Cohen Veterans Network Opens Mental Health Clinic in Oceanside
SAN DIEGO – To meet the increasing mental health needs for post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members and military families throughout the nation, Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) opened a new clinic in Oceanside, Calif. on Wednesday, October 5 at 3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd, Suite 120. This is the second Cohen Clinic in the state; a San Diego clinic opened in 2019. An additional clinic is slated for Los Angeles later this year.
This effort is another step toward CVN meeting the $275M commitment set forth by financier/philanthropist Steven A. Cohen to help reduce veteran suicide and increase care for active duty service members and military families throughout the country. The close proximity to Camp Pendleton was a key factor in establishing this new clinic.
More than 33,000 post-9/11 veterans, nearly 40,000 active duty service members, and more than 31,000 military family members will be eligible for care at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic in Oceanside.
“There are many factors in play which are negatively impacting this community’s mental health, including the continued challenges of COVID-19 and the possibilities of future deployments. We are here to serve veterans, active duty, and military families throughout the entire state of California,” said Dr. Anthony Hassan, President & CEO of CVN. “We are expanding on our proven success in San Diego and scaling up to meet the additional need.”
Hassan was joined on stage at a ceremony to mark the clinic’s opening today. Other dignitaries on hand included Medal of Honor Recipient Ryan Pitts, VVSD CEO Akilah Templeton, and Col. Daniel Whitley Commanding Officer, Headquarters & Support Battalion at Camp Pendleton. San Diego County Supervisors Jim Desmond and Nathan Fletcher, as well as Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez also spoke during the ceremony.
CVN offers brief, client-centered therapy for a variety of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, anger, grief and loss, post-traumatic stress, family issues, transition challenges, relationship problems, and children’s behavioral problems. Learn more about how the network cares for clients here.
In addition to providing care to those within reach of the Oceanside and future Los Angeles locations, the new Cohen Clinics will also join the San Diego Cohen Clinic in offering telehealth services state-wide to more than 655,000 potential clients. Additionally, CVN Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy where the client can receive treatment from the privacy and comfort of their own home, is being offered throughout the nationwide network.
CVN’s partner for these clinics is Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), which is its current partner at the Cohen Clinic in San Diego, located in Mission Valley. VVSD has served veterans since 1981 and is dedicated to “Leave No One Behind.” Each year, VVSD provides services to more than 3,000 military veterans throughout San Diego County.
“Our partnership with CVN has helped to expand our reach and build out VVSD’s continuum of care so that the entire military family has access to high-quality outpatient mental health services and supports for years to come,” said Akilah Templeton, CEO of VVSD. “The ability to provide telehealth services is critical and a game changer, especially in Southern California where we were heavily impacted by COVID-19 cases.”
The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD in Oceanside began serving clients virtually in March.
Since its inception in April 2016, CVN has opened 22 Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics across the country and has treated more than 42,000 clients. In addition to the two California locations, the network plans to open at least two other clinics in 2022.
About Cohen Veterans Network
Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) is a 501(c)(3) national not-for-profit philanthropic organization for post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members and their families. CVN focuses on improving mental health outcomes, operating a network of outpatient mental health clinics in high-need communities, in which trained clinicians deliver holistic evidence-based care to treat mental health conditions. It was established in 2016 by philanthropist Steven A. Cohen with a commitment of $275 million to build the network. There are currently 22 Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics nationwide. Learn more about CVN.
About Veterans Village of San Diego
Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) has served all veterans since 1981 and is dedicated to “Leave No One Behind.” Each year, VVSD provides services to more than 3,000 military veterans throughout San Diego County. For more information, please visit our website at www.VVSD.net.
