Establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration: virtual veterans socials
This community case study reflects the transition of a community-based social intervention at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in the northeastern United States (U.S.) from in-person to virtual gatherings during COVID-19 restrictions. Initially, the Veterans Socials program began in 2014 to ad...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1548618/full |
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| author | Jay A. Gorman Jay A. Gorman Elizabeth S. Chamberlin Helen P. Hailes Marsha Langer Ellison Rachelle M. Calixte Jessica Mack John Smolinsky Erin D. Reilly Erin D. Reilly Charles E. Drebing |
| author_facet | Jay A. Gorman Jay A. Gorman Elizabeth S. Chamberlin Helen P. Hailes Marsha Langer Ellison Rachelle M. Calixte Jessica Mack John Smolinsky Erin D. Reilly Erin D. Reilly Charles E. Drebing |
| author_sort | Jay A. Gorman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This community case study reflects the transition of a community-based social intervention at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in the northeastern United States (U.S.) from in-person to virtual gatherings during COVID-19 restrictions. Initially, the Veterans Socials program began in 2014 to address social support challenges of veterans who received care from VA, then evolved into community-based social groups delivered with and for the veteran community. These consist of veteran-led weekly meetups aimed at fostering social connection and reducing isolation. This evaluation explores the challenges and opportunities involved in shifting to a virtual platform, focusing on how community partnerships, including collaboration between private and government organizations, supported the continuity of this inclusive social support initiative. Leveraging these partnerships expanded access to health-related resources and services, while maintaining critical social networks. Findings include program-level data and three individual case studies that underscore the role of social support systems in mitigating loneliness and improving healthcare accessibility in times of crisis. This evaluation highlights how community partnerships were essential for sustaining social support, enhancing access to healthcare information, and disseminating vital information to the community during an emergency declaration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-be789245c9dd408a88124ca700b623be |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-be789245c9dd408a88124ca700b623be2025-08-20T02:47:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-08-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15486181548618Establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration: virtual veterans socialsJay A. Gorman0Jay A. Gorman1Elizabeth S. Chamberlin2Helen P. Hailes3Marsha Langer Ellison4Rachelle M. Calixte5Jessica Mack6John Smolinsky7Erin D. Reilly8Erin D. Reilly9Charles E. Drebing10United States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United StatesChobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United StatesUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United StatesUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United StatesUMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United StatesUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United StatesUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United StatesUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United StatesUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United StatesUMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United StatesChobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United StatesThis community case study reflects the transition of a community-based social intervention at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in the northeastern United States (U.S.) from in-person to virtual gatherings during COVID-19 restrictions. Initially, the Veterans Socials program began in 2014 to address social support challenges of veterans who received care from VA, then evolved into community-based social groups delivered with and for the veteran community. These consist of veteran-led weekly meetups aimed at fostering social connection and reducing isolation. This evaluation explores the challenges and opportunities involved in shifting to a virtual platform, focusing on how community partnerships, including collaboration between private and government organizations, supported the continuity of this inclusive social support initiative. Leveraging these partnerships expanded access to health-related resources and services, while maintaining critical social networks. Findings include program-level data and three individual case studies that underscore the role of social support systems in mitigating loneliness and improving healthcare accessibility in times of crisis. This evaluation highlights how community partnerships were essential for sustaining social support, enhancing access to healthcare information, and disseminating vital information to the community during an emergency declaration.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1548618/fullsocial connectionlonelinessaccess to carepublic-private partnershipsveteransemergency preparedness |
| spellingShingle | Jay A. Gorman Jay A. Gorman Elizabeth S. Chamberlin Helen P. Hailes Marsha Langer Ellison Rachelle M. Calixte Jessica Mack John Smolinsky Erin D. Reilly Erin D. Reilly Charles E. Drebing Establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration: virtual veterans socials Frontiers in Public Health social connection loneliness access to care public-private partnerships veterans emergency preparedness |
| title | Establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration: virtual veterans socials |
| title_full | Establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration: virtual veterans socials |
| title_fullStr | Establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration: virtual veterans socials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration: virtual veterans socials |
| title_short | Establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration: virtual veterans socials |
| title_sort | establishing community partnerships to maintain social connection and healthcare access during an emergency declaration virtual veterans socials |
| topic | social connection loneliness access to care public-private partnerships veterans emergency preparedness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1548618/full |
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