VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS) is taking part in this nation-wide hiring campaign to hire 1,000 mental health care providers for the year 2018. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs graphic/Luis H. Loza Gutierrez)

1,000 Mental Health Jobs:

Local VA part of nation-wide hiring initiative

HARLINGEN, Texas – The prevention of suicides among the nation’s Veterans is one of the top five organizational priorities for U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, hence the department’s recent launch of the 2018 Mental Health Hiring Initiative.

At VA medical facilities throughout the nation, opportunities are available for psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals, as the VA looks to hire 1,000 mental health providers this year. VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS) is taking part in this nation-wide hiring campaign.

“People interested in improving the lives of America’s Veterans should consider a career in the VA because our mission has always been to care for those ‘who shall have borne the battle,’” said Mr. Joe Perez the director of VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System.

The VA is the nation's largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,700 hospitals, clinics, community living centers, domiciliaries, readjustment counseling centers, and other facilities. At VATVCBHCS, a full continuum of care is available with attention to services tailored to the unique needs of our Veterans.  Our programs include but are not limited to: general outpatient mental health, PTSD specialty services, Substance Use Disorders treatment team, Homeless services, Primary Care-Mental Health Integration, Telemental Health, home and community-based care, Vocational Rehabilitation, Suicide Prevention, Veterans Justice Outreach services and so much more!

Carrie M. Myers, Homeless Veterans Program manager for VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS) explains to area Veteran Service Officers (VSO) some of different forms of assistance offered to homeless Veterans during a VSO training session, which took place Jan. 10, 2018, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Homeless Veterans Program is part of the Mental Health service section at VATVCBHCS. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs photo illustration/Luis H. Loza Gutierrez)

As an integral part of an interdisciplinary team, mental health professionals treat several of today’s most urgent mental health issues (e.g., PTSD, Substance Use Disorders, etc.) using best practices, groundbreaking research and more. A career in VA allows clinicians the opportunity to work virtually anywhere in the country, as only one active state license is required to practice at any VA facility. VA offers outstanding benefits such as generous paid time off, CMEs/CEUs and other perks that will help you keep a healthy work-life balance. It’s all part of serving patients who’ve proudly served America.

The VATVCBHCS has multiple opportunities, across all four locations, for psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health social workers, licensed professional mental health counselors and administrative support personnel.  A list of positions currently being advertised are listed below. Click on them for more details.

• Psychologist (Pain) – External

• Psychologist (Pain) – Internal

• Psychologist-Evidence Based Psychotherapy for PTSD VPTT-External

• Psychologist-Evidence Based Psychotherapy for PTSD VPTT-Internal

• Social Worker-Evidence Based Psychotherapy for PTSD VPTT-Internal

• Social Worker-Evidence Based Psychotherapy for PTSD VPTT-External

• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Employment Specialist)

• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Employment Specialist)

• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Vet Center) - External

• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Vet Center) - Internal

• LPMHC-Evidence Based Psychotherapy for PTSD VPTT-Internal

• LPMHC-Evidence Based Psychotherapy for PTSD VPTT-External

Please note the links above are for positions currently vacant at the time of publication. They may not work after job announcement has closed.

The Marine Corps Veteran and local VA director did ask would-be applicants to keep the following in mind.

“While we do need to hire several positions,” said Director Perez, “it is more important for us to find the right type of talented individuals with the necessary skills, passion and work ethic that align with our core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence (I CARE). It is what our Veterans have earned through their sacrifice and service, and it is what they should come to expect from us.”

(Information from a Vantage Point article was used in the creation of this story.)