ADOPTED - OCTOBER 22, 2002

AGENDA ITEM NO. 14

Introduced by the Human Services Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE GRAND RAPIDS VET CENTER FOR THEIR SERVICES TO INGHAM COUNTY VETERANS

RESOLUTION #02-255

WHEREAS, Ingham County Government is committed to assuring the provision of services most important to its citizens; and

WHEREAS, Ingham County Government has resolved to provide ongoing services which are focused on assuring its citizens of accessible health care; and

WHEREAS, Ingham County veterans have specific needs for mental health services related to war time trauma; and

WHEREAS, the Vet Center Program was established by Congress in 1979 out of the recognition that a significant number of Vietnam era veterans were still experiencing readjustment problems; and

WHEREAS, the goal of the Vet Center program is to provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services to eligible veterans in order to help them make a satisfying postwar readjustment to civilian life; and

WHEREAS, the Vet Center from Grand Rapids, Michigan provides Ingham County veterans with access to mental health services locally four days a week; and

WHEREAS, Ingham County veterans receiving these services are mostly categorized as being under insured or uninsured; and

WHEREAS, the clientele requesting Vet Center services in Ingham County has risen over 100% since 1999; and

WHEREAS, as a result of these cost free services, the quality of life for many Ingham County veterans and their families has significantly increased.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners expresses their gratitude toward the Vet Center for their dedication in providing local war time veterans with access to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder counseling.

HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE: Yeas: Hertel, Dedden, Lynch, Celentino, Severino

Nays: None Absent: None Approved 10/21/02