Veteran X Model Peer-Led Recovery Programs
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Veteran “X” is a voluntary peer-led Recovery Model program. It focuses on empowering Veterans to take an active role in choosing their recovery goals and finding solutions to their mental, physical, and social problems. One of the primary objectives of Veteran “X” is for Veterans to live a full life of recovery in the environment of their choosing.
Origin:
November 2009, Hampton VA Medical Center
Adoptions:
66 successful
Awards and Recognition:
2012 VHA Employee Innovation Awardee, Office of Mental Health Operations Promising Practice
Partners:
VHA Innovators Network
Recent Updates
Overview
The problem
The Veteran "X" Model was developed to address a number of social barriers that hindered the ability of Veterans to live independently in a community of their choosing. The program supports the Recovery Model of Mental Health which is consistent with the VA Directive 1163 "Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Services." The initial goal of the Model wa
...
The Veteran "X" Model was developed to address a number of social barriers that hindered the ability of Veterans to live independently in a community of their choosing. The program supports the Recovery Model of Mental Health which is consistent with the VA Directive 1163 "Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Services." The initial goal of the Model was to develop a peer-led program that empowered Veterans to involve themselves actively in developing skills to address their social barriers and achieve their own recovery goals.
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The solution
The Veteran “X” Model:
Veteran “X” is a Peer-Led Recovery Program in which Veterans desiring to achieve recovery, within a group format, serve as the recovery team for a fictional Veteran “X” who has problems and issues similar to the group participants. By serving as Veteran “X”’s recovery team, the Veteran participants work to resolve Veteran “X”’s soc ... The Veteran “X” Model:
Veteran “X” is a Peer-Led Recovery Program in which Veterans desiring to achieve recovery, within a group format, serve as the recovery team for a fictional Veteran “X” who has problems and issues similar to the group participants. By serving as Veteran “X”’s recovery team, the Veteran participants work to resolve Veteran “X”’s social barriers, and thereby develop solutions to their own problems.
Veteran “X” focuses on social barriers and issues that modulate risk for suicide such as:
o Social support
o Housing
o Substance Use
o Family/significant other relationships
o Problem-solving skills
o Future planning
o Psychosocial stressors such as legal and financial issues
Veteran “Hope” Program
A female Veteran, inspired by what she experienced in the originally co-ed Veteran “X” program, encouraged the creation of a program like Veteran “X” specifically focused on issues that are unique to Women’s military and Veteran experience. In response to this request, a program in which women could comfortably discuss the social barriers and issues unique to them, the Veteran “Hope” program was developed.
The Veteran “Hope” program focuses on a fictitious Veteran “Hope” who has a variety of social barriers and issues that are like those experienced by the program participants. The participants serve as a recovery team for Veteran “Hope”, helping her to find solutions to her challenges, and likewise find solutions for their own issues.
Like Veteran “X”, this program focuses on social barriers and issues that modulate risk for suicide.
Orders Home Program
The Orders Home Program was developed to meet the needs of transitioning military service members/Veterans.
Transitioning military service members/Veterans serve as team members for a fictitious transitioning Service Member.
The fictitious transitioning service member has transitioning barriers and social issues that modulate risk for suicide:
o Loss of military identity and lifestyle
o Future loss of camaraderie
o Loss of financial security
o Adapting to Veteran’s status
o Employment
o Knowledge of VA services and benefits
o How to navigate through Veteran Health Administration Services
o Family/relationship issues
o Awareness of community resources See more
Veteran “X” is a Peer-Led Recovery Program in which Veterans desiring to achieve recovery, within a group format, serve as the recovery team for a fictional Veteran “X” who has problems and issues similar to the group participants. By serving as Veteran “X”’s recovery team, the Veteran participants work to resolve Veteran “X”’s soc ... The Veteran “X” Model:
Veteran “X” is a Peer-Led Recovery Program in which Veterans desiring to achieve recovery, within a group format, serve as the recovery team for a fictional Veteran “X” who has problems and issues similar to the group participants. By serving as Veteran “X”’s recovery team, the Veteran participants work to resolve Veteran “X”’s social barriers, and thereby develop solutions to their own problems.
