The Veterans Advisory Board gave a presentation during a Work Session in front of the Clark County Council on Wednesday morning, showcasing the importance of mental health professionals and case managers in caring for veterans who live in the region

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

The Veterans Advisory Board (VAB) made a presentation to the Clark County Council on Wednesday, recommending that the council OK two new full-time employees who are experts in mental health and case management to work at the Clark County Veterans Assistance Center.

County councilors said they were impressed with the presentation during a Work Session and they would consider the recommendation and hope to find ways to fund the additions.

Clark County has more than 33,000 veterans. Many of them are in need of mental health care, according to Major General Buck Marr, (U.S. Air Force retired), the vice chair of the VAB.

The board is asking for one full-time mental health professional and one full-time case manager, at a cost of just more than $222,000.

Marr noted studies that show early intervention for veterans seeking help from mental health professionals saves more money than an organization spends for the services.

“These two professional entities would save community dollars over the long haul,” Marr said.

“Case managers are similar to a link in a chain,” Marr added. “Connecting problems to solutions and then providing follow-up to promote patient safety, quality care, and cost-effective outcomes.”

Early treatment, he added, can also be a complementary asset to law and justice services.

“It is a win-win situation,” he said.

The additions would lead the Veterans Assistance Center to becoming a professional, full-service organization and more than “just a provider of food and clothing,” Marr added.

The VAB also looked into contracted programs funded through the Veterans Assistance Fund. That includes the veterans dental services. The VAB recommends it continues with this program, with no increase in costs in the upcoming years. The VAB also is asking for small increases in funding for Veteran Service Officers and emergency services at the Veterans Assistance Center to help salaries and administrative costs.

The councilors said they were motivated to find funding solutions for these requests.

“Being able to provide mental health services for folks who need it in a location that makes sense, around people that they trust,” Councilor Glen Young said. “I am looking forward to seeing more detail … to make this work out.”

Sue Marshall, the county chair, said it was “very beneficial to hear this presentation.”

Councilor Wil Fuentes pointed out that the county could probably use more than one mental health professional at the assistance center, but this is a good start.

“In order to continue supporting our veterans and community members, it’s essential that we take step in the right direction and fund this program long term,” Fuentes said.

Marr sent an email to Clark County Today earlier this week, noting the VAB’s recommendations.

“All literature on mental health, both local and nationally, screams out for early treatment,” Marr wrote. “Delayed treatment with the normal recurring problems are costly for the community from a dollar standpoint as well as a law/justice standpoint. All national sources stress that early prevention work saves community dollars while dramatically helping affected persons.”

For more details on Wednesday’s presentation, go here: https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-05/060326-ws_veterans_advisory_board.pdf