Syracuse University, Institute for Veterans and Military Families

New York State is home to more than 580,000 military veterans and welcomes an additional 4,000 each year who are transitioning from active duty.

Veterans can face challenges while transitioning from active duty to their new lives at home, and they often do not ask for help until issues have compounded or a crisis has arisen, including suicidal thoughts and behavior, in the worst cases. Peer-to-peer programs are an effective, popular approach for veterans, where they can comfortably open up to a fellow veteran about shared experiences. In New York State, the most widespread of these programs is the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program, which takes a confidential peer-to-peer approach to reduce isolation, increase social connectivity, and connect veterans with community-based resources. In 2022, NYHealth awarded Syracuse University, Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) a grant to expand the Dwyer Program across the State and help it implement best practices to better support veterans.

Under this grant, IVMF originally planned to collaborate with the State’s central Dwyer organization, the University of Albany (which evaluates elements of the program), and other peer mentor programs to develop best practices based on stakeholder input. These best practices were intended to assist New York counties in launching new Dwyer Programs or improving existing ones. However, soon after the grant was awarded, the State announced increased efforts to achieve a similar goal. This development presented IVMF with an opportunity to pivot from its original plan and support these State-led efforts with a new approach.