Utah is left off of list for new VA centers

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jul 10, 2008

Utah was not among 39 communities that were listed Wednesday as those receiving new veteran centers.

"What can we do to get more vet centers for Utah?" Utah VA executive director Terry Schow asked in an e-mail. "We don't seem to be on the VA's radar list on this issue."

The new community-based centers will cater to combat veterans who need readjustment counseling and other assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

There are currently 232 centers, spread among 50 states, that conduct community outreach and offer counseling on employment and family issues. The centers are using combat veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to brief servicemen and women leaving the military about VA benefits.