Army vet benefits from specialized services at The Center

BUSINESS NEWS

If The Center for Counseling & Consultation hadn’t been available to a local military veteran, “I would probably be homeless now because I couldn’t stay where I was.”

James, who didn’t want to use his real name, shared his experiences at The Center, which now offers specialized services for vets.

“I told my therapist at The Center about my elder-abuse situation and she suggested I talk with their vet specialist, Jeff McQuade,” James recalled. “When I was told that he would call me, I thought, ‘yeah, sure.’

“But he called right away, came to get me and changed my life. I am now living on my own in a great one-bedroom apartment that is close to almost everything I need.”

Previously, James was living with someone who became physically abusive and eventually threatened him with a weapon.

“I was scared for myself and this roommate,” James said. “I was on edge all the time and I didn’t want to have to defend myself or hurt someone else.”

James served in the U.S. Army in the 1970s, working as a mechanic. Today, he gets around pretty good even though his mobility is limited as a result of decades of manual labor “and maybe because I’m getting older.”

When McQuade, The Center’s veteran care coordinator, learned about this situation, he first sought advice from the Veterans Administration. He then began calling shelters and other entities that could provide a safe environment for James.

“Within a week, we found this apartment,” James said. “It was impressive that it happened so fast. Actually, I was so happy I started crying. It was a real whirlwind.”

“You could say my life was chaotic before The Center stepped up to help me. And now it is peaceful.”

Jeff McQuade

It was obvious from the outset that James “was ready to get out of town,” McQuade remembered. “I suggested we try a few local resources first. We are both glad we did.”

The Family Crisis Center, American Legion, Catholic Charities, a church and the Community Food Bank of Barton County all played big roles in helping James.

“They helped with transportation, food, finances and paperwork,” McQuade said. “This invaluable support allowed us to streamline all the details. They helped turn his life around and greatly enhanced his quality of life.”

McQuade also is a U.S. Army veteran. “This means when I work with James or any other vet, I get it.”

James added that he and McQuade “found a lot of common ground; it is good to talk with someone who understands. Jeff said he would do everything he could and stuck with it. He is a man of his word.”

The vet specialist emphasized that The Center doesn’t “just drop people off somewhere. We follow up regularly to ensure James receives support and doesn’t feel overwhelmed.”

This is why McQuade encourages other vets to contact him if they need help of any kind. “It doesn’t hurt to call. We will find the best resources. Just as in James’ situation, the veteran is the captain of the boat.

“We lay out options but it is the veteran’s choice of where to go and what to do. We don’t say ‘this is how it is going to be. Take it or leave it.’”

McQuade noted that while this situation was handled within a short amount of time, “we cannot always guarantee things will run this smoothly. It depends on the circumstances but I can tell you one thing - we will do everything we can to help quickly.”

The Center’s ability to offer these specialized services is a direct result of its licensure as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. This multi-disciplinary approach cares for the whole person.

The Center for Counseling & Consultation, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, 5815 Broadway in Great Bend, serves Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties. Professionally trained personnel offer: individual and group therapy; marriage and family counseling; community-support services; community-based services; psychosocial rehabilitation; peer support; and medication management. The confidential 24/7 crisis hotline number is 800-875-2544.