Delores Barr Weaver Helps to Bridge the Gap With the Veterans Counseling Initiative at Five STAR Veterans Center
Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB) February 02, 2015 -- The Veterans Counseling Initiative has received a grant from the Delores Barr Weaver Fund at the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida in the amount of $352,000 to bridge the gap in access to mental health counseling for veterans residing at the Five STAR Veterans Center.
The initiative is a collaboration among the NBCC Foundation, the Five STAR Veterans Center and the University of North Florida’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The collaboration provides an in-house licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) who will provide mental health assessments and individual and group therapy for the residents of Five STAR. The LMHC, Trish Barton, is a specialist in providing treatment for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
Ms. Barton is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC). As a qualified clinical supervisor, she will be supervising counseling interns working at the center. The grant also provides for the funding of a mental health case manager who will assist veterans in referral services and assist them in their treatment plan.
The mission of the NBCC Foundation is leveraging the power of counseling by strategically focusing resources for positive change. The Foundation is an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). NBCC was a sponsor of the Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) Community Mental Health Study and continues to support the implementation phase of the project. “This initiative represents the mission of the NBCC Foundation as we strive to provide resources and collaborations that will bridge the gap in counseling services for those in the greatest need,” says Sherry Allen, executive director of the NBCC Foundation.
The Five STAR Veterans Center provides supportive housing and wraparound services to veterans aged 22 to 55 who have experienced homelessness, in order to assist them in their reintegration to the workforce and society. “This support is critical to our veterans who are struggling to regain their footing and live normal lives,” says Five STAR Executive Director Col. Len Loving. “We are grateful for Ms. Weaver’s continued confidence in and partnership with our mission.”
Now in its 51st year, the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is Florida’s oldest and largest community foundation. The Community Foundation works to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community by helping donors invest their philanthropic gifts wisely, helping nonprofits serve the region effectively, and helping people come together to make the community a better place. The Community Foundation has more than $300 million in assets and has made grants in excess of $278 million since 1964.
Dr. Greg C. Frazier, National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation, http://www.nbccf.org/, +1 (336) 232-0376, [email protected]
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