Legion Veterans Crisis Center up and running; But at New Location

The country's largest wartime veterans organization is responding to the needs of veterans and family members affected by the VA wait-time scandal

News provided by

The American Legion

Jul 29, 2014, 05:08 ET

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of The American Legion's System Worth Saving (SWS) Task Force, created in 2003 to conduct annual evaluations of health-care quality at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and other facilities.

What:

The Veterans Crisis Command Center, where the SWS team and community providers is helping those affected by long wait-times for appointments at area VA facilities, is changing locations for the rest of the week. Volunteers are on hand to provide services to veterans and family members, including assistance in filing for VA benefits claims, counseling on legal issues, and help with enrollment in VA health care.

Where:

The Veterans Command Crisis Center will be located at the Community Living Rehab Center, 3900 Loch Raven, Baltimore, Maryland starting tomorrow. It had been operating from American Legion Post 109 on 1610 Sulphur Spring Rd. in Arbutus, Md.

When:

The American Legion will operate from the new location in Baltimore, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Why:

VA recently released a nationwide access audit of wait-times at more than 700 of its medical facilities. Last month, The American Legion, with help from the VA and other organizations, operated week-long crisis centers for veterans and family members in Phoenix, Fayetteville, N.C., El Paso, Texas, Fort Collins, Colo. and St. Louis, MO.

Media contacts: Marty Callaghan, 202-341-8900 and Verna Jones, 202-215-5076.

SOURCE The American Legion