Veteran Coffee Socials: A Community-Building Strategy for Enhancing Community Reintegration of Veterans. 2018

Jay A Gorman, and Arielle A J Scoglio, and John Smolinsky, and Anthony Russo, and Charles E Drebing
Social & Community Reintegration Research Program, ENRM VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Road, Building 9 Room 106, Mail stop 116A, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA. jay.gorman@va.gov.

Veterans transitioning from military to civilian life are vulnerable to a loss of social support and an increase in isolation from their communities, which can exacerbate other difficulties they may be experiencing, such as physical or mental health problems. Veteran Coffee Socials are an innovative community-building pilot intervention designed to foster social support and community between veterans. In seven target communities, certified peer specialists initiated and facilitated weekly "Veteran Coffee Socials"-open peer support groups for veterans, held in local coffee shop or restaurants. Over a 9-month period, an average of 8.5 veterans attended each meeting, for a total of 2236 veteran engagements across seven towns. A range of activities were identified as commonly occurring during these Veteran Coffee Socials. Veteran attendees routinely formed relationships with each other, representatives from community organizations, and staff from local and VA healthcare resources. One of the most common activities involved veterans receiving information and directions for enrollment into needed healthcare supports and to local community resources. Case descriptions are provided illustrate the potential positive impact of this intervention to build community and expand social support for returning veterans through the examination of three individual and three group examples.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010379 Peer Group Group composed of associates of same species, approximately the same age, and usually of similar rank or social status. Group, Peer,Groups, Peer,Peer Groups
D012147 Restaurants An establishment where meals are cooked, sold and served to customers. Restaurant
D003256 Community Participation Involvement of members of the community in the affairs of that community. Community Action,Consumer Involvement,Consumer Participation,Community Involvement,Public Participation,Action, Community,Actions, Community,Community Actions,Community Involvements,Consumer Involvements,Involvement, Community,Involvement, Consumer,Involvements, Community,Participation, Community,Participation, Consumer,Participation, Public
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D012944 Social Support Support systems that provide assistance and encouragement to individuals with physical or emotional disabilities in order that they may better cope. Informal social support is usually provided by friends, relatives, or peers, while formal assistance such as COMMUNITY SUPPORT is provided by churches, groups, etc. Perceived Social Support,Social Care,Online Social Support,Care, Social,Online Social Supports,Perceived Social Supports,Social Support, Online,Social Support, Perceived,Social Supports, Online,Social Supports, Perceived,Support, Online Social,Support, Perceived Social,Support, Social,Supports, Perceived Social
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.

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