Texas Border Business
Laredo, TX – Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) will announce $2,000,000 in federal funding for Webb County’s Veterans Treatment Program (VTP) on Friday, September 13, 2024, at 9:30 A.M. CST.
This funding will be used to expand the capacity of the current Veterans Treatment Program to Veterans who have been arrested and have co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders and PTSD.
This funding will benefit veterans across South Texas, including those in Webb County and five of its neighboring rural counties including Zapata, Jim Hogg, Starr, Duval, and Jim Wells. These areas are not currently being serviced due to a lack of treatment resources.
The VTP will provide participants with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which has proven to be effective in decreasing the number of suicide attempts and self-injurious behavior and improving social adjustment. They will also provide Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which will help reduce trauma symptoms and treat Post Traumatic Stress, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other effects of war and military service. Spouses and Family members of VTP participants will also be provided with 18 sessions of the Support and Family Education (SAFE) Program: Mental Health Facts for Families.
This will provide appropriate education and support for family members on mental illness and PTSD.
Expanding the program will see 210 veterans treated, increasing the treatment group by 75 people.
Funding comes from the Department of Health & Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment through their Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program. This funding will be provided over a 5-year project period including $400,000 for this upcoming year.
| Dr. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) |
| Jesus Segovia, Vietnam War Veteran |
| Jose M. Gamez, Jr, American Legion Post 59 |
| Rep. Cuellar to announce $2,000,000 in funding for Webb County’s Veterans Treatment Program. |
| *Rep. Cuellar will also discuss other veterans’ issues and the pending government funding bill |
| Friday, September 13, at 9:30 A.M. CT |
| American Legion Post 59 • 809 Zaragoza St, Laredo, TX 78040 |
