Veteran Peer Specialist, Virginia Veteran and Family Support

At New River Valley Community Services, a Veteran Peer Specialist, part of the Virginia Veteran and Family Support Program (VVFS), is a person with a behavioral health or co-occurring conditions, actively engaged in his or her own recovery, who has been trained and certified to help others with these conditions, identify and achieve specific life and recovery goals.

The program serves Virginia veterans of any era, members of the Armed Forces, National Guard and Reserves not in active federal service and their families.

VVFS provides peer and family support and comprehensive care coordination services including:

• Direct linkages to medical and behavioral healthcare, veterans benefits, housing, employment, and other

public and private assistance programs;

• Peer and family support groups, resilience-focused training, and workshops for couples and families; and

• Specialized outreach and assistance to vulnerable veterans, including at risk or homeless veterans and

veterans involved in the criminal justice system.