Slaughter Calls for Expansion of VA Clinic
Rochester, N.Y. - Congresswoman Louise Slaughter is calling for more resources for acute psychiatric care for veterans in the Rochester area. Slaughter said Wednesday local veterans should not be forced to seek treatment far away from home and family. The greater Rochester area is home to approximately 70,000 veterans, about one out of every fifteen residents. "I do not believe veterans should have to seek mental health care services so far from their families and home communities, especially at a time of significant stress and adversity," Rep. Slaughter wrote in her letter to the VA."After a decade at war and given the increasing rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury seen in returning service members, it is more important than ever that the VA focus its resources and efforts to address the mental health needs of our veterans."
In addition to calling for more resources at the Canandaigua facility, Slaughter is also asking the VA to ensure that plans for a new $16 million, 84,000-square-foot VA Outpatient Clinic scheduled to be constructed in the district will specifically consider the need for acute psychiatric care.
Slaughter joined Veterans Outreach Center Executive Director Todd Baxter on Wednesday to promote an upcoming job expo for area veterans.
Baxter echoed Rep. Slaughter's call for more resources. "We support and welcome the expansion of VA services to our veteran community in Rochester," said Todd Baxter, Executive Director of the VOC.
"Our Center has proudly been a service partner working with the VA for decades to provide adjunctive therapies to those who qualify for their services, and acting as primary mental health care provider to many who do not," said Baxter.
Improving access to the quality healthcare the VA can provide is a win for the entire region, and can help many more veterans find the supportive programs like ours that are available to them outside of the federal system. The VOCs upcoming job expo for veterans to be held on October 8. The 14th annual VOC job expo will feature over 100 employers, and will give area vets an opportunity to showcase their skills and meet with prospective employers.
In addition to employment assistance and job training, the VOC offers benefits counseling; housing and temporary financial assistance; wellness and creative arts therapy; legal and financial counseling; residential and substance abuse services; and veteran-to-veteran mentoring for the area's 70,000 veterans