Laserfiche WebLink
(5) <br /> for those veterans in alleviating their stress symptomology. Basic <br /> trust is essential in any therapeutic relationship, without it no <br /> effective work can be accomplished." <br /> At a Vet Center, the troubled veteran can interrelate with people <br /> with acommon experience. Conversation about the time spent in Vietnam <br /> and about life since then is possible. The vet no longer feels alone <br /> and he redevelops interpersonal skills-- he is on the road to becoming <br /> a content member of the community. <br /> a) Specific NVA Needs: <br /> As stated on the first page, veteran rap groups sponsored by the <br /> Nam Vets Association are being held every week. These sessions serve <br /> as therapeutic encounters for many vets; however, the scope of this NVA <br /> program remains small. The facilitators have professional abilities, <br /> but are only volunteers who haven't the time to lead more than one <br /> weekly group. Also, the NVA's limited resources prevent it from per- <br /> forming outreach to involve the thousands of other Cape VEVs who would <br /> benefit from the rap groups. Lastly, the organization hasn't the time <br /> to provide individual counseling to crisis cases or to initiate rap <br /> groups for the mates of veterans. The need for a Vet Center on the Cape <br /> is real; the energy for one is strong; but the resources presently do <br /> not exist. <br /> The Nam Vets Association needs financial backing so it can operate <br /> a Vet Center and related programs that would specifically engage in <br /> the following functions: <br /> - Provide crisis counseling; ' <br /> - Expand the rap group program so that more sessions existed, including <br /> ones for the mates of veterans; <br /> - Perform outreach to involve all Cape and Island VEVs in need of NVA <br /> programs; <br /> - Serve as a focal point from which advocacy for veterans'rights could <br /> be performed; and from where campaigns to improve the image of the <br /> Vietnam veteran could be run. <br /> - Provide veterans in poverty situations with information on housing, <br /> health, energy, and food assistance; contact would be made with <br /> community veteran representatives; and <br /> - Provide information to veterans on employment opportunities, <br /> education, and V.A. benefits. <br />