CARIBOU — Aroostook Mental Health Center officials announced on Nov. 15 that the Maine VA Healthcare System has exercised its contract option for a third year of mental health services delivery through its Operation Outreach service for eligible Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn OEF/OIF/OND veterans who are enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration and who live closer to an AMHC service site then to a VA medical center or a community-based outpatient clinic.
The services are focused on veterans who served as members of the National Guard or Reserves, as well as those who have separated from active duty.
Services are available through AMHC’s outpatient offices in Fort Kent, Madawaska, Caribou, Presque Isle, Houlton, Calais and Machias.
The mental health services offered include peer outreach and peer support services to veterans by veterans, outpatient mental health services and readjustment counseling services, and psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery services.
The purpose of the contract is to realize cost savings though the utilization of simplified billing practices, ensure quality-driven services, maintain and augment VA’s capability in the provision of these services to eligible beneficiaries in current and future years, and increase rural and highly rural access to mental health care.
Since the inception of Operation Outreach, more than 130 veterans have been served in Aroostook and Washington counties.
To inquire if they are eligible for services, a veteran can contact AMHC’s Access Center at 1-800-244-6431 or contact AMHC’s VA Liaison, Joseph Owens, at 498-3361.
