National Center for healthy veterans
Returning
Healthy Veterans
to America
Upcoming Special Events
Monday, September 9 · 6 – 8pm EDT
Free
Who We Are
The National Center for Healthy Veterans at Valor Farm
helps Veterans navigate the challenges
of trauma and transition to achieve their full potential
and contribute to every facet of American society.
At NCHV 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 work in community while participating in resilience, trauma recovery, and career preparation programs. As the nation’s premier faith-based program for veterans, we employ a variety of experiential and technology-based approaches that support the physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and relational healing for America’s veterans and their families.
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.
Who We Serve
While most Veterans successfully transition to civilian life,
either on their own or with support, many do not.
2.7mil
Deployed since 9/11
400,000
4-5 Deployments
37,000
6+ Deployments
5,448
Killed In Action
53,286
Wounded In Action
500,000+
Invisible Wounds
How We Serve
2023 year in review
The National Center for Healthy Veterans at Valor Farm fills a need that has been unmet for many decades: a holistic, comprehensive, faith-based approach to Veteran health that taps into the resources and good will of the American people.
holistic healing
The nine month residential program is an opportunity to “get unstuck” and move past trauma and transition challenges into a lifetime of success. More than any other mental health or suicide prevention program, NCHV treats the whole person; body mind and soul.
Life at Valor Farm
Patriots live in individual tiny homes within a Community Village. Each village includes a Community Center where Patriots cook and share meals, enjoy fitness and recreational activities, participate in classes, and grow stronger together.
Veterans At Risk
The National Center for Healthy Veterans serves at-risk veterans, who we call Patriots, who are willing to invest nine months 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
The 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 can 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 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.
How We Serve
Life at Valor Farm
The nine month NCHV 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. More than other mental health or suicide prevention programs for veterans, NCHV treats the whole person; body, mind and soul. 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 NCHV 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.
