The New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) has awarded a grant to SUNY New Paltz to support development of a training program for health and wellness staff across the SUNY system, which will focus on helping them work with student veterans and military service members.
The grant and new training program are the result of a collaboration between the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, which is dedicated to enriching the quality of academic life at SUNY New Paltz; the Office of Veteran and Military Services, which serves a population of more than 350 military-affiliated students at the College; and the Institute for Disaster Mental Health, a leader in educating first-responders and care providers in the unique mental health conditions that follow traumatic experiences.
“SUNY New Paltz is committed to supporting military service members as they pursue their academic and professional goals,” said President Donald P. Christian. “With this grant, New Paltz is positioned to take the lead in helping our SUNY peers do the same.”
The Office of Veteran and Military Services and the Institute for Disaster Mental Health have a long history of collaboration in training campus and community service providers to understand military culture and the needs of military-affiliated students.
With this new support from NYSHealth, they will now be able to expand the reach of this work to more than 200 health and wellness and other student affairs staff at 15 different SUNY institutions.
“It’s crucial that veterans have access to high-quality health care in their communities,” said David Sandman, Ph.D., President and CEO of NYSHealth. “Training providers throughout the SUNY system to address the unique needs of veterans on campus will meet vets where they are and ensure that they are getting the best possible care.”
The non-profit organization Student Veterans for America will serve as a consultant aiding in the development of these trainings. At their conclusion, the College will publish a report detailing outcomes, lessons learned and best practices for future implementation at colleges and universities across the nation.
Read more about this New York State Health Foundation grant at the NYSHealth website.
Use the following links to learn more about:
The Office of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
