Letter to the Honorable Eric K. Shinseki, U.S. Secretary of the Veteran Affairs

Letter

Dear Secretary Shinseki:

I applaud the administration's commitment to the needs of America's military families. In particular I am pleased by the multi-agency drive to address the mental health needs of service members, veterans, and their families. New Yorkers were reminded last month of the intense challenges in this regard, by a troubling report from the Rand Corporation which focused on the mental health needs of veterans in New York. As the President highlighted in recent remarks, the unique needs of military families require creative solutions that cross agency boundaries and cut through traditional divisions between the public and private sectors. I write to call your attention to some New York-based successes in this regard, and to seek your assistance in exploring opportunities for supporting and furthering these successes. In particular, there is an excellent opportunity for partnership with the private sector and coordination with DOD to meet wounded warrior needs in Central New York.

The Syracuse region of New York is host to Fort Drum, a pre-eminent Army installation. This area also has a disproportionately large population of veterans -- nearly fifty percent more than the national average. While the region's veterans are well-served by the Syracuse VA Medical Center (VAMC), and while service members have an excellent hospital at Fort Drum, there are some healthcare needs which are not currently met by these facilities, either due to geography or specialized care requirements. One facility that meets some of these needs is the Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center, in New Hartford. Among other services, it provides inpatient and outpatient medical rehabilitation, psychological services, and also hosts an adaptive sports program approved by the U.S. Paralympic Committee. Notably, Sitrin is also an authorized TRICARE provider.

In response to new and anticipated demand, Sitrin is undertaking a major expansion program that includes a residential treatment center to provide specialized services for wounded warriors, families, and others who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, traumatic amputation, shrapnel wounds and burns, depression and substance abuse, among other conditions. This center is an excellent model for the future, and taking full advantage of the model will only be possible through coordinated efforts across agencies and with the private sector. I urge you to explore a partnership with Sitrin to allow this expansion come to fruition and enable veterans to receive the specialized care that they need.

I welcome you to take part in a visit to New York, where we can draw attention to programs and services that are supporting military families today, and where we can encourage and enable the ground-breaking work which will provide our veterans and their families the best possible care in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

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