Veterans centers expand in Morris, Warren counties as officials in NJ seek more

The U.S. Veterans Administration has opened a service center in Morris County and will soon add an outreach office in Warren County, bringing VA services closer to those who served and are now living in northwestern New Jersey.

Morris County's Veterans Center Community Access Point is located at 540 West Morris Ave. in Morris Township, in office space provided by the Morris County commissioners. The Vet Center Outstation in Warren County will be in Hackettstown, but a location and opening date have not yet been selected.

The offices were announced at a news conference last week held by federal, state and county officials, where U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, said they were trying to address a "critical gap" of services for veterans in the area. “After countless letter writing campaigns, many meetings with VA officials, and tireless community outreach, today’s announcement ... is a step in the right direction towards ensuring our veterans – and their family members – have access to the care they need," said Sherrill, a former Navy pilot, according to a statement posted on the Morris County website.

Services for veterans in Morris, Hackettstown

A Vet Center Community Access Point is a satellite location of the VA, typically established in donated spaces in conjunction with community organizations to provide readjustment counseling services to eligible veterans, service members and their families. The Morris Board of County Commissioners agreed to provide two rooms at the county's Veteran Services Office, according to the statement.

The county has recently doubled its space for veterans services and added a fourth veterans service officer and an intern this year, added Commissioner John Krickus, a Marine Corps veteran.

The outstation in Hackettstown will be administered by the Bloomfield Vet Center. Outstations are posts where at least one counselor is located to provide closer-to-home care in communities that are far from full Vet Centers.

Also attending the ceremony were VA Undersecretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, and U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-7.

Is full Vet Center for northwest NJ next?

Kean said, "This is a good step in the right direction, but more still needs to be done. I look forward to continuing to work with my New Jersey colleagues to bring a much-needed Vet Center to Northwest New Jersey." Veterans Centers provide a range of services to veterans and their families, including mental health counseling for combat veterans and those who suffered military sexual assault as well as bereavement services to families of servicemembers who die on duty. Sherrill also said she was pushing for a full-service Vet Center for the area.

Harry Kaplan, commander of American Legion Post 86 in Newton, said he was "very happy to hear about the vet centers, they have been sorely needed for a long time."

However, he said there is need for one in Sussex County as well. "PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a serious issue as well as the suicide rates and it has to be addressed ASAP," Kaplan said in an interview.

He said local veterans groups will continue to work for a permanent vet center in the county.

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This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Morris and Warren counties get new veterans center, office