New Partnership To Help Vets

The Board of Chosen Freeholders celebrated the newfound partnership between the County’s ADRC and the VA by welcoming Wanda Richards-Clarke of the VA, the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, who will be assisting resident veterans within the Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services. (Photo courtesy Monmouth County)

  FREEHOLD – Members of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders held a welcoming ceremony for Wanda Richards-Clarke, a rehabilitation counselor with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The ceremony also served to celebrate a new partnership between the County’s Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services and the VA.

  The ceremony was held at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building, on Kozloski Road. Officials spoke during the ceremony about the roles of the VA and the County.

  The VA will provide vocational rehabilitation counseling, case management and employment services for disabled veterans that are eligible and entitled for vocational rehabilitation services regardless of age or condition.

  The County will continue comprehensive case management and claims developed for Monmouth County veterans while collaborating extensively with the VA employee.

  The VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will be with the county’s office on aging and provide vocational rehabilitation counseling, case management and employment services for disabled veterans that are eligible and entitled to the rehabilitation services regardless of age or condition.    

Michael Ruane, a U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran, gave a first-person account about the benefits he received from the VA when suffering from PTSD. (Photo courtesy Monmouth County)

  The County Office on Aging (ADRC) and the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will collaborate extensively to not only offer vocational rehabilitation services and benefits, but also extend all resources provided by the Division of Aging, Disabilities and Veteran Services to Monmouth County veterans.

  Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services; two disabled veterans; Debbie Bottomley, Disability Case Manager/ Veterans Services Officer; Wanda Richards-Clarke, VA Rehabilitation Counselor and Sue Moleon, County Division Head were speakers during the ceremony.

  “I would like to recognize my fellow Freeholders, who have joined us today. Most importantly, I would like to thank Sue Moleon, the director of the division of aging, disabilities and veterans services who have devoted her efforts to helping our veterans and worked with me to secure the partnership that we are celebrating today,” Burry said during the ceremony.

Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Monmouth County Veterans Services Office, thanked County staff for bringing the partnership with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to life. (Photo courtesy Monmouth County)

  Burry said “we are not only here to support the new partnership between the County and the VA. While this partnership is very exciting, it is important to emphasize that we are all here in support of our veterans.”

  “Our veterans, who have sacrificed so much and were willing to lay their lives on the line for love of country and our freedom are now in need of our help and while the County’s Veterans Services Office has worked tirelessly to help Monmouth County veterans and their families, having a federal VA employee onsite will be invaluable,” Burry said.

  For further information about the Division of Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services, visit visitmonmouth.com.