About the Program

Social Work at the Saginaw VA Medical Center is an integral part of health care. We help veterans and their families with problems associated with the stress of an illness. Social Workers serve two functions at the Aleda E. Lutz VAMC.  Social Workers serve as Mental Health Clinicians or as Medical Social Workers.

Mental Health Social Workers provide counseling and therapy as an integral part of the Mental Health Clinic.

Medical Social workers help veterans find resources to meet their needs within the VA system and in their community such as —

• home health services
• legal services
• transportation
• community living

Services Offered

Social work offers counseling —

• to veterans with drug, alcohol, and emotional problems
• to help veterans and their families understand and adjust to an illness or disability
• to veterans and family members who want to prepare advance directives and durable powers of attorney for health care or finances
• to help veterans and their families cope with terminal illness

Counseling is conducted through —

• one-on-one discussions
• family conferences
• group classes