Iraq Vet Michael Lufors, two years later, no help for PTSD

County struggles to fill veterans' needs
By Sarah Frier
MEDIANEWS STAFF
Article Created: 05/31/2008 06:32:13 PM PDT


Two years after returning from duty in Iraq, San Mateo County resident Michael Lufors says he has yet to see a county veteran service officer for help in dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

It's not for lack of trying, Lufors said, noting he has called the county office four times and visited once but nobody was ever available.

Some say that's because there is only one veteran service officer in a county with 40,000 veterans, a much lower ratio than in most California counties.

"We need more guys to talk to," Lufors said. "It's fairly necessary stuff." When the issue was raised last year, the Board of Supervisors added a veteran service representative position to the budget in October to work with the lone veteran service officer. But eight months later, that position still hasn't been filled because the veteran service officer retired in December, and county officials wanted to replace him first. "We wanted to first hire for the veteran services officer position and get that person started," County Human Services Manager Lorena Gonzalez said.

The county now is recruiting for the second position and hopes to have someone hired by the end of June, said Beverly Johnson, director of human services.

But the quality of service won't change immediately because training a new representative could take a couple of years, said Allan Moltzen, the current veteran service officer, who was hired in January.
go here for more
http://origin.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/ci_9440829