38A:13-10 Findings, declarations relative to a veteran peer support telephone helpline.
1. a. The Legislature finds and declares that the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, in conjunction with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, has established a veteran to veteran peer support program telephone helpline. The helpline receives and responds to calls from veterans, servicemembers, and their families. It provides them with access to a comprehensive mental health provider network of mental health professionals specializing in post traumatic stress disorder and other veterans issues. All services are free and confidential.
b. Since its inception, the helpline has fielded over 6,000 calls from veterans and their families and based on prior statistics, a 10% increase in calls has been projected.
c. The helpline is funded through an allocation from a State appropriation for post traumatic stress disorder. It is appropriate that the helpline have a separate annual appropriation.
L.2011, c.116, s.120; amended 2012, c.45, s.120.