Support Call Notes | Vet Centers

BUDDY-TO-BUDDY VOLUNTEER SUPPORT CALL May 10, 2016 Buddy-to-Buddy is a peer-to-peer outreach program that trains veterans to provide peer support and linkage to needed resources for Michigan Post-9/11 service members and veterans. Visit us at www.buddytobuddy.org or reach us at buddytobuddyvvp@umich.edu or 1-888-82-BUDDY. Every week, Buddy-to-Buddy holds Support Calls for its 120+ volunteers, sharing resources and bringing guest speakers to provide information on topics of interest and available services.

Guest Speaker Presentation

Vet Centers Guest Speaker Dawn Beltran, Counselor Pontiac Vet Center 44200 Woodward Ave. Suite 108 Pontiac, MI 48341 (248) 874-1015 Guest Speaker Summary  History of Vet Centers o Vet Centers were originally established to meet the needs of combat veterans who were not comfortable receiving care at a VA Hospital or Community Clinic (CBOC). o Vet Centers are a part of the VA system, but the records are not shared between them. Vet Centers are able to make easy referrals to other VA programs when needed.  Vet Center Services o Readjustment counseling for combat veterans and their families  Most of the counselors for all types of counseling are veterans themselves, and there is at least one combat veteran counselor per Vet Center (often more). o Bereavement counseling for death of military family member o MST counseling o Outreach and Community work o Mobile Vet Center  RV that has TV and video. It goes out to rural areas to reach veterans who have a hard time accessing the local VA system.

Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program

www.buddytobuddy.org

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If a counselor is on board, they provide on-the-spot private counseling inside the RV. If a counselor could not go, they will do tele-counseling through the technology on-board.

Eligibility o A veteran is eligible to receive services at a Vet Center if they are considered a “combat veteran” – they must have received an Expeditionary Global War on Terrorism Ribbon or have otherwise deployed to a combat theater as shown on their DD-214. o The exception to this is for MST counseling – survivors of MST, regardless of when/where they served, can always be seen at a Vet Center.

How to get an appointment o Call! Vet Center calls are answered by the local center, and they make appointments for as soon as possible – always within two weeks of the initial call. o Walk ins are also accepted, but you might wait a while to be seen. If someone comes in and they are in crisis, they will be seen right away. o Evening appointments are possible, and groups are held in the evening as well. o “Humanitarian Visits” are available for non-combat veterans – they can be seen at the Vet Center until they can be connected into other resources.

Locations o Clinton Township: 586-412-0107 o Dearborn: 313-277-1428 o Detroit: 313-822-1141 o Escanaba: 906-233-0244 o Grand Rapids: 616-285-5795 o Pontiac: 248-874-1015 o Saginaw: 989-321-4650 o Traverse City: 231-935-0051

Summary of Volunteer Discussion: Volunteer: A volunteer shared some information about a website exclusively for veterans called Together We Served (www.togetherweserved.com). The website serves as a social networking of sorts, and is a private website where veterans can create a profile and connect with the other veterans they served with. The website is free to use.

Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program

www.buddytobuddy.org