Veterans and Family Services Program Holds Open House at New Location

Veterans, their friends and families, as well as the general public are invited to an open house held by the Lake-McHenry Veterans and Family Services program on Wednesday, December 10, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The free event will take place at the program's new location, 100 S. Atkinson Road, Suite #203 in Grayslake, Illinois. Managed by the Lake County Health Department, the program was formerly located in a smaller office space on Grand Avenue in Lake Villa.

The program's staff is particularly encouraging veterans to attend the open house, where they can learn about numerous services and resources available on a local level. For instance, vets and service members can gather for free coffee and conversation on a weekly basis through the "Vets and a Cup of Joe" series. The program also offers free screenings, support groups, crisis intervention, links to services such as emergency housing, and family and group therapy. Funded through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the program is consumer guided with peer-to-peer counselors, case managers and therapists serving veterans, active duty military personnel and their families.

Currently, approximately 40,000 veterans reside in Lake County, and of those veterans, 20 to 25 percent struggle with mental health issues. Veterans are often reluctant to seek help on issues ranging from job and benefit issues to emotional stress caused by deployment, reintegration, and family issues. For more information, call: (847) 377-8386 or visit: http://lmvfs.org/.