On behalf of the federal, state, local, professional, and consumer organizations that have partnered together to ensure that North Carolina’s returning combat veterans and their families receive the best and most updated services available, co-chairs Michael Lancaster, MD, chief of clinical policy, NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) and Harold Kudler, MD, associate director of the Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness, Research, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) welcome you.

North Carolina has the fourth largest number of military personnel in the country. There are currently 107,000 active duty personnel based at one of seven military bases or deployed overseas. North Carolina is likely to receive another 45,000 active duty members by 2011. There are another 11,500 soldiers, marines, and airmen who live in North Carolina and serve in the National Guard or Reserves. Most of the active duty military, Reserves, and National Guard have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan. In addition to active military, another 773,630 veterans live in North Carolina.

Since the 2006 Governor’s Summit, key leaders have been coming together to discuss needs and to identify, develop, and assess programs for veterans and their families throughout the state. As the Governor’s Focus on Returning Combat Veterans and their Families task force, the goal of this initiative is to develop broader systems of care for returning veterans and their families, including mental health and substance abuse services. The State Legislature continues to provide support. A full-time state coordinator is housed in DMH/DD/SAS.

If you are a service or family member, use our Resource Page.

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