Veteran “X” focuses on social barriers and issues that modulate risk for suicide such as:
o Social support
o Housing
o Substance Use
o Family/significant other relationships
o Problem-solving skills
o Future planning
o Psychosocial stressors such as legal and financial issues
Veteran “Hope” Program
A female Veteran, inspired by what she experienced in the originally co-ed Veteran “X” program, encouraged the creation of a program like Veteran “X” specifically focused on issues that are unique to Women’s military and Veteran experience. In response to this request, a program in which women could comfortably discuss the social barriers and issues unique to them, the Veteran “Hope” program was developed.
The Veteran “Hope” program focuses on a fictitious Veteran “Hope” who has a variety of social barriers and issues that are like those experienced by the program participants. The participants serve as a recovery team for Veteran “Hope”, helping her to find solutions to her challenges, and likewise find solutions for their own issues.
Like Veteran “X”, this program focuses on social barriers and issues that modulate risk for suicide.
Orders Home Program
The Orders Home Program was developed to meet the needs of transitioning military service members/Veterans.
Transitioning military service members/Veterans serve as team members for a fictitious transitioning Service Member.
The fictitious transitioning service member has transitioning barriers and social issues that modulate risk for suicide:
o Loss of military identity and lifestyle
o Future loss of camaraderie
o Loss of financial security
o Adapting to Veteran’s status
o Employment
o Knowledge of VA services and benefits
o How to navigate through Veteran Health Administration Services
o Family/relationship issues
o Awareness of community resources See more
The results
Beginning in 2009 at the Hampton VA Domiciliary, the Veteran “X” Model attendance quickly grew to an average of 45-60 participants per session. Clinicians began to notice that Veterans who attended Veteran "X" were more actively involved in choosing and addressing their treatment goals. As one clinician describes it, "After Veteran "X" started, I began to
...
Beginning in 2009 at the Hampton VA Domiciliary, the Veteran “X” Model attendance quickly grew to an average of 45-60 participants per session. Clinicians began to notice that Veterans who attended Veteran "X" were more actively involved in choosing and addressing their treatment goals. As one clinician describes it, "After Veteran "X" started, I began to see a difference in those who were participating in the program versus those who were not. Those not participating came into my office and asked what I could do for them. Those who were participating in Veteran "X" came into my office and told me what they were working on, and requested specific assistance in areas that needed my help."
Research on the original Veteran "X" Program showed that Veteran "X" plus Treatment as Usual compared to Treatment as Usual alone resulted in significantly more improvements in recovery wellbeing and symptoms/functioning in the Veteran "X" group. These results have been accepted for publication and will be linked below when they are available. See more
Research on the original Veteran "X" Program showed that Veteran "X" plus Treatment as Usual compared to Treatment as Usual alone resulted in significantly more improvements in recovery wellbeing and symptoms/functioning in the Veteran "X" group. These results have been accepted for publication and will be linked below when they are available. See more
Metrics
- We estimate that the Veteran "X" Model programs account for 30,000 Veteran encounters per year.
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Implementation
Timeline
-
36 hours
Initial training of Veteran "X" Model Facilitator. Veteran "X" Facilitator Trainings are offered 2-3 times per year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, trainings are offered in a virtual format. In-person trainings will resume when feasible. -
3-6 months following initial training
Trainees participate in weekly consultation calls with Master Veteran "X" Model Trainers. During the consultation process, the trainees develop the materials for their individual programs, collaborate with their leadership to assign space resources to their programs, problem-solve barriers to program implementation, and ultimately initiate their first program sessions.
