Next Friday is Veterans Day. Yet I know that for many OHA employees, their families, and our clients, thinking about those who have served - or are serving - is a daily rather than annual event.
Many parts of our work touch the lives of Oregon veterans. One example is the Healthy Kids program, which helps ensure that families in transition do not have to worry about coverage for their children.
We also reach out to veterans who are among the many who struggle with drugs and alcohol. To that end, last September the Addictions and Mental Health division launched the Access to Recovery program with a special focus on serving veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. The program, which currently operates in seven counties, provides care coordination and vouchers to help defray the costs of addiction treatment and services that support people in recovery.
Helping our veterans is something for which we are all responsible, particularly in our state that has seen so many people serve in recent years. As we enjoy the three-day weekend, we also remember the sacrifices they and their families have made and the challenges they face when they return home to us again. |
