New York State Summit on Peer Mentor Programs for Military Veterans | July 11 & 12, 2023

See the conference slides, video recordings, transcripts, and other resources here.

New York State Summit on Peer Mentor Programs for Military Veterans

Schedule

Day 1: Tuesday, July 11, 2023 (7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)

7:30 a.m.–8:15 a.m.
Registration and Coffee

8:30 a.m.–8:35 a.m.
Welcome by Maureen Casey, Chief Operating Officer, IVMF

8:35 a.m.–8:50 a.m.
Opening Remarks David Sandman, Ph.D., President and CEO, NYHealth

8:50 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Keynote Address: Assemblymember Pamela Hunter (military veteran)

9:45 a.m.–10:45 a.m.
Panel 1: Unique Approaches to Providing Peer Services to Veterans

Moderator: Derek Coy, Senior Program Officer, NYHealth (military veteran)

Panelists:
– James Hendon, Commissioner, New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (military veteran) (invited)
– Laura Heltz, Executive Director, Veterans Outreach Center (military veteran)
– Kyle Heath, Supervisory Team Operations Coordinator, Peer Support Outreach Center, Veterans Crisis Line (military veteran)

11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Panel 2: Insight & Perspective from Veteran Peer Mentors and Mentees

Moderator: Ken Marfilius, L.C.S.W., D.S.W., Assistant Dean of Online and Distance Education, Syracuse University (military veteran)

Panelists:
– Alyssa Carrion, Program Manager of SSG Fox SPGP, Mental Health America of Dutchess County (military veteran)
– Gloria Dietz, Peer Specialist SSG Fox SPGP, Mental Health America of Dutchess County (military veteran)
– Michael Green, Peer Mentor, Clear Path for Veterans (military veteran)

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Session 1: State of Peer Support Research

2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Session 2: Policy and Practice Recommendations

3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Networking Reception hosted by IVMF

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Day 2: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 (7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.)

7:30 a.m.–8:15 a.m.
Registration and Coffee

8:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
Day 2 Opening Remarks

9:00 a.m.–10:15 a.m.
Workshop 1: Myths and Realities of Veteran Benefits
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services

10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Workshop 2: Having and Navigating Tough Conversations for Peer Mentors
Suicide Prevention Center of New York State and other Subject Matter Experts

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m.–2:15 p.m.
Workshop 3: Identifying Resources and Building Partnerships
IVMF Community Services Team

2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
Workshop 4: Understanding the Needs of the Community and Deploying Scalable Peer Mentor Programs for Veterans
New York State County Veterans Service Officer Association

3:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks

The New York Health Foundation (NYHealth) and Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) are co-hosting a two-day summit focused on strengthening, advancing, and expanding peer mentor programs for military veterans on July 11 & 12, 2023. The summit will feature in-person and virtual opportunities for participation.

Numerous peer-to-peer interventions have emerged nationwide as innovative approaches to addressing the wide range of health challenges military veterans face after transitioning out of the service. New York State has allocated millions of dollars to expand the flagship Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program statewide in recent years, while the State, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and philanthropy continue to invest in other pioneering peer mentor programs like ETS Sponsorship, Veterans Treatment Courts, and additional approaches that rely heavily on peer mentors.

But how do veterans choose the program that will best fit their needs? What training and support do prospective mentors need? How can community providers apply for funding to integrate these programs into the services they offer? And are there already best practices established for these programs?

Please join us on July 11th and 12th for a two-day summit on peer mentor programs in New York State.