Morris County Launches Veteran & Family Counseling Service

Morris County has announced three new programs focused on supporting former military service members in our county.

The Veteran and Family Support Program, under contract with the Mental Health Association (MHA), assists veterans in re-establishing themselves with their families and in the community after returning home from active duty.

The Veteran and Family Support Program (VFS) provides free psychotherapy services to veterans, as well as counseling and support for their families and friends. 

MHA describes the program as “a holistic approach to help veterans reunify with family as the returning service members simultaneously deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological barriers to readjusting to civilian life.”

The VFS program also includes referral components that link veterans to employment, finance, and other services to assist in readjustment post-service.

“We began these programs out of respect for our returning service members and the difficulties they and their families face after they come back from a conflict to pick up their lives again. Sometimes they need to talk to other veterans who faced the same difficulties re-entering our society. Some may find they need professional counseling, and their families may realize they too need some guidance in how to interact with a loved-one returning home from combat. As we said, Morris County wants to be here for our veterans, not only on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but always,” said Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus, a Marine Corps veteran.

The VFS program is one of three launched by the Morris County Board of Community Commissioners through the Morris County Department of Human Services to assist returning veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. However, the programs are open to all veterans.

“MHA is proud to stand with Morris County’s veterans; they are the best of us. Trauma is real and impacts all of us, and veterans despite their bravery are still human. And we all need help from time to time. The veterans were there for us, and we will be there for them,” said MHA CEO Robert Davison.

The initiative behind these three programs was unanimously approved by the County Commissioners late last year and is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. The other programs launched include, “Peer to Peer Support Counseling” to facilitate veterans being counseled by fellow veterans who shared similar experiences, and “Veteran Roundtables & Events” designed to bring veterans together in social settings.

All of the programs are overseen by Morris County’s Veterans Services Office.

Veterans interested in this and other services provided through Morris County may check with the Morris County Veterans Services Office website.

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