Equipping communities with proven programs and supports
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About the Study
Funded by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), the REACH peer support study is an adaption of the Veteran Spouse Resiliency Group (V-SRG) program, currently offered within the Institute’s Veteran Spouse Network. This study will focus on military spouses and committed partners at Fort Cavazos. Sessions will be facilitated by peer leaders, based on a curriculum designed to foster group discussion across a variety of topics relevant to the military spouse/partner experience. This model will enable participants to share their challenges, strategies, and successes, while both receiving and providing support and guidance to their peers. While the majority of the curriculum is discussion-based sessions also include educational content, skill-building exercises, and activities.
The goal of this study is to gauge the effectiveness of how a curriculum-based, weekly, support group for military spouses can improve spouses’ quality of life, mental health, social support, self-care practices, and knowledge of health conditions impacting service members.
NOW RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS!
We are currently seeking military spouses or committed partners located in Fort Cavazos to join peer support groups in our REACH study. These groups provide a safe space for peers to come together, share their stories, lean on one another for support and guidance, and form lasting bonds they can rely on well after the group ends.
Participant Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the REACH study, individuals must be a military spouse or committed partner who is:
- Married to or in a committed relationship with an active-duty soldier at Fort Cavazos
- Planning to remain at Fort Cavazos through December 2024
- Willing to attend in-person sessions of the program once/week for 8 weeks
Leader Eligibility
To be eligible to serve as a peer leader for the REACH study, individuals must be a military spouse or committed partner who is:
- Married or in a committed relationship with an active-duty soldier at Fort Cavazos
- Planning to remain in the Fort Cavazos area through December 2024
- Able to fulfill the following time commitment required: Attending 2.5 days of peer leader training hosted Dec 1-3 and designating at least 4 hours a week for 16 weeks over the course of one year to prepare for and lead sessions.
To learn more about the study, contact the study coordinator, Aubrey Harvey at aubrey.harvey@austin.utexas.edu.
Why do we focus on peer support?
The positive effects of social support for spouses are far-reaching. Not only do peers offer valuable information about available resources, the impact of peer-to-peer connection has also been found to improve spouses’ mental health and quality of life. In addition to the positive impacts experienced by spouses on an individual level, when spouses improve their understanding of how to support their service member’s psychological health risks and concerns, service members can similarly benefit by having more familial support when seeking treatment. In addition, the presence of peer support can help to maintain strong family relationships and reduce family relationship stress. Based on study findings, this curriculum will be published and available to military spouses in all branches.