You can assist transitioning Veterans through peer sponsorship

VA will conduct a peer sponsor training session in November for anyone interested in becoming a Veteran peer sponsor.

Research shows suicide rates among Veterans are highest during the military-to-civilian life transition. To combat this, the National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) leads the Veteran Sponsor Partnership Network (VSPN) initiative in collaboration with VA’s Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI).

Composed of several non-monetary VA partnerships with community organizations, VSPN partners help Veterans and their families with housing, education and employment. VSPN partners also pair Veterans with sponsors who can assist with the military-to-civilian transition.

“VSI facilitates educational programming and training centered around suicide prevention,” said Dr. Natesha Smith-Isabell, who provides oversight of VA’s peer sponsorship training. “Onward Ops, in partnership with VSI, enrolls current active duty service members, and then matches them with VA certified peer sponsors to build a supportive foundation before they transition out of the military.”

Onward Ops is one of more than a dozen VSPN partners. This nationwide program helps all service members regardless of branch of service by creating a personalized transition plan for enrollees with peer sponsorship as a cornerstone of the system.

Dr. Smith-Isabell and the VSI team, in conjunction with Onward Ops and the University of Texas at Austin’s Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness, will conduct a peer sponsor training session in November for anyone interested in becoming a Veteran peer sponsor. The training will be held Nov. 8, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT both online and in-person (John. W. Hargis Hall, 1823 Red River St, Austin, TX 78712).

To register for the training, sign up on the website here.

“Sponsors help decrease the stress of transitioning out of the military by answering questions, providing information about community resources and fostering a supportive relationship with transitioning Veterans,” said Christine Eickhoff, VA health systems specialist.

One-on-one support by peer sponsors streamlines the transition process

“Service members, Veterans and military family members can also be effective peer sponsors for those going through the military-to-civilian transition, but no military experience is required to be a sponsor. Anyone committed to helping Veterans integrate smoothly into civilian communities is encouraged to volunteer with a VSPN partner and become a sponsor,” she added.

Although sponsoring a transitioning service member can seem daunting, the VA VSI training helps prepare peer sponsors to support service members, their families and the community. This includes helping Veterans engage with VA in the community they’ve moved to, in addition to local community resources that support their health, careers and more.

“This training session supports the growth and development of VSPN and the continuing education of VSPN’s network of Veteran peer sponsors,” said Chien Chen, chief HAP officer/nurse executive. “The one-on-one support provided by peer sponsors helps streamline the transition process to improve the overall experience and outcomes for Veterans adjusting to civilian life.”

Read more information about HAP.

Read more information about the VSPN initiative.