Helping Veterans Navigate the Path to Care: SSG Fox Grant

By Danette Fessler

For many veterans, finding the right support after military service can be challenging. Between VA benefits, community programs, mental health services, and local resources, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. That’s where Centerstone’s Military Services, Veteran Care Navigator (VCN) program comes in.

Jeffrey Jullian, Team Leader of SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant, serving veterans in Illinois and Missouri, knows firsthand the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life. After serving five years in the Marine Corps as an Intelligence Analyst – including a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2013 – Jeffrey found himself searching for a renewed sense of purpose after leaving the military.

“I wanted to do something that helped veterans,” Jeffrey shared.

Today, Jeffrey and his team help veterans and their families connect with the benefits and resources they have earned. Through a federally funded grant program, Veteran Care Navigators work to bridge gaps in care by connecting veterans to resources and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“The grant blends clinical and non-clinical resources,” Jeffrey explained. “We connect veterans to the VA, especially those who have never connected with the VA or haven’t been connected in a long time. We also help identify stressful situations in their lives and facilitate access to resources that can reduce those stressors.”

One of the biggest barriers veterans face is simply understanding what resources are available. With programs spread across multiple agencies and organizations, navigating the system can be confusing and frustrating. Veteran Care Navigators simplify that process by conducting a comprehensive “landscape assessment” of available resources and helping veterans find the support that best fits their needs.

“There are a ton of resources out there, but it can be hard for veterans to parse through them,” Jeffrey said. “We’re doing that work on behalf of the veteran – bringing those resources together in one place and helping them access support in a timely manner.”

By reducing the burden on veterans and connecting them to resources more quickly, the program helps address issues before they escalate into crises.

“It’s lifesaving work,” Jeffrey said. “If veterans don’t get access to resources or don’t know how to use them, they may continue struggling and the cycle of suicide within the veteran community can continue.”

For Jeffrey, the most rewarding part of the work is helping fellow veterans navigate systems he knows can be difficult to understand.

“Being able to connect veterans who need help to the benefits they’ve earned is really rewarding,” he shared. “It’s a confusing system with a lot of different resources. Being able to provide guidance through that process makes a real difference.”

The Veteran Care Navigator program currently serves veterans in Illinois counties including Calhoun, Greene, Jackson, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, St. Clair, and Williamson, as well as St. Louis County and St. Louis City in Missouri. Veterans outside of those areas can be connected to other appropriate mental health and support services.

As the program continues to grow, Jeffrey remains optimistic about its future and its ability to save lives.

“It gives me a lot of hope,” he said. “There’s a bright outlook for the future and for our ability to help people.”