Commission on Veterans Affairs 2014 Annual Report Page 15
A
NNUAL
M
EETING
WITH
C
OUNTY
E
XECUTIVE
BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS (BCCS)
Annual Meetings with the County Executive 2016
ATTENDANCE AND ISSUE SUBMISSION FORM
Annual Meeting Date: Tuesday, Mar ch 29, 2016
BCC Name: Commission on Veterans Affair s (CVA)
BCC Members and Staff who Plan to Attend (Please indicate if Chair or Vice Chair ):
Dan Bullis, Chair; Randy Stone, Vice-Chair
Issue to be Addressed by the County Executive: (Optional)
CVA will address the need to promote the CVA’s purpose: to advocate for the more than 44,000 Montgomery
County veterans and their families. The CVA stands ready to recognize our County veterans and their families for
their service and provide them with information about available assistance and resources. We also stand ready to
help our fellow Boards, Committees and Commissions (BCC) as they interact with County veterans and give our
fellow BCC guidance about how best to support our County veterans and their families.
CVA seeks to increase access in the County to health and mental health care for veterans. The County and its
contractors need to encourage veterans and their families to enroll in the VA health care system. One option is to
post information on County Ride On buses as to how to enroll. CVA further supports efforts to create a veterans
treatment docket within the mental health or behavioral health court to guide veterans in the criminal justice
system to more successful, long-term solutions.
Question to be Addressed by the County Executive: (Optional)
Question #1: What is the status of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Montgomery County?
Question #2: How will the County commemorate the 50
th
anniversary of the end of Vietnam?
Question #3: What efforts are underway to end veteran homelessness?
Commission on Veterans Affairs 2014 Annual Report Page 16
VA S
ILVER
S
PRING
V
ET
C
ENTER
S
ERVICES
Readjustment Counseling Services
After war, some veterans experience psychological and social
distress and difficulties in readjusting to civilian life. In 1979, the
Department of Veterans Affairs established Vet Centers to assist
Vietnam-era veterans with such problems. Congress later expanded
Vet Center services to include combat veterans of other conflicts.
These services are available at Vet Centers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico,
the US Virgin Islands and Guam.
Services Available
Individual counseling
Marital and family counseling
VA benefits assistance and referral
Substance abuse counseling and referrals
Primary health care for basic medical needs
Pre-employment assistance and employment counseling
Discharge upgrade information
Community, social service and medical referrals
Sexual trauma / harassment counseling (veterans of all eras)
The Vet Center also has a network of federal, state, city and community
resources to help you. We will try to address any concerns or problems
you bring to us.
At the Vet Center, you can expect help from professional counselors
who will treat you with respect and understanding. Many of the
counselors are also war veterans, so they understand your problems
first hand, and have the training and skills to help solve them.
There is no charge for the assistance you receive at the Vet Center
because of your sacrifices and efforts for this country. Veterans
applying for assistance are asked to bring a copy of their Military
Separation or Military Discharge (DD214) with them. As of September
2016 VA Vet Centers are now able to provide readjustment counseling
to Veterans with dishonorable discharges.
Eligibility
War Zone Veterans - All Eras Including:
WWII
Three eligible categories
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
(7 Dec 1941 to 8 Nov 1945)
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
(7 Dec 1941 to 2 Mar 1946)
American Campaign Medal
(7 Dec 1941 to 2 Mar 1946)
American Merchant Marines in
Oceangoing Service
7 Dec 1941 to 15 August 1945
Korea
27 June 1950 to 27 July 1954
(eligible for the Korean Service Medal)
Vietnam
28 Feb 1961 to 1 May 1975
Lebanon
25 Aug 1982 to 26 Feb 1984
Grenada
23 Oct 1983 to 21 Nov 1983
Panama
20 Dec 1989 to 31 Jan 1990
Persian Gulf
2 Aug 1990 to -
Somalia
17 Sept 1992 to -
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Albania
(former Yugoslavia operations)
Global War on Terrorism/OIF/OEF/OND
11 Sept 2001 -
Location and Hours of Operation
2900 Linden Lane, Suite 100
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-589-1073 (V)
Monday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Second Saturday every month: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Bereavement Counseling for
Surviving Family Members
202-461-6530 (V)
Vet Center Combat Call Center
1-877-WAR-VETS (927-8387)
National Suicide Hot Line
1-800-273-8255 (Toll Free)