Licensed professional counselors and VA outreach specialists were sent to Dallas to provide support following last week’s shootings.
On July 8, VA deployed two Mobile Vet Centers from Lawton, Oklahoma, and Abilene, Texas, to downtown Dallas to provide free counseling services to Veterans, police officers and community members impacted by the tragedy of Thursday night’s shootings. Licensed professional counselors and VA outreach specialists are on site to provide support to those in need.
By Monday morning, VA counselors had spoken with nearly 130 Veterans, a number of family members and more than 700 community members. Today, the Mobile Vet Centers (MVCs) are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1400 South Lamar Street at the site of the police station memorial.
UPDATE: On July 12, two Mobile Vet Centers will be located in Dallas, Texas: one will be stationed at 1400 South Lamar (Police Station Memorial Site) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the other will be located at 2401 Flora Street beginning at 9a.m. through a time to be determined.
“Part of the VA Vet Center’s focus is to provide counseling and outreach during times of tragedy,” said Greg Burt, director of VA’s readjustment counseling service in Dallas. “We came to Dallas with two MVCs on Friday, and will stay as long as needed. The need has been great and we are grateful to provide free counseling services to Veterans, police officers, first responders and citizens affected by the tragedy of last week’s shootings.”
The MVCs are 38-foot community outreach vehicles equipped with two confidential counseling rooms where Vet Center counselors can meet privately to provide support to those in need. VA personnel are on hand to provide crisis counseling and benefits referral.
VA operates 80 Mobile Vet Centers nationwide to enhance all three primary Vet Center functions of outreach, direct service delivery and referral. Just last month, VA’s mobile Vet Centers deployed to Orlando in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting incident.
Vet Center staff respect the privacy of all clients. No information will be communicated to any person or agency without written consent, except in necessary circumstances to avert a crisis. For further information contact www.vetcenter.va.gov.
VA Mobile Vet Center team members speak with community members in downtown Dallas.
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I just recently started working for the VA here at the regional office in Philadelphia.. I am very interested in woking with veterans just like you do. I find it very hard to find available positions where I can work directly with vets. I am a vet. I have completed vocational rehabilitation and have a great deal of self taught information about veteran benifits. What can I do? I certainly do not mind travel, I can relocate and I am ready to go.Can you help?