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The Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island, a project of the Mental Health Association of Nassau County, is comprised of over 80 mental health and substance abuse providers, representatives from county, state and federal government, the VA, VET Centers, veterans organizations, elected officials and other stakeholders. The mission of the Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island is to: Promote the health and well-being of Long Island veterans and their families through advocacy, and a broad array of services.
STATISTICS: There are a little less than 1,000,000 veterans who live in New York State, and approximately 152,000 of them live on Long Island. In fact Long Island is second only to San Diego in the percentage of veterans among its citizens.
ORGANIZATION: The Alliance meets bi-monthly and also has 3 Workgroups:
PROGRAM AND TRAINING: The Program and Training Workgroup is chaired by Gaylene Pandolfo of the New York State Office of Mental Health Long Island Field Office. The workgroup helps to educate mental health providers about the military culture, and about new approaches to recovery from combat related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It has also worked with National Guard Family Readiness Groups regarding deployment and post-deployment issues. The alliance has also offered workshops for law enforcement officials and other social service workers.
OUTREACH: The Veterans Health Alliance seeks to outreach veterans and their family members to educate them about the availability of veterans benefits and services. The Alliance has provided informational literature to veterans, family members and other stakeholders. These events include: “Stand Downs”, Veterans Benefits and Job Fairs, the development of “Veteran Friendly Campuses, and through direct mail.
ADVOCACY: VHALI has met with elected officials on a county, state and federal level to advocate for veterans programming and funding.
VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE OF LONG ISLAND (as of 3/29/11)
The following have collaborated with the Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island in efforts to promote the health and well-being of Long Island veterans.
Ø Adelphi University
Ø Assemblyman Charles Lavine
Ø Assemblyman David McDonough
Ø Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel
Ø Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg
Ø Babylon VET Center
Ø Brain Trauma Foundation
Ø Catholic Charities
Ø Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling
Ø Clubhouse of Suffolk
Ø Congressman Tim Bishop
Ø Congressman Steve Israel
Ø Congressman Peter King
Ø Dr. David Curtis
Ø Faithful Response
Ø Family and Children’s Association
Ø Family Residences and Essential Enterprises
Ø Family Service League
Ø Family of John “Red” Pelan
Ø Federation of Organizations
Ø FEGS
Ø Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York
Ø Hispanic Counseling Center
Ø Hofstra University
Ø Holliswood Hospital
Ø Interfaith Nutrition Network
Ø Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Ø Long Beach Medical Center
Ø Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Food Bank
Ø Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Ø Long Island State Veterans Home
Ø Melillo Center
Ø Mental Health Association of Nassau County
Ø Mental Health Association of New York City
Ø Mental Health Association of New York State
Ø Mental Health Association of San Diego
Ø Mental Health Association of Suffolk County
Ø Mercy Medical Center
Ø NAMI Queens – Nassau
Ø Nassau Community College
Ø Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disabilities Services
Ø Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth
Ø Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg
Ø Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne
Ø Nassau County Legislator Norma Gonsalves
Ø Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink
Ø Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro
Ø Nassau County VET Center
Ø Nassau County Veterans Service Agency
Ø Nassau University Medical Center
Ø New Ground Case Management
Ø New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Long Island Field Office
Ø New York State Office of Mental Health Long Island Field Office
Ø New York State Small Business Development Center Business Outreach Center (Farmingdale State College)
Ø North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center
Ø Outreach Training Institute
Ø Pal-O-Mine Equestrian Inc.
Ø Pederson-Krag
Ø Peninsula Counseling Center
Ø Phoenix House
Ø Quality Consortium of Suffolk County
Ø Rebuilding Together Long Island
Ø Rosen Family Wellness Center at North Shore – Long Island Jewish Hospital
Ø Senator John Flanagan
Ø Senator Kemp Hannon
Ø Senator Charles Schumer
Ø Skills Unlimited
Ø South Nassau Communities Hospital
Ø South Oaks Hospital – Broadlawn Manor
Ø South Shore Association for Independent Living
Ø Suffolk County Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services
Ø Suffolk County Legislator Steven Stern
Ø Suffolk County United Veterans
Ø Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency
Ø The Soldiers Project
Ø Town of Oyster Bay Veterans Service Agency
Ø United Veterans Beacon House
Ø USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Ø VA Medical Center, Northport
Ø Veteran Anglers of New York
Ø Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk County
Ø Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #82
Ø Vietnam Veterans of America New York State Council
Ø YES Community Counseling Center
Ø Yoga for Vets
Ø YMCA Family Services
Ø 1-800-flowers.com
The Mental Health Association of Nassau County and the Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island thank the New York State Health Foundation for their funding of this project.
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