VENTURA, Calif. – The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of a new program during its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 24, with The Veteran Mentor Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides peer support and transition services for veterans and first responders. Ventura County Behavioral Health, in collaboration with The Veteran Mentor Project, will lead the program, with services scheduled to begin April 1, 2026, and continue through March 31, 2029. The partnership will support local veterans and first responders as they transition to civilian life through the Veterans Mentorship Program.
Designed to close gaps between crisis response, the program will provide access to behavioral health services and long-term community support. It focuses on early intervention with veterans and first responders to help prevent behavioral health crises, reduce suicide risk, and improve engagement in care. The program also supports long-term stability by helping to reduce stigma around mental health care and provide participants access to services such as employment support, housing, and health care.
“As a third-generation veteran, this work is deeply personal to me,” said Chair of the Board of Supervisors Jeff Gorell. “We have a responsibility to stand by those who have served – not just in words, but in action. The Veterans Mentorship Program is about meeting veterans and first responders where they are, with peer support, guidance, and real pathways forward. This investment honors their service by helping ensure they have the tools, connection, and support needed to thrive in civilian life, and reflects our broader commitment to building a healthier, safer, and more resilient Ventura County.”
Ventura County Behavioral Health will oversee the program and partner with The Veteran Mentor Project to deliver services using a structured, peer-driven model. Participants will be matched with trained mentors who share similar life experiences, helping to build trust and encourage engagement in services. The program will provide wellness planning and help participants find housing and employment. It will also offer guidance navigating health care and community resources to support overall well-being.
“Veterans and first responders have given so much to our community, and this program will provide much needed support,” said County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson. “By investing in peer-driven services, we are helping connect individuals to care and strengthen the overall health of our community.”
The program is expected to create lasting benefits for veterans and first responders across Ventura County. By strengthening connections to local services and support networks, it will help participants stay engaged in care and build long-term stability. It will also contribute to a stronger, more connected community for those who have served.
“Ventura County is home to more than 35,000 veterans, and we have a responsibility to ensure they receive the support they need as they transition to civilian life,” said Dr. Loretta Denering, Ventura County Behavioral Health Director. “The Veteran Mentorship Program reflects a Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funded Innovation project that focuses on how veterans and first responders deserve to be served – pairing them with trained peer mentors and addressing wellness holistically, from mental health to financial stability.”
In addition to supporting veterans and first responders, the program will allow Ventura County Behavioral Health to test new, peer-led approaches to care while gathering information to improve the delivery of future services. Findings from the program will help guide investments in mental health care and strengthen how services are delivered across the county. To support this work, the Board of Supervisors approved use of up to $2.36 million from Mental Health Services Act funding that does not impact the County’s general fund.
For more information about Ventura County Behavioral Health programs and services, please visit hca.venturacounty.gov/behavioral-health/
