Delaware County veterans official urges local Vet Center, invites community engagement

Colonel Arthur Jenkins told Delaware County Council on Sept. 16 that suicide prevention among veterans requires both clinical and community‑driven approaches and urged the county to secure its own Vet Center so veterans need not be referred to Philadelphia or Norristown. Jenkins recounted a personal loss and described outreach efforts that link students with local veterans as a nonclinical way to reduce isolation.

"Delaware County needs its own vet center," Jenkins said, noting that without a local capture point staff must refer veterans to facilities outside the county and risk losing critical time for intervention. He invited residents and veterans to a Veterans Advisory Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Sept. 22 in the same room to propose sustained programs and community bonds to support veterans' well‑being.