The Department of Veterans affairs announced Friday that it will establish new veterans centers in 28 communities across the country, including Washington County in Utah, next year.
"VA is committed to providing high-quality outreach and readjustment counseling to all combat veterans," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said.
The community-based vet centers — already in all 50 states — are a key component of the VA's mental health program, providing veterans with mental health screening and post-traumatic stress disorder counseling.
The existing 232 centers conduct community outreach to offer counseling on employment, family issues and education to veterans and family members, as well as bereavement counseling for families of service members killed on active duty and counseling for veterans who were sexually harassed on active duty.
The program was established in 1979 by Congress, recognizing that many Vietnam veterans were still having readjustment problems.
More information about can be found at www.vetcenter.va.gov/index.asp.