Peer sponsorship increases success of military-to-civilian transition

One of VA’s top priorities is addressing suicide risk factors in part by providing support for transitioning service members (TSMs) and Veterans. Many TSMs and Veterans experience challenges during the military-to-civilian transition, including difficulty entering the civilian workforce, community reintegration barriers, and physical and mental health issues.

Research shows that community-based interventions combined with trained, peer-sponsor support effectively reduce suicide risk factors and improve health outcomes for service members.

VA’s National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) facilitates health care advancement initiatives such as the Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI), designed to support VHA priorities. VSI is an approach to reducing risk factors related to suicide by connecting TSMs and Veterans to VA services, resources across social determinants of health, and community-based peers. VSI is implemented by VA’s Transitioning Servicemember/Veteran and Suicide Prevention Center and supported by community partners that collaborate with VA as part of the Veteran Sponsor Partnership Network (VSPN).

“As one of HAP’s health care advancement initiatives, VSI is a proactive Veteran-centered approach designed to address VA’s top clinical priority, preventing suicide among all Veterans,” said Christine Eickhoff, HAP health system specialist. “Community partners play a crucial role in collaboration with VA to get upstream of suicide risk factors and take a holistic approach to mitigating those factors as early as possible in the military-to-civilian transition.”

Over 1,000 risk-assessment screenings each month

Organizations in the VSPN oversee peer sponsors, provide resources to Veterans and their families, and help Veterans engage with VA as they are leaving military service. Onward Ops, one of VSPN’s community partners, is a military transition support program. Onward Ops assists TSMs and Veterans in successful transitions by providing helpful information, trained peer sponsors and risk-assessment screening. After enrolling in the program, TSMs and Veterans are screened for suicide risk and clinical social workers reach out within 24 hours to support high-risk service members.

“We perform over 1,000 risk-assessment screenings each month,” said Danielle Bracco, director of operations at Onward Ops. “This extensive screening effort enables Onward Ops to act as a safety net for service members during the military-to-civilian transition. The information gathered from each screening also helps our community partners provide personalized resources and referrals to each individual.”

San Diego Veterans Coalition (SDVC) is one of the organizations in the VSPN and a community integration coordinator collaborating with Onward Ops. With a local network of over 160 member organizations, SDVC assists Veterans and their families throughout San Diego and beyond, exemplifying the impact of VSPN nationwide. SDVC’s overarching mission is to address root causes of Veterans’ issues, fixing problems before they become crises.

“Our network of sponsors is the front line in combatting the isolation many Veterans feel after military separation. If they’re serving the needs of the members, then we must serve the needs of sponsors,” said Maurice Wilson, 1st vice president of SDVC.

“Finding the program was a life saver.”

Pete Lanham, a current sponsor, credits his father’s experience as a Navy Veteran and his mother’s role as a Red Cross volunteer for his own deep commitment to service. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back to those who have served. Through partnership with VA, Onward Ops and SDVC close the gap for those service members reintegrating into the community they choose to call home.”

Terri Tatum, Navy Veteran and Lanham’s sponsoree, feels the one-on-one support from SDVC sponsors and the resources provided by VA and Onward Ops are valuable to those in transition. “Finding the program was a life saver. The people I met and the resources they provided, like resume writing assistance, helped me get hired less than a month from my retirement date.”

“Nearly 250,000 service members transition into civilian life each year,” said Chien Chen, HAP chief officer and nurse executive. “By facilitating partnerships with organizations outside VA, HAP leverages community resources to support TSMs and Veterans, enabling successful reintegration into civilian life.”

VA resources

• Become a Peer Sponsor: Intro to Military Transition Support: Complete this course to become a peer sponsor equipped with the foundational skills needed to support military service members and Veterans in their transition journey.
• Becoming a Peer Sponsor fact sheet: A handout that discusses who can become a sponsor, sponsor benefits and responsibilities, and benefits for TSMs and Veterans.
• Make the Connection: A database of stories and videos from Veterans of all service eras who discuss the military-to-civilian transition and overcoming mental health challenges.
• Mental health resources: A list of VA mental health resources for TSMs, such as life coaching, benefits information, assistance transferring to a new provider and more.
• Outreach, Transition and Economic Development (OTED): OTED helps TSMs, Veterans and their families navigate VA benefits and services, use partner resources and access necessary support throughout the military life cycle.
• Transition Assistance Program (TAP): TAP provides information, resources and tools to help TSMs prepare for the military-to-civilian transition.
• VA Solid Start: Qualified VA representatives reach out to Veterans during their first year of separation to provide employment, housing, and physical and mental health support.

For more information about VA partnerships, visit the HAP website.