US Department of Veterans Affairs Meets Goal Of Hiring 800 Mental Health Counselors

Circle Connections: Policy & Regulatory Updates The Veterans Affairs Department has met a goal mandated by President Obama to hire 800 veteran peer-to-peer counselors, announcing Tuesday it has exceeded the mandate by 15 employees. According to a VA news release, the department has hired 815 new peer specialists and apprentices to help veterans struggling with mental health issues. The announcement comes four months after VA completed hiring 1,600 additional mental health providers, meeting a goal it set in April 2012. In August 2012, Obama signed an executive order designed to improve access for veterans to behavioral health . . .