Why is the Veteran Care Navigator Role Vital?
Under CCBHC, the Veteran Care Navigator (VCN) plays a key role in expanding services to fully meet the needs for care in the military community. VCNs will offer clinic teams key insights to help build tailored, client centered treatment pathways for veterans, rather than fitting veterans into a one-size-fits-all approach. VCNs hold a unique connection to the veteran population and their families, embodying the shared concept of “been there, done that”. This new position will help veterans see that the care they receive at Centerstone Clinics honors both their experience as a community member and their time in service.
Veteran Care Navigators can provide the following services:
To successfully integrate the VCN into your teams and workflow, it is essential to recognize the unique value they bring. Their firsthand experience and understanding of military culture enable them to connect with veterans on a deeper level, ensuring that our services are truly veteran-centric. By collaborating with the VCN, clinic staff can enhance their ability to provide comprehensive, empathetic, client centered care that meets the diverse needs of our veteran clients.
Benefits of Integration:
By integrating the Veteran Care Navigator into your team, we can collectively ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality of care and support they deserve. Let’s work together to make this integration seamless and impactful for our clients.
West Region, Veteran Care Navigator
(812) 872-9766
tressie.stark@centerstone.org
Born and raised in Indiana, I hit the road to Georgia for college. After a couple years of attempting college, it was decided the military may be my best option. I joined the Army to be a PATRIOT Missel Operator/Maintainer, or 14T. I was a non-combat job (MOS) so my fear of deployment was very low. I had been attached to a base wide unit of soldiers who were going through tax classes to learn how to help service members, veterans, and family members with their taxes; everyone from my unit got calls there was a briefing we HAD to attend. This was highly unusual, as we were under the post commander, not our typical commander. We filed in with the rest of our unit, I can still remember how electric the air felt. Our Seargent Major came in and began to brief us on a new mission. We were to be activated immediately, begin training for our deployment, and roll out. Within four months, our unit had reclassified, or learned a whole new job role, and were on our way to Iraq. We were in country for 15 months, our claim to fame? ISIS was formed in our compound. Once we returned, I got out of the military and began civilian life again. I worked my way through various kitchens and eventually became a chef. Personal tragedy happened, I threw out my back, and kitchen work was no longer an option. I investigated various programs offered by the VA, and found one that would allow me to go back to school with help from the VA. I found a major I thought I would like, social work, and my path began. I am now a Veteran Care Navigator with Centerstone, and am beginning my Master of Social Work Studies fall of 2025.
Central Region, Veteran Care Navigator
(615) 339-0525
dena.lunsford@centerstone.org
I came from a small town called Mexia, Texas where everyone knew each other. I joined the Marine Corps in 2014 as a radio operator. I was stationed in Camp Pendleton, California with 9th Communications Battalion. I was deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit where we were the first deployment with fully operational F-35B jets. I got out of the Marine Corps in 2019 and started on my college degree in Exercise and Sports Science with a concentration on Pre-Rehabilitation. I graduated with my bachelors in 2022 and moved to Indiana to be with my family. I became a Cardiac Monitor Technician, but found a new calling in the veteran community. I came across this new position with Centerstone as a Veteran Care Navigator. The role of a VCN is to provide extra community resources and peer support for veterans who are receiving treatment through Centerstone. I provide these services in 5 counties: Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, and Jefferson counties. We can send our Veterans to providers who have experience treating veterans so they can have the shared concept of “been there, done that”. Our resources that we provide can range from peer mentorship, care coordination, connection to benefits such as disability and Medicaid, along with other resources from the community. By integrating the Veteran Care Navigator into Centerstone, we can collectively ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality of care and support they deserve.
