Military Veteran Peer Network (MVPN)

The Military Veteran Peer Network is a networking site for organizations and people serving Texas Veterans and their families. Here, they can stay connected, share knowledge, post events, and develop best practices to help support Veterans as they make the transition to life after service.

No one wades a stream without getting wet, and no one comes back from war unchanged. This is a toughening process for some people – a self-awareness generation engine.  The efforts of our troops may produce internal struggles, but those efforts also produce tested, accomplished people. Sometimes, people need a hand in slowing the internal conflict that emerges due to combat, deployment, military sexual trauma, or other abnormal situations. No one is better prepared to speak with a Veteran about his or her experiences than another Veteran.

With the peer-to-peer network, Veterans are given the opportunity to participate in a training course that teaches them how to become peer mentors. Once trained, they are tasked with going out into their local communities and creating peer groups, social groups, or other avenues of peer mentorship.

For further definition of the Veteran Peer Support program please read the Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 1001.201.

How MVPN was made available to Tri-County

The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) made funding available to local mental health authorities (LMHAs) in Texas specifically to help enhance access to resources for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) through peer-to-peer support counseling. Enhanced access is facilitated by Peer Coordinators of MVPN. LMHAs are to create their own position for Veteran services. There are up to 39 other MVPN Peer Coordinators connected to the other LMHAs throughout the state of Texas. By being connected to the LMHA, the Peer Coordinator for MVPN has direct access to mental health services.

Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare is the LMHA in Montgomery, Walker, and Liberty counties. The Veteran Services Liaison, Nicole Dillion, is the Peer Coordinator for the local MVPN Chapter. The main goal for the MVPN Peer Coordinator is to locate Veterans who are interested in becoming trained peer mentors in order to provide peer-to-peer support for local Veterans and their families. In addition to training Peer Mentors, the Veteran Services Liaison assesses Veteran needs in the community and attempts to make appropriate referrals to available resources. There are several options available for peer mentors to provide support, including the options listed below.

• Peer Groups
• One-on-one Peer Mentoring
• Social Groups
• Peer Court Mentoring
• Jail Diversion for Veterans

Become a Peer Mentor

If you are interested in becoming a Peer Mentor or would like more information about services available to Veterans contact our Veteran Services Department.

Nicole Dillion, Air Force V

233 Sgt. Ed Holcomb S

Conroe, TX 77304

936-521-6132

NicoleD@tcbhc.org

Don’t forget to check out the Texas Veterans Portal

Additional Resources