National Center for healthy veterans
National Center for healthy veterans
Returning Healthy Veterans to America
Returning Healthy Veterans to America
Who We Are
National Center for Healthy Veterans
Our veterans have pledged their lives for our freedom, security, and prosperity. Healthy veterans are productive members of society, good employees, and positive role models, but not all of our veterans are healthy.
Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the United States Armed Forces have deployed more than 2.77 million service members to operations around the globe.
More than a third of deployed service members experienced multiple deployments, with over 400,000 deploying more than three times and over 37,000 more than five times.
Some 5,448 were killed in action, 53,283 physically wounded, and several times that number suffered the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and the spiritual and psychic trauma of combat.
While most Veterans successfully transition back to civilian life – either on their own, or with some support – many do not.
The National Center for Healthy Veterans at Valor Farm is devoted to helping Veterans navigate the challenges of trauma and transition to achieve their full potential and contribute to every facet of American society.
We take a faith-based, holistic approach to “Returning Healthy Veterans to America” in the natural healing environment of Valor Farm near Altavista, Virginia. Our Patriots – as we call the Veterans who participate in our programs – live and perform dignified work in community while participating in resilience, trauma recovery, and career preparation programs. We employ a variety of experiential and technology-based programs that support the physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and relational healing for America’s veterans and their families.
Who We Serve
Veterans At Risk
The National Center for Healthy Veterans serves at-risk veterans, who we call Patriots, who are willing to invest a year at Valor Farm for a “reset and restart.” We expect them to commit to change, be willing to work toward re-optimizing their daily performance, and to restore family and other relationships. Our Veterans must be able to live, learn, work, and train in a rural farm environment.
How Injuries interfere with a return to normal life:
Tragic Outcomes
These physical, psychic and traumatic injuries, along with moral injury that can stem from a Veteran’s own or observed actions in combat, interfere with a return to normal life and lead to tragic outcomes. The toll borne by many service members, and its lingering effects in broken marriages, broken families, and broken lives is directly related to the staggering number of Veteran suicides – a problem that persists despite federal funding, federal policy initiatives and the establishment of numerous preventive measures.
- More than 17 veterans kill themselves every day, and 344 active-duty members took their lives in 2019, the highest since tracking began.
- More than 1.7 million Veterans receive treatment in a VA mental health specialty program in fiscal year 2018.
- Over 33,475 veterans are homeless on any given night in 2022.
- Families of combat veterans experience an 80% divorce rate.
- More than 20% of veterans with PTSD also have a drug or alcohol addiction.
Over the last 10 years, more than 73,000 Veterans have taken their own lives; enough Veterans to fill the New Orleans Superdome – more than all the combat and non-combat deaths incurred by the US Armed Forces from the beginning of the Vietnam War to the present. This tragic number increases by roughly 22 Veterans every day.
How We Serve
Life at Valor Farm
The nine month residential program is a golden opportunity to “get unstuck,” to move past trauma and transition challenges into a lifetime of personal and professional contribution and success. After orientation and assessment, Valor Farm “Patriots” move through three 12 week “trimesters” which sequentially focus on resilience, trauma recovery, and career preparation. Concurrently Patriots take electives based on personal needs and interests — equine therapy, financial literacy, family relationships, topical Bible studies, nutrition, sleep management, pain management, and many others.
Assisted by mentors, each Patriot constructs a Personal Development Plan which tracks individual goals and progress. The desired outcomes from community living, dignified work, technical training, and overall wellness culture include successful professional transition, healthy work-life balance, wholesome family relationships, expanded inner resources including a relevant faith, positive contribution to society, and service as a mentor to others.
During their time at Valor Farm, Patriots live in individual tiny homes within a Patriot Community Village. Each village consists of 20 tiny homes and a Village Community Center where Patriots cook and share meals, enjoy fitness and recreational activities, participate in classes and special events, and grow stronger together.
How We Serve
Life at Valor Farm
The nine month residential program is a golden opportunity to “get unstuck,” to move past trauma and transition challenges into a lifetime of personal and professional contribution and success. After orientation and assessment, Valor Farm “Patriots” move through three 12 week “trimesters” which sequentially focus on resilience, trauma recovery, and career preparation. Concurrently Patriots take electives based on personal needs and interests — equine therapy, financial literacy, family relationships, topical Bible studies, nutrition, sleep management, pain management, and many others.
Assisted by mentors, each Patriot constructs a Personal Development Plan which tracks individual goals and progress. The desired outcomes from community living, dignified work, technical training, and overall wellness culture include successful professional transition, healthy work-life balance, wholesome family relationships, expanded inner resources including a relevant faith, positive contribution to society, and service as a mentor to others.
During their time at Valor Farm, Patriots live in individual tiny homes within a Patriot Community Village. Each village consists of 20 tiny homes and a Village Community Center where Patriots cook and share meals, enjoy fitness and recreational activities, participate in classes and special events, and grow stronger together.
