Vet Center Scholarship program first graduates

Vet Centers offer a variety of counseling services to help Veterans, service members and their families make a successful transition from military to civilian life or heal after a traumatic event experienced in the military.

To fill much-needed counselor positions in locations across the country, VA launched the Vet Center Scholarship Program. The program recently celebrated its first graduates who will soon begin their tenure at their assigned Vet Centers.

About the program

The Vet Center Scholarship Program supports individuals pursuing accredited graduate degree programs to become a social worker, doctoral-level psychologist, licensed professional mental health counselor, or marriage and family therapist. VA will cover up to two years of graduate studies for individuals pursuing these degrees and recipients will then serve full-time for six years at one of 303 Vet Centers.

Recipients sign a mobility agreement where they agree to be relocated, if necessary, based on critical vacancies. Please visit this webpage for eligibility requirements and more information.

Scholarship recipients look forward to serving Veterans

Several recipients are Veterans or from families with a history of military service. Bill Duffy looks forward to using his marriage and family therapy degree to serve fellow Veterans and break the stigma: “I want to work with Veterans and service members because I believe I can be relatable. On an individual session level, I look forward to validating hurting people. On a military, cultural or community level, I am eager to work to break the stigma that asking for help equals weakness.”  [Editor: The word choice/phrasing in the direct quote in this paragraph could more accurately reflect that Duffy looks forward to “validating (the feelings/emotions/experiences of) people who are hurting.”]

Madison Feser, who will soon begin her tenure at the Manchester (NH) Vet Center, is thrilled about this opportunity for many reasons: “Not only does serving as a Vet Center counselor fill much-needed gaps in mental health care for Veterans, but it also offers counselors the personal safety and security of general schedule pay and benefits.”

Taylor Crawford, the daughter of two Veterans, is eager to continue her work with those experiencing symptoms of military sexual trauma: “My mother informed me of this program so that I could graduate without student loans. The program also offers the opportunity for clinically rich opportunities in the mental health sector.”

For those concerned about licensure, Feser recommends that applicants read ‘Health Care Professionals’ Practice in VA,’ a ruling that allows an individual to work with VA in any state, regardless of where they hold licensure. “This was such a relief. I didn’t have to transfer my license or apply for certification in another state.” 

About Vet Centers

Vet Centers offer a variety of counseling services to help Veterans, service members and their families make a successful transition from military to civilian life or heal after a traumatic event experienced in the military. Individual, group, marriage and family counseling are offered in addition to referrals and connections to other VA or community benefits and services.

There are 303 Vet Centers, numerous satellite locations and 84 Mobile Vet Centers offering services in all 50 states and U.S. territories.