TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama School of Social Work is partnering with the Birmingham Vet Center to provide services and support for student veterans in Tuscaloosa every Friday at the Canterbury Episcopal Chapel.
As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Vet Centers are located across the country to provide community-based services that welcome home war veterans and assist them and their families in successful readjustment to community life.
“The Birmingham Vet Center’s wide range of services makes it the best option available to student veterans,” says Dr. Jo Pryce, UA associate professor of social work who specializes in issues affecting veterans of military service.
The Vet Center provides individual and group counseling for veterans and their families, family counseling for military related issues, bereavement counseling for families who experience active duty death and military sexual trauma counseling and referral.The Vet Center also provides outreach and education, employment assessment and referral, VA benefits explanation and referral, and screening for medical issues such as depression and traumatic brain injury.
Veterans who wish to seek these services can visit the Canterbury Chapel, located off University Boulevard at 812 5th Ave., on Fridays throughout the summer and fall. Vet Center counselor Natalie Williams will be on hand Fridays and will also be available for individual appointments.
There is no charge for the service.
Along with the School of Social Work and the VA, the UA Women’s Resource Center has also helped in making these services available to student veterans. “The WRC is pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with social worker Natalie Williams of the Birmingham Vet Center to reach out to our student veterans,” says Elle Shaaban-Magana, WRC director.
“Our goal is to have these students know that the entire University is doing everything they can to ensure the support and services they need are made available,” adds Pryce.
The Friday service in Tuscaloosa is also open to veterans living in the West Alabama area.
For more information, contact Pryce at 205/348-5405, jpryce@sw.ua.edu or Williams at 205/212-3122.
Contact
Casey O’Rear or Linda Hill, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu
Source
Dr. Jo Pryce, UA School of Social Work 205/348-5405 jpryce@sw.ua.edu