Jax State’s Victory Center to Officially Open on February 10

02/06/2025

Jacksonville State University's Victory Center, a new program dedicated to supporting veterans and their families, will officially open on February 10, 2025. Based at Jax State's McClellan Center, the Victory Center serves veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and their families across a 15-county region, offering free services to assist with mental health, case management, social engagement, first responder training, and community partnerships. 

The Victory Center provides a holistic approach to supporting the well-being and success of those who have served. Mental health counseling services include individual, family, and group sessions to support veterans' emotional and psychological well-being. These services are available both in person and through telehealth. Holistic case management services serve as a clearinghouse to connect Alabama veterans and their families to local and statewide resources. Clinical interns from Jax State's Department of Social Work provide information, referrals, and outreach to assist with housing stability and basic needs, access to medical and mental health resources, VA benefits and enrollment, job search assistance, financial coaching, and legal services. 

The center also provides social opportunities by utilizing campus resources to facilitate social and cultural gatherings that help develop community support at the individual, family, and community levels. Additionally, the Victory Center works with certified trainers from the Center for Best Practices in Law Enforcement to offer first responder training throughout its 15-county service area. These trainings are designed to augment mental health responses for veterans and enhance first responders' knowledge, skills, and abilities when assisting veterans in crisis. 

To strengthen its impact, the Victory Center collaborates with various community partners, including the State VA Program, Federal VA Program, United Way of East Central Alabama, Jax State Adventure Recreation, Calhoun County Health Department, Jax State School of Nursing, Jax State Human Resources Department, and the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA). 

The Victory Center is part of Jax State's ongoing commitment to military-affiliated students and families. At its ribbon-cutting ceremony in November 2024, the center received a $561,604 grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to fund Victory Workforce Development Services, designed to help veterans and their spouses transition into new careers. Additionally, a $250,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs was issued in early 2024 to support the center's mission. 

With free, accessible services, the Victory Center aims to serve as a central hub of support, guidance, and empowerment for the veteran community. 

For more information, visit the Victory Center’s website: www.jsu.edu/victorycenter