Tennessee Valley Healthcare System

The Tennessee Governor's Council on Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families will look at ways to better meet the needs of service members and their families, to include the trials faced during deployments.

Tonia Hardyway, TVHS OEF/OIF Program Coordinator, has been appointed to the Tennessee Governor’s Council on Service Members, Veterans and Their Families.

The formation of the Council was the result of a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-sponsored Policy Academy where state officials and representatives from Fort Campbell, the Tennessee National Guard, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other veterans' service organizations met to address the needs of service members and veterans in Tennessee. The Council will build upon the efforts of the Tennessee Veterans Task Force, an active informal group that has been meeting for the past two years. 
 
"I am excited to offer my experience and the experience of my team to this council’s efforts. I am sure that with the collective knowledge that is assembled with this council, Tennessee Veterans will benefit greatly. It is an honor to work with the Governor on this very important mission," said Hardyway.

The Council will be made up of 25 members, including the commissioners of the departments of Veterans Affairs, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Health, Labor and Workforce Development, Human Resources and the Adjutant General of the Department of Military. The Speaker of the Senate will select one member of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives will select one member of the House of Representatives to serve on the Council.

This is the first time in Tennessee's history that a council has been appointed to better address the needs of service members, veterans and their families and provide a forum to provide better resources and assistance for our service members, veterans and their families.