PHAT began operating in 2017 and officially began operating as a 501(C)(3) in 2019. The organization was founded by Eric Peterson after a fellow teammate took his own life after multiple tours overseas.
Project Headspace and Timing (PHAT) was founded to promote positive mental health practices to our nation’s veterans by working to unify them with their communities, nature, and themselves. As an organization, we believe that we live in a community that supports their veterans but ... Read More
PHAT began operating in 2017 and officially began operating as a 501(C)(3) in 2019. The organization was founded by Eric Peterson after a fellow teammate took his own life after multiple tours overseas.
Project Headspace and Timing (PHAT) was founded to promote positive mental health practices to our nation’s veterans by working to unify them with their communities, nature, and themselves. As an organization, we believe that we live in a community that supports their veterans but may not know how to show it, and we have veterans that need that support but may not know how to ask.
PHAT has three main initiatives, Veteran Advocacy, Veteran Outreach, and a Veteran's Village.
Our Veteran Advocacy program, Spartan Shield, helps veterans in crisis situations. Through our P.H.A.T Hotline, 833-855-7428, first responders, police officers, family members, friends of a veteran, or a veteran themselves in a crisis may request a
veteran advocate to assist with that veteran.
The veteran advocate will be trained in mental health and first aid, along with having information on the resources available depending on the particular issue the veteran is dealing with (Health, mental health, substance abuse, housing, financial, education, employment, etc.).
This is NOT to provide treatment, but to be there for another veteran when they need it most.
Through the phone number, veterans can also schedule a meeting with another veteran who will serve as their advocate if they would like to better understand what resources are available in the veteran community or simply need or want another veteran to grab a cup of coffee with and talk to.
Our Veteran Outreach initiatives are our Troops on Trails and Veiled Valor programs. P.H.A.T. has purchased and wrapped a 20-foot enclosed trailer and have filled it with equipment to take veterans kayaking, mountain biking, camping, hiking, golfing and more within the State of Illinois. It is our belief that this program works hand-in-hand with Spartan Shield, as a veteran may not be ready to receive treatment but needs to be surrounded by loving, supporting, and understanding peers.
There was an identified need to create a space for female veterans. In that moment Veiled Valor was born with an initiative to bring woman veterans together and have them explore their unique service experiences. Giving back to the community through different services as well as coming together to do things such as axe throwing, rage rooms, kayaking and other expressive activities, created a space where they can come together with those who have had similar experiences.
Project Headspace and Timing's long-term goal and initiative is a Veteran's Village, Transistional Lodging Facility. It is our long-term goal to build a transitional tiny home lodging facility for homeless veterans equipped with a treatment facility. The process has been arduous and was the initial focus of our organization until the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to divert our resources to where we saw the greatest need: immediate assistance with veteran mental health. However, it is still our goal to build this facility, and have already partnered with High School District 214’s Engineering Class students who have developed the blueprints for the project under the advisement of local engineering firms.
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