Va portland health care system hosts secretary mcdonough during visit to vancouver facility | va portland health care | veterans affairs

PRESS RELEASE July 16, 2024 Vancouver , WA — VANCOUVER, Wash.– U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough toured The VA Portland Health Care System’s Vancouver campus on

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 to meet with the facility's leadership and employees. During his visit, he toured the Veterans Affairs Farming and Recovery Mental Health Services (VA FARMS)

facility, located on the southwest corner of the campus to learn more about the program and met with VA Portland Health Care leadership and Veterans Integrated Service Network-20 staff. The

VA FARMS program empowers Veterans through technical education in horticulture and leisure gardening, which fosters life skills, promotes food security, and cultivates a healing environment

where Veterans develop positive connections with plants, nature, and members in their community. VA Portland Health Care System hopes to promote their model VA FARMS program to other VA

facilities interested in integrating a similar therapy program. The Honorable Denis Richard McDonough was nominated by President Biden to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr.

McDonough's nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 8th, 2021, and he was sworn in the following day as the 11th Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Media contacts

Nick Choy, Public Affairs Specialist PHONE: ###