By: Gavin Schweiger, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
SOUTH JERSEY – Governor Phil Murphy announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is partnering with New Jersey transportation agencies to spread awareness for veterans’ access to health and mental health care, according to a press release from the Governor’s office on July 7.
Following initiatives from the VA in other states like Pennsylvania and Nevada, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) and NJ TRANSIT are distributing posters with information about veterans’ telehealth and VA resources, including the Veterans Crisis Line.
The Turnpike Authority will put out this information at service areas along the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. The SJTA and NJ TRANSIT will distribute the posters at their facilities. This is meant to ensure that veterans can easily find resources while travelling.
“We are proud to support our customers every day and know that many are veterans,” NJDOT Commissioner and Chair of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, SJTA, and NJ TRANSIT Fran O’Connor said in the press release. “By partnering with the VA on this campaign to help veterans access healthcare services, we are giving back to the men and women who have given so much to us.”
Jenna Carlton, a veteran, veterans’ advocate, and leader of Women Veterans of South Jersey, is looking forward to the initiative, reminding her of an experience she had away from home where she needed to go to the emergency room.
“I remember having so much anxiety about, like, ‘Am I gonna be able to pay this bill? Will the VA cover it?” Carlton stated. “I think it’s great that they’re raising awareness, letting people know where the nearest VA is and also that they can get care there.”
The partnership hopes to raise awareness for local veterans and those travelling through the state, Governor Murphy said in the press release.
“We bear a responsibility to make sure that each and every veteran knows that help is never far away,” Murphy said.
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