LA CROSSE AREA VETERANS MENTOR PROGRAM

When data on veteran incarceration rates in La Crosse County raised concern, the community responded with the Veterans Court Initiative in 2009. From this initiative, on January 4, 2010, La Crosse Area Veterans Mentor Program, Inc. (LAVMP) was established followed by the La Crosse Veterans Court (LAVC) on November 11, 2011.

LAVMP is a charitable, nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees, led by a part time Executive Director, operated by two part time employees and nearly 30 generous volunteers.

LAVMP offers peer-to-peer support to veterans and their families in Adams, Clark, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lincoln, Marathon, Monroe, Portage, Price, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood Counties in Wisconsin; Houston and Winona Counties in Minnesota.

The overall mission of LAVMP is to mentor and provide direct support to veterans who may be experiencing adjustment issues returning to civilian life such as addiction and substance abuse; mental and behavioral health; education; employment; family; financial; and legal issues.

The goal of LAVMP is to reduce, prevent and manage recent or imminent hardship a veteran may face by serving as a resource to families, community partners, veteran organizations, County Veteran Service Officers and other stakeholders within the organization’s geographic reach.

LAVMP recruits, trains and assigns volunteer mentors to provide early intervention, recovery support, social support and assistance navigating resources available to veterans and their family members.