Washington, DC – With the Northport VA’s child care pilot program set to expire at the end of the year, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced final passage of legislation to maintain the program through 2015. More than 174 local families take advantage of this service each month, and children have made almost 700 visits already this year while their parents receive services from the Northport VA. Senator Gillibrand has long advocated for this program.
“This is an important program for Long Island veterans and their families,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Many of our men and women who served in the military need counseling and health services and help when they return home. This program helps our veterans receive the services they earned and deserve by providing child care during their appointments. This VA program has been incredibly successful on Long Island and should remain available here, and expanded throughout the country.”
Northport VA Medical Center Director, Philip Moschitta commented: “We are pleased to have had the opportunity to participate as a pilot site for this important program. Since our opening April 30, 2012, VA Kids Care at Northport VA Medical Center has had over 1,450 visits from our veterans‘ children. This service has provided them the opportunity to attend clinic appointments and participate in many of our VA Programs.”
At the end of the year, the child care pilot program at the Northport VA would be forced to discontinue their program without this legislation. Senator Gillibrand is also supporting the Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013, to extend the pilot program. The extension of the Kids Care program passed the House of Representatives on September 16, and passed the U.S. Senate late last night, and now heads to the President for his signature.