Additions to Fleet Will Expand Veterans’ Access to VA Services Across U.S.

Early this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs deployed 20 additional Mobile Vet Centers.

The mobile Vet centers will increase access to readjustment counseling services for Veterans and their families in rural and underserved communities across the country.

The 20 new vehicles will be used in destinations across the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. (List below)

“In fiscal year 2011, Mobile Vet Centers participated in more than 3,600 federal, state and locally sponsored Veteran-related events.”

These customized vehicles – which are equipped with confidential counseling space and a state of the art communication package—travel to communities to extend VA’s reach to Veterans, servicemembers and their families, especially those living in rural or remote communities.

The vehicles also serve as part of the VA emergency response program.

The 20 new, American-made vehicles will expand the existing fleet of 50 Mobile Vet Centers already in service providing outreach and counseling services.

Mobile Vet units are equipped as “offices on wheels,” with the capacity to provide emergency support for natural disasters. Each motor coach houses a satellite dish that connects to communications and audio-visual equipment, six phone lines, a fax line, notebook computers, four encrypted computer lines and a wireless network.

In fiscal year 2011, Mobile Vet Centers participated in more than 3,600 federal, state and locally sponsored Veteran-related events.

VA has 300 permanent Vet Centers serving communities across the country, offering:

• Individual and group counseling for Veterans and their families
• Family counseling for military related issues
• Bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death
• Military sexual trauma counseling and referral
• Outreach and education
• Substance abuse assessment and referral
• Employment assessment and referral
• VA benefits explanation and referral
• Screening and referral for medical issues including traumatic brain injury and depression.

The 20 new mobile Vet Centers will be based at:

• Birmingham, Ala.
• San Diego, Calif.
• Atlanta, Ga.
• Western Oahu, Hawaii
• Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Evanston, Ill.
• Indianapolis, Ind.
• Baltimore, Md.
• Pontiac, Mich.
• Kansas City, Mo.
• Jackson, Miss.
• Greensboro, N.C.
• Lakewood, N.J.
• Reno, Nev.
• Stark County, Ohio
• Lawton, Okla.
• Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Nashville, Tenn.
• Washington County, Utah
• Green Bay, Wis.

Coming Next: 230 Emergency Shuttle Vehicles

VA will also add 230 emergency shuttle vehicles over the next five years. The shuttles will provide routine transportation for Veteran patients in and around various metropolitan areas during normal operations. During disasters and emergencies, these shuttles can double as mobile clinics to evacuate patients and their care teams.

More than 190,000 Veterans and families made over 1.3 million visits to VA Vet Centers in fiscal year 2011.

To find out more about Vet Center services or find a Vet Center in your area, go to the Vet Centers web site.