Departments
- Mental health care
- Addiction and substance abuse treatment
- Homeless Veteran care
- LGBTQ+ Veteran care
- Military sexual trauma
- Minority Veteran care
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- PTSD treatment
- Primary care
- Smoking and tobacco cessation
- Social work
- Suicide prevention
- Telehealth
- Vocational rehabilitation and employment programs
- Whole health
- Women Veteran care
Core Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
|
TOOLS |
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Support Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
|
PROCESSES |
|
Risks and mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Resistance to implementing larger groups | Some sites have (prior to COVID-19) resisted implementing large groups that sometimes can exceed 100 participants. Most Veteran "X" programs average 18-30 participants. The Veteran "X" Implementation and Dissemination Team is available to support the implementation of Veteran "X" Model programs at your facility through consultation with leadership to educate them to the advantages and outcomes of these large programs. |
| Facility resistance to groups lasting 90-120 minutes | Veteran "X" Model programs are designed to last a minimum of 90 minutes and up to 120 minutes. Some sites have limited the duration of these programs to 1 hour maximum. The Veteran "X" Implementation and Dissemination Team is available to consult and educate leadership about the rationale for extending programs to 90-120 minutes, and can clarify that the research on the Veteran "X" model would not generalize to a truncated timeframe. |
Contact
Comment
Comments and replies are disabled for retired innovations and non-VA users.
Email david.shaw3@va.gov with questions about this innovation.
About
Origin story
With the support of his supervisor, Thomas Pratt, a peer specialist at the Hampton VA Medical Center, was tasked to develop a peer-led support group. Combining his lived and military counseling experience, he wrote a Veteran profile for a nameless Veteran who faced life problems such as those involving finances, social relationships, and health. He then in
...
With the support of his supervisor, Thomas Pratt, a peer specialist at the Hampton VA Medical Center, was tasked to develop a peer-led support group. Combining his lived and military counseling experience, he wrote a Veteran profile for a nameless Veteran who faced life problems such as those involving finances, social relationships, and health. He then invited a group of Veterans to be the recovery team for this nameless Veteran knowing that Veterans tend to work well together as a team. As the group worked through the scenario, he was careful to keep the focus on the nameless Veteran instead of recovery team members to facilitate the problem-solving process and to avoid “jockeying for position” by the group members. Veterans were able to relate to this nameless Veteran because they could identify with what the Veteran was experiencing. The program, titled Veteran “X” officially began on November 2, 2009 with four participants.
Original team
David B. Shaw, Ph.D.
Team Lead
Thomas E. Pratt, CPRS
Peer Specialist
Cary Adkins. CPS
Peer Specialist
Michael Dumaine, CPS
Peer Specialist
Kyle Milk, CPS
Peer Specialist
Christopher Banks
Corrections Counselor, PA Department of Corrections
Desirae McGee
Community Partner Team Member
Kevin Nelson (Certified Peer Support Specialist). I am inquiring about the next Veteran X training. Please contact me at kevin.nelson3@va.gov.
I am Derrick Bogan and I am inquiring about the next available date for training. I can be reached derrick.bogan@va.gov or 917-860-2934.
I definitely would like to adopt this and present this to my supervisor here at HUD/VASH VA Memphis, TN. I have been accepted in the class in September. Very excited for this opportunity to be able to bring this program to veterans in my city and surrounding areas.
i want the training to use for my fellow veterans
How can one find out about where and when the training will take place in 2023? (Initial training of Veteran "X" Model Facilitator. Veteran "X" Facilitator Trainings are offered 2-3 times per year.)
Miami VA is currently adopting this innovation, started during COVID19, it remains a virtual offering, led by a Certified Peer Support Specialist.
Since forming the Veteran X group here in Jackson, starting with 5 Veterans it grew to having two groups a week of 22 different Veterans in each group. These have been out-patient groups and have in well attended. Have been offering it virtual(COVID-19), the numbers have fallen as the Veterans stated that "we felt connected in the group room". Since the first group in 01/2015 to present we have graduated 80 Veterans from Veteran "X". It's a success and the Veterans love it.