Sponsored
Veterans Experience Live (VetXL) National Peer to Peer Q&A Chat! Ask Questions Now About Navigating VA & Community Services
254K
159
49
24
24
0
Join us on November 17th, 11AM - 12PM ET to participate in our National Veterans Experience Live (VetXL) Peer to Peer Q&A Chat on RallyPoint to gain access to Veteran peer support resources.
Get connected to a Veteran peer to help you navigate VA and community services. Post your questions on how to get peer support now!
You can ask questions to the following people:
» MG Mark Graham - Director, Vets4Warriors
» Sgt Christopher Vidaurre - Veteran Wellness Alliance Check-In, George W. Bush Institute
» Melissa Comeau - Director, American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network
» Ryan Lane - Whole Health Pathway Champion
» Patricia Sweeney - National Director, Peer Support Services
» Capt Trey Ellis - Peer Leader Manager, Wounded Warrior Project
» SGT Lauren Augustine - Vice President Government Affairs, SVA
» PO3 Douglas Webb - Management Analyst, VA
» Sgt Ed McEvoy - National Outreach Specialist, VA Vet Center
» Melissa Johnson - Programs and Services Associate, American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network
» Terry Collia - Senior Director of Digital Marketing, The Mission Continues
» Shannon McClure - Program Analyst, VA
Get connected to a Veteran peer to help you navigate VA and community services. Post your questions on how to get peer support now!
You can ask questions to the following people:
» MG Mark Graham - Director, Vets4Warriors
» Sgt Christopher Vidaurre - Veteran Wellness Alliance Check-In, George W. Bush Institute
» Melissa Comeau - Director, American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network
» Ryan Lane - Whole Health Pathway Champion
» Patricia Sweeney - National Director, Peer Support Services
» Capt Trey Ellis - Peer Leader Manager, Wounded Warrior Project
» SGT Lauren Augustine - Vice President Government Affairs, SVA
» PO3 Douglas Webb - Management Analyst, VA
» Sgt Ed McEvoy - National Outreach Specialist, VA Vet Center
» Melissa Johnson - Programs and Services Associate, American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network
» Terry Collia - Senior Director of Digital Marketing, The Mission Continues
» Shannon McClure - Program Analyst, VA
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Transition
Mental Health
Health
Support
Responses: 19
17
17
0
15
15
0
10
10
0
Thanks for taking the time to share what your organizations offer to our community. Peer support for everything that warfighters and veterans deal with because of our military service is one of the most valuable forms of therapy, connection, and happiness that comes to mind. What is the ideal profile for the servicemember, veteran, family member, caregiver or survivor whom your organization is best suited to serve?
(10)
(0)
SCPO Randall Anderson
I appreciate the information. However, I still do not understand who I need to talk with to connect to a Peer Support Specialist. Who do I talk with? Is there somebody in the VA Health Care System with functional responsibility to connect veterans with a Peer Support Specialist?
(3)
(0)
Melissa Comeau
Thank you for all that you do CPT David Gowel The Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) serves caregivers of all eras and Veterans that are caring for a family member or friend. Anyone interested in joining our Network or learning more can visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/services-for-veterans/military-veteran-caregiver-network.html
Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
The Military Veteran Caregiver Network provides our nation’s pre- and post-9/11-era military and veteran caregivers with peer support.
(2)
(0)
Patricia Sweeney
SCPO Randall Anderson - Thank you for your question, SCPO Anderson. Peer specialists are available to assist Veterans who use VA health care services, but the peer specialists are not expected to be the sole or primary health care professional who assists a Veteran. You first talk with a clinician regarding your health care concerns and wellness goals. If you request to also work with a peer specialist around one of your wellness goals, the clinician you are working with can make the referral to a peer specialist who can also assist you.
(3)
(0)
7
7
0
Grateful to be a part of the VetXL National Peer to Peer Support Q&A. I am Melissa Comeau and I am the spouse and caregiver for a combat wounded Marine. I am also the Director of the Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN). The MVCN offers peer-based support and services to connect those providing care to service members and veterans living with wounds, illnesses, injuries and/or aging. We support caregivers of all eras and Veterans that are also caregivers. Please join us https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/services-for-veterans/military-veteran-caregiver-network.html
Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
The Military Veteran Caregiver Network provides our nation’s pre- and post-9/11-era military and veteran caregivers with peer support.
(7)
(0)
7
7
0
5
5
0
Hello all! I am Terry Collia, representing The Mission Continues. We are a national nonprofit organization that connects military veterans with new missions in under-resourced communities. Veterans possess the drive and desire to serve others, but without access to the tools needed, their potential to make a meaningful impact at the local level remains untapped. On the other end of the spectrum growing numbers of communities in this country are under-resourced and being left behind. The Mission Continues bridges this gap. Our vision is for all veterans with a desire to continue their service to be part of a movement to transform communities via local service opportunities, structured leadership training programs, and a strong sense of connectedness. You can sign-up to join your local The Mission Continues platoon here: https://www.missioncontinues.org/service-platoons/
Service Platoons - The Mission Continues
Service Platoons
(5)
(0)
4
4
0
How can I renew my VA Peer Specialist certification? I moved to Arizona (Kingman), I have asked at the CBOC here with no help. I completed the course in 2019 at the Long Beach VA campus. How can I renew as I want to be a resource in my area.
(4)
(0)
Patricia Sweeney
Thank you for your question, P03 Vitello. The renewal requirements for your peer specialist certification will depend on the organization that issued your peer specialist certification. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) does not issue a peer specialist certification. VHA accepts state-issued peer specialist certifications that focus on adult mental health and/or adult addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. Available information about state-issued peer specialist certifications is usually located on a state’s Department of Mental Health or Department of Behavioral Health website in a section about credentialing for health care professionals. VHA also accepts peer specialist certifications from nonprofit peer specialist certification training vendors that VHA contracts with to provide the required peer specialist certification for GS-5 peer support apprentices. The peer specialist certification training vendors that VHA has worked with for this purpose has changed over time, so you will need to contact the organization that provided your peer specialist certification in 2019 to see what their renewal requirements are. The name of that organization should be on the certificate that you received for your certification.
(2)
(0)
PO3 Deon Vitello
It was funded by the Long Beach One Stop and certified through RI International for VA Peer Specialist in a 2 week 8 hour format. There were about 25 Veterans in the cohort.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
Is there a place where I could find more information where a 100% service related disabled veteran could get discounted housing in Los Angeles area?
(3)
(0)
Capt Trey Ellis
Reach out to Wounded Warrior Projects Resource Center, they will be able to give you a better view of whats around your area and help make the connections 888.WWP.ALUM (997.2586) or [login to see]
(2)
(0)
Sgt Ed McEvoy
Vet Centers have outreach specialists who are often in the know when it comes to local benefits and resources. If you are not familiar where your local Vet Center is located, please use the VA locator and reach out. https://www.va.gov/find-locations/?facilityType=vet_center
Vet Center referral services are available to any Veteran, service member, to include their families, regardless of Vet Center eligibility status.
For more information, please visit vetcenter.va.gov
Vet Center referral services are available to any Veteran, service member, to include their families, regardless of Vet Center eligibility status.
For more information, please visit vetcenter.va.gov
Find VA Locations | Veterans Affairs
Find a VA medical center, clinic, hospital, national cemetery, or VA regional office near you. You can search by city, state, postal code, or service. You'll get wait times and directions.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google