The Veteran Supported Education Service Treatment Manual: VetSEd

E. A Supported Education Provider Who is a Veteran Peer
Psychiatric Rehabilitation services typically are provided by a specially trained individual
who may or may not by a peer, that is, someone with similar life experience who has
been successful in his/her recovery journey. This person is sometimes called a supported
employment specialist or a psychiatric rehabilitation provider (www.uspra.org). in the
proposed VetSEd program, the individual providing VetSEd services will be a Veteran,
and preferably one who is in recovery from similar mental health conditions and who has
successfully achieved an education goal post military service.
F. Clinical Integration
Supported employment has succeeded as an evidence-based practice because, in part, it is
predicated upon the close integration of the provider with other members of the mental
health clinical team (Bond, 1998). Indeed, fidelity to this evidence-based model is
measured, in part, by the strength of this integration. VetSEd also applies this principle.
Mental health clinicians will inform and support the CGK process (Bond, Becker, Drake,
& Vogler, 1997). For example, a Veteran may be complaining that poor sleep is
affecting their success at school, and the peer VetSEd provider may need to refer the
Veteran to clinical services or may need the clinical team to help address the problem.
Conversely, the mental health clinician may need to learn from the peer VetSEd provider
that there are triggers in the school environment that may explain current symptoms.
Additionally, educational goals will be included in a mental health service plan that
embraces a holistic view of the Veteran.
G. Engaging Other Key Players
VetSEd identifies key players that are likely to have significant roles in accomplishing
the goals outlined in the educational plan. These include the Veteran him/herself, family
members (this may be current spouses and children, extended family, or parents), friends,
staff from the educational setting (instructors, administrators), and other VHA, VBA or
community health or rehabilitation providers that are involved with the Veteran. The
peer VetSEd provider will need to be skilled in engaging these various players and in
bringing their perspective and support to bear in the CGK process.
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