Citation

Gorman JA, Scoglio AAJ, Smolinsky J, Russo A, Drebing CE. Community Ment. Health J. 2018; 54(8): 1189-1197.

Affiliation

Social & Community Reintegration Research Program, ENRM VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Road, Building 9 Room 106, Mail stop 116A, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10597-018-0288-y

PMID

29948629

Abstract

Veterans transitioning from military to civilian life are vulnerable to a loss of social support and an increase in isolation from their communities, which can exacerbate other difficulties they may be experiencing, such as physical or mental health problems. Veteran Coffee Socials are an innovative community-building pilot intervention designed to foster social support and community between veterans. In seven target communities, certified peer specialists initiated and facilitated weekly "Veteran Coffee Socials"-open peer support groups for veterans, held in local coffee shop or restaurants. Over a 9-month period, an average of 8.5 veterans attended each meeting, for a total of 2236 veteran engagements across seven towns. A range of activities were identified as commonly occurring during these Veteran Coffee Socials. Veteran attendees routinely formed relationships with each other, representatives from community organizations, and staff from local and VA healthcare resources. One of the most common activities involved veterans receiving information and directions for enrollment into needed healthcare supports and to local community resources. Case descriptions are provided illustrate the potential positive impact of this intervention to build community and expand social support for returning veterans through the examination of three individual and three group examples.

Language: en

Keywords

Coffee Social; Community reintegration; Community-based interventions; Peer; Social support; Veterans