DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Readjustment Counseling Sernce
155 S. Oak Park Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
From: Jeanne A. Douglas, PhD, Team Leader, Oak Park, IL Vet Center
To: Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs
Subject: Testimony pertaining to Oak Park, illinois Vet Center Operations
Panel,
My name is Dr. Jeanne Douglas, PhD, team leader ofthe Oak Park, illinois Vet Center. Thank
you for taking my testimony, I am honored to be here and provide testimony pertaining to the
operations of the Oak Park, illinois Vet Center.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, Readjustment Counseling Service (Vet Centers) was
established in 1979 under Public Law 96-22 to address the readjustment needs of Vietnam
veterans. Additional legislation extended program eligibility to veterans of other combat theaters,
and to veterans who experience sexual trauma as a result of their military service. Vet Centers are
traditionally located in communities to provide access to veterans in a setting that is as stress :tree
as possible. There are currently 207 Vet Centers in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The Oak Park, illinois Vet Center was opened in January of 1980 and offers services to veterans
who live on the Westside of Chicago and Cook county extending through the far western
communities in Kane, DeKalb and DuPage Counties. Our staff consists of five mental health
professionals including veterans :tromVietnam and Operation Desert Storm. Currently located at
155 South Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, illinois 60302, our Vet Center provides direct clinical
services to combat veterans and veterans who have experienced sexual trauma and harassment
during their time in the military. These clinical services may include individual, group, marital or
family therapy. In addition, we provide outreach to homeless veterans, employment assistance to
underemployed and unemployed veterans, referrals to veterans seeking disability, education for
community mental health professionals, pre-release planning for incarcerated veterans,
bereavement counseling for family members, and we are present at programs for returning OIF
veterans and their families. Our catchment area covers an array of ethnic and racial compositions,
and includes a wide variety of social economic conditions. It is our intent to understand the needs
of veterans :trom different backgrounds so our services reflect our efforts to engage our clients
with openness and sensitivity. Therefore, we have workea hard to become a part of a network of
agencies that reach veterans in our community, creating a continuum of care that provides
medical, dental, optical services; employment, legal, and housing assistance; benefits and
educational information and a full range of psychological and trauma counseling. We have
collaborative relationships with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefiis
Administration (VBA), County Health Departments, County Veterans Assistance offices, and
veteran's service organizationsto help us as we work to ensurea quality lifestyle for all returning
veterans.
In addition, there are four other Vet Centersin the ChicagoMetropolitanarea (Beverly,Evanston
and ChicagoHeights in Illinois;Merriville,Indiana). Thestaff at all five Vet Centerswork well
together planning city wide events such as the upcomingSupermarketof Veterans Services,
Standdowns,and various educationalopportunitiesfor our staff. We are ableto sharetasks when
we need representation at NationalGuard andReserveeventsor to providing a presenceat job
fairs, health fairs, or schoolprograms. This Vet Centerteam effort makesit possible for us to
direct veterans to the most convenientand appropriatefacilityto meet their needs.
Since the Oak Park Vet Center opened, we have served over 12,000 veterans and their families.
In fiscal year 2004, we provided over 4453 visits, and in fiscal year 2005, we have provided over
3612 veteran visits. We are actively serving service members who are returning ffom the Global
War on Terrorism and their families by providing briefings and materials upon their unit request.
Returning soldiers are briefed on programs provided by the Vet Center, and about the potential
impact of deployment on individuals and families. We provide monthly briefings to the 88thRRC
(Forest Park, IL), to General Jones Armory, to Northwest Armory, and to North Riverside
Armory. We also facilitate monthly support groups to family members of deployed service
members. Our collaboration with family support representatives ensures that the Oak Park Vet
Center is involved in addressing the readjustment needs of returning service members.
Again, thank you for taking mytestimony pertainingto the servicedelivery of the OakPark,
Illinois Vet Center.
Jeanne A. Douglas, PhD
Team Leader
"Keeping the Promise"