Veterans' Center Opens Satellite Office In New City

NEW CITY, Ny — A satellite center for veterans is now open at Clarkstown Town Hall. This is a part-time outreach program of the White Plains Vet Center that is focused on counseling services.

“This is a much-needed compliment to services provided by the VA medical clinic, also in New City," said Susan Branam, Director of the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency. "The Vet Center specializes in treatment of our most vulnerable vets, those that served in combat or have MST (military sexual trauma), allowing those individuals to access mental health counseling, free of charge, regardless of character of discharge or enrollment in VA healthcare. There is such a need in Rockland County and it is a great service for our veterans."

Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, County Executive Ed Day, leaders of the veteran community and other officials announced the opening of the center at a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 17.

The vet center program started 40 years ago, in an effort to meet the needs of veterans returning home from combat. The White Plains Vet Center is one of the original centers from the 1979 pilot program.

It serves veterans and their families from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam. Now it has two community access points (part-time satellite offices) in Brewster, NY (serving Putnam County) and Clarkstown, NY (serving Rockland County).

“Dedicated Vet Center staff, many of them veterans, provide the best in professional readjustment and counseling services for our brave veterans and their families,” said Lowey. “That’s why I’m so proud Community Access Points, like the new Center here in Clarkstown, are serving area veterans and providing essential community-based care.”

Vet Centers and Mobile Vet Centers provide community-based counseling for a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling, outreach, and referral to care. These services are available to eligible veterans, active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families.

Vet Center services are free and records are kept strictly confidential and separate from the VA and DOD.

“Having access to these free services available in Clarkstown is a great step forward in providing for our veterans' mental well-being. I thank those locally and on the Federal level for their support of this program. It is only by working together that we can begin to have an impact on the nearly 21 veterans and service members who die by suicide every day,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

Clients are seen by appointment only. Please call the White Plains Vet Center at 914-682-6250 for appointments or for more information.

“We are proud to welcome the Satellite Vet Center to Clarkstown, offering veterans in Clarkstown and Rockland County a local place to get the counseling services they may need,” said Supervisor George Hoehmann.