Using Community Advisory Boards to Build Partnerships and Develop Peer-Led Services for Rural Student Veterans.

BACKGROUND: The Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA)/Student Partnership for Rural Veterans (VSP) built partnerships between institutional (health services researchers, VA chaplains) and community groups to develop veteran-to-veteran services on college campuses. OBJECTIVES: Describe challenges and lessons learned in year 1 of the VSP project at six campuses in rural Arkansas. METHODS: Researchers leveraged established community advisory boards (CABs) to develop veteran-to-veteran services. Ethnographic and qualitative methods were used to assess partnership building and evaluate peer-led services. RESULTS: Local established CABs and buy-in from student services and veteran organizations was instrumental to building partnerships and developing services. Challenges included developing rapport with campus leaders and creating sustainable role/expectations for student veteran leaders. CONCLUSIONS: Peer-led services are an ideal way to connect student veterans and link them to resources and health care services. Partnerships can facilitate grassroots efforts to develop local services that meet the needs of diverse student veteran populations.

Building partnerships with rural Arkansas faith communities to promote veterans' mental health: lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: The Mental Health-Clergy Partnership Program established partnerships between institutional (Department of Veterans' Affairs [VA] chaplains, mental health providers) and community (local clergy, parishioners) groups to develop programs to assist rural veterans with mental health needs. OBJECTIVES: Describe the development, challenges, and lessons learned from the Mental Health-Clergy Partnership Program in three Arkansas towns between 2009 and 2012. METHODS: Researchers identified three rural Arkansas sites, established local advisory boards, and obtained quantitative ratings of the extent to which partnerships were participatory. RESULTS: Partnerships seemed to become more participatory over time. Each site developed distinctive programs with variation in fidelity to original program goals. Challenges included developing trust and maintaining racial diversity in local program leadership. CONCLUSIONS: Academics can partner with local faith communities to create unique programs that benefit the mental health of returning veterans. Research is needed to determine the effectiveness of community based programs, especially relative to typical "top-down" outreach approaches.