assist eligible Veterans, active duty service members and their families with a wide range of services, ranging from socioeconomic concerns to dealing with the trauma associated with war, sexual assault and psychological injury.
The Erie Vet Center is located at 240 West 11th St., Suite 105, in Erie. The main phone number is (814) 453-7955. They have outreach meetings all throughout the region. Give them a call on how to get enrolled.
Reminder
If you are a veteran and you go to a local Emergency Department or are admitted to a community hospital for care, you must notify the Erie VA within 72 hours. The Erie VA Care in the Community number is (814) 860-2320 and is available 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. After 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, call (814) 868-8661 and ask for the Medical Administration Assistant. Note: This is for veterans that are enrolled in the Erie VA. VA payment is not guaranteed.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
