Letter to the Hon. Robert Wilkie, Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs - Minnesota House Delegation sends letter to VA for improved rural access to Readjustment Counseling Services

Letter

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We write to highlight the importance of the Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) to Minnesota Veterans, military personnel, and their families, and to ask for your support in increasing the level of services available in greater Minnesota.

The Readjustment Counseling Service helps Veterans, Servicemembers, National Guard and Reserve personnel, and their families readapt to life both during and after military service by providing services including readjustment, family, bereavement, and military sexual trauma counseling. RCS also offers mental health and substance abuse counseling and referrals, as well as referrals for benefits assistance. These services may be provided through a Vet Center, Outstation, Community Access Point, or Mobile Vet Center, depending on the needs of the community.

We are concerned that the available mental health counseling services in greater Minnesota are insufficient to meet the needs of our Veterans. Currently Minnesota has only three Vet Centers -- two in the Twin Cities Metro area and one in Duluth -- to serve the entire state.

In 2017, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs released the "Minnesota Veterans Behavioral Health Needs Assessment," as mandated by the State legislature. The study concluded that there is a statewide shortage in behavioral health providers and made several recommendations related to increasing availability of mental and chemical health services for Veterans in rural areas and reducing stigma and other barriers.

We ask for your continued support as we move forward and work with local communities and stakeholders, including Veteran Service Officers, to determine the areas of greatest need and bring more Readjustment Counseling Services to greater Minnesota. Thank you for your assistance in this very important matter.