RCW 43.60A.100_ Counseling services—Veterans, including national guard and reservists_5/2/23, 6:11 PM RCW 43.60A.100: Counseling services—Veterans, including national guard and reservists.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=43.60A.100 1/1
RCW RCW 43.60A.10043.60A.100
Counseling servicesCounseling services——Veterans, including national guard and reservists.Veterans, including national guard and reservists.
The department of veterans affairs, to the extent funds are made available, shall: (1) Contract withThe department of veterans affairs, to the extent funds are made available, shall: (1) Contract with
professional counseling specialists to provide a range of direct treatment services to state veterans, includingprofessional counseling specialists to provide a range of direct treatment services to state veterans, including
national guard and reservists, with military-related mental health needs, and their family members; (2) providenational guard and reservists, with military-related mental health needs, and their family members; (2) provide
additional treatment services to Washington state Vietnam veterans for posttraumatic stress disorder, particularlyadditional treatment services to Washington state Vietnam veterans for posttraumatic stress disorder, particularly
for those veterans whose posttraumatic stress disorder has intensified or initially emerged due to war or combat-for those veterans whose posttraumatic stress disorder has intensified or initially emerged due to war or combat-
related stress; (3) provide an educational program designed to train primary care professionals, such as mentalrelated stress; (3) provide an educational program designed to train primary care professionals, such as mental
health professionals, about the effects of war-related stress, trauma, and traumatic brain injury; (4) providehealth professionals, about the effects of war-related stress, trauma, and traumatic brain injury; (4) provide
informational and counseling services for the purpose of establishing and fostering peer-support networksinformational and counseling services for the purpose of establishing and fostering peer-support networks
throughout the state for families of deployed members of the reserves and the Washington national guard; (5)throughout the state for families of deployed members of the reserves and the Washington national guard; (5)
provide for veterans' families, a referral network of community mental health providers who are skilled in treatingprovide for veterans' families, a referral network of community mental health providers who are skilled in treating
deployment stress, combat stress, posttraumatic stress, traumatic brain injury; and (6) offer training and supportdeployment stress, combat stress, posttraumatic stress, traumatic brain injury; and (6) offer training and support
for volunteers interested in providing peer-to-peer support to other veterans.for volunteers interested in providing peer-to-peer support to other veterans.
[ [ 2018 c 45 § 12018 c 45 § 1. Prior: . Prior: 2017 c 192 § 22017 c 192 § 2; ; 2017 c 185 § 22017 c 185 § 2; ; 1991 c 55 § 11991 c 55 § 1.].]
NOTES:NOTES:
FindingsFindings——2017 c 192:2017 c 192: "The legislature finds that: "The legislature finds that:
(1) Veterans are national heroes who have made great sacrifices in their lives for the protection of our(1) Veterans are national heroes who have made great sacrifices in their lives for the protection of our
nation;nation;
(2) Due to the relatively high number of military installations in our state, as well as the standard of(2) Due to the relatively high number of military installations in our state, as well as the standard of
living in our state, many veterans choose to live in Washington;living in our state, many veterans choose to live in Washington;
(3) Many veterans have a need for support services, including peer-to-peer counseling services.(3) Many veterans have a need for support services, including peer-to-peer counseling services.
Some veterans need to talk about their experiences with combat, deployment, or other situations experiencedSome veterans need to talk about their experiences with combat, deployment, or other situations experienced
during their time in the military. Often, there is no person better prepared to speak with a veteran about his or herduring their time in the military. Often, there is no person better prepared to speak with a veteran about his or her
experiences than another veteran;experiences than another veteran;
(4) In 2009, the state of Texas created an award winning peer-to-peer counseling network, called the(4) In 2009, the state of Texas created an award winning peer-to-peer counseling network, called the
military veteran peer network. On a voluntary basis, veterans elect to receive specialized training about themilitary veteran peer network. On a voluntary basis, veterans elect to receive specialized training about the
facilitation of group counseling sessions. After receiving their training, the volunteers create peer-to-peer supportfacilitation of group counseling sessions. After receiving their training, the volunteers create peer-to-peer support
groups in their local communities;groups in their local communities;
(5) Veterans living in Washington would benefit from a program that is similar to the military veteran(5) Veterans living in Washington would benefit from a program that is similar to the military veteran
peer network." [ peer network." [ 2017 c 192 § 12017 c 192 § 1.].]
FindingsFindings——2017 c 192:2017 c 192: See note following RCW See note following RCW 43.41.46043.41.460..
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