SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES LOCATION FOR VA OUTREACH CLINIC IN KEENE

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today announced the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has selected a site for the federal Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Keene Outreach Clinic and Veterans Center.  The clinic, which will offer full-time primary care and part-time mental health services to the several thousand veterans in the region, will be located at 640 Marlboro Street.  It is slated to open in spring 2011.

"New Hampshire's men and women who have served in uniform deserve convenient access to local VA health services," said Shaheen.  "For too long, that's something Keene area veterans have gone without, but with today's announcement from the GSA, they are one step closer to having a clinic they can call their own."

"This is another fine example of how collaborative partnerships lead to successful outcomes," said Glenn C. Rotondo, GSA, Acting Regional Administrator. "Working with the Veterans Administration, the community of Keene, and with the support of Senator Shaheen's office, GSA is on target to accomplish this project on schedule. We are pleased with the opportunity to acquire space for the VA in support of their mission to serve the Veterans Community of the Keene, N.H. area."

"I want to thank Senator Shaheen for acting so quickly and effectively to deliver on this critical need for Keene area veterans," said State Senator Molly Kelly.  "I have strongly advocated for this clinic, and I thank the Senator for listening and responding to those of us who believed the time for action was now."

Throughout the clinic's site selection process, Senator Shaheen maintained constant contact with all relevant stakeholders in an effort to open the facility as quickly as possible.  In March, Shaheen spoke with White River Junction VA Medical Center Director Robert Walton to underscore the need for immediate action to find a location for the clinic, and in August, she convened a meeting of the VA, GSA, and area veterans to update them on the progress toward finding a site.  The Senator and her staff also remained in regular communication with GSA throughout the location process to ensure its continued progress.

The new facility in Keene will function as an "outreach clinic" of the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Brattleboro, VT, but maintain its own full-time staff of four employees.  In addition to clinic services, a Veterans Center will be co-located with the clinic, with its own entrance and separate staff, who will offer counseling and group therapy sessions for veterans.  The Keene facility is a new model for the VA, marking the first time one of its clinics will feature both a clinic for primary care services and a Veterans Center for counseling in the same location.