Lt. Governor Highlights Victories for Veterans During the 2008 Legislative Session Following Tour of Charlotte Hall Vets Home
CHARLOTTE HALL, MD – Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown touted several legislative victories for military veterans following a tour of Charlotte Hall, a state-run veterans health care facility located in Southern Maryland.
Brown was a key force in passing legislation to establish a new $2.8 million program that will provide mental and behavioral health services to Iraq and Afghan veterans, especially in rural areas. The program will be administered by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The program will eliminate gaps in services by providing crisis intervention, case management, improved outreach and direct health-related services to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Brown will chair a Veterans Behavioral Health Advisory Board and will work with a coalition of stakeholders to identify the gaps in behavioral health services for veterans and their families.
“Many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are returning with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder which contributes to mounting human and social tragedies: unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse and divorce,” said Brown.
Brown also highlighted $800,000 approved in the state’s budget to enhance veterans reintegration programs to help them adjust back to their communities from combat zones. In addition, the state will provide $150,000 to eliminate the wait-list for the Iraq and Afghan scholarship program.
Other legislative victories include greater support for veteran- and disable veteran-owned business; and unemployment insurance eligibly for spouses of military employees required to relocate to other states.
Brown was joined by several veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
During the press conference, Forestville VFW Post Commander Bob Lambert presented a ceremonial check in recognition of a $69,000 contribution to Charlotte Hall and a $69,000 contribution to Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery. The VFW plans to close its doors.
Charlotte Hall Veterans Home is a State of Maryland long term healthcare facility, located on 126 acres St. Mary’s County. The Home opened in 1985 and has 504 beds. The Home offers two basic programs of care: Assisted Living (226 beds), and Comprehensive Nursing Home Care (278 beds), including a 42-bed Alzheimer’s unit. Clinical care and healthcare management at the Home are provided by a private contractor.
The home is a program of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. Lt. Governor Brown is a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. In 2005, Brown served a tour of duty in Iraq.
The home is a program of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs.
