Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness

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Advancing research and programs that strengthen military & veteran family wellness

10/05/2026

Military and veteran spouses/partners play a critical role in family well-being, yet the research and programming dedicated to this community has not always kept pace with their needs. The emotional, logistical, and caregiving labor they carry is enormous, and too often goes unrecognized. The Military & Veteran Spouse Wellness Survey, conducted by Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness and InDependent, exists to bridge that gap. By better understanding the true wellness needs of military and veteran spouses/partners, we can inform the research, resources, and programs that this community deserves. Find the survey at https://na2.hubs.ly/H07fdZN0

Veteran Spouse Network is an affiliate of IMVFW.

09/28/2026

Understanding well-being means looking at the whole person. The 8 dimensions of wellness — emotional, physical, intellectual, social, occupational, financial, spiritual, and environmental — each tell part of the story. For military and veteran spouses/partners, every one of these areas can be shaped by the unique realities of military-connected life, and those impacts aren't always captured in traditional research. That's why the Military & Veteran Spouse Wellness Survey, conducted by Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness and InDependent, takes a whole-person approach. When we understand the full picture, we can build support that truly meets this community where they are. Find the survey at https://na2.hubs.ly/H07fh3t0

Veteran Spouse Network is an affiliate of IMVFW.

09/21/2026

How are you, really? That's the question the Military & Veteran Spouse Wellness Survey, conducted by Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness and InDependent, is designed to answer. This community navigates unique challenges, and every experience looks different. Whether you met your partner during active duty or long after service, whether you're a caregiver or not, your story belongs in this research. By hearing from a wide range of military and veteran spouses/partners, IMVFW and InDependent can assess well-being at large, identify gaps in support, and put real data in the hands of the programs, policymakers, and leaders who serve this community. Take the survey :https://na2.hubs.ly/H07dMD00

Veteran Spouse Network is an affiliate of IMVFW.

09/09/2026

Families are on the front lines of su***de prevention. Often, they're the first to notice when something feels off, and the ones best positioned to step in with care.

That's why Veteran Spouse Network offers free, evidence-based su***de prevention trainings for military and veteran families nationwide. So far, we've trained over 1,250 individuals through 111+ sessions, and nearly half of participants have used what they learned to check in on a loved one within just one month.

This September, we have several free trainings coming up:

🗓️ Sept 11 – Mental Health First Aid & CALM Conversations
🗓️ Sept 17 – Mental Health First Aid & CALM Conversations
🗓️ Sept 18 (8–10am) – From Knowledge to Action: Responding to Su***de Risk
🗓️ Sept 18 (10am–1pm) – Safety Planning Intervention

Every training is a chance to build a stronger, more connected community, one that knows how to recognize warning signs, hold compassionate conversations, and act when it matters most. Visit VSN's calendar to register and find the session that's right for you.

09/02/2026

Military and veteran life can bring constant change — new duty stations, deployments, transitions to civilian life. You don't have to navigate any of it alone.

The Veteran Spouse Network connects military and veteran families with peer support, wellness resources, and a community that truly gets it.

You belong here. Connect with VSN 💛

08/21/2026

Life moves fast, and leadership can move even faster. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause.

Join Veteran Spouse Network August 27 at 12:00 PM CDT for The Power of Pause: Leadership Practices for Inner Growth, a free virtual EmpowerEd seminar with Dr. Lonnie Pederson and Jolee Lilja. Together they'll share practical tools for reconnecting with your values, building presence, and leading with more clarity, whether that's at home, at work, or in your community.

This event is open to military and veteran-connected community members. Register today: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07bK5_0

08/18/2026

Our program, Veteran Spouse Network, tabled as an exhibitor at the Texas Su***de Prevention Symposium in New Braunfels! Two days, hundreds of professionals and advocates, and one shared goal of strengthening su***de prevention efforts for military and veteran families across Texas.

We loved sharing our su***de prevention and peer-support programs while connecting with partners doing this lifesaving work every day. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table!

08/07/2026

This week, IMVFW was represented at the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) in Orlando. Dr. Elisa Borah and Emily Neimeyer presented findings from the REACH Study peer support program for military spouses, while Dr. Katherine Gower shared findings from the Military and Veteran Spouse Wellness Survey (MVSWS) in a poster presentation.

MHSRS brings together military providers, researchers, and industry partners to share research on the health and readiness needs of the deployed warfighter, spanning areas like warfighter medical readiness and return to duty. It was a valuable opportunity for the team to contribute family-focused research to that conversation and connect with others advancing the field.

IMVFW is grateful to have been joined by Ashley Tucker, Research Development Officer for STEM Disciplines in UT Austin's Office of the Vice President for Research.

08/05/2026

Veteran Spouse Network is hosting a series of upcoming su***de prevention trainings, free of charge and designed to equip participants with practical, evidence-based tools to support individuals in crisis. Many sessions also offer CEUs for professionals.

🗓 Upcoming Trainings:

Mental Health First Aid & CALM Conversations
- August 13 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CDT
- September 11 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CDT
- September 17 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CDT

From Knowledge to Action: Responding to Su***de Risk
- August 19 | 9:00 am – 11:00 am CDT
- September 18 | 8:00 am – 10:00 am CDT

Youth Mental Health First Aid & Safety Planning Intervention
- August 27 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CDT

Safety Planning Intervention
- September 18 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm CDT

Through hands-on practice and real-world scenarios, you'll gain skills in safety planning, risk assessment, and trauma-informed communication to make a meaningful impact in your community.

🔗 Register today and learn more at https://na2.hubs.ly/H06_t3f0

07/29/2026

The Veteran Spouse Resiliency Group (V-SRG) is making a real difference, and the data backs it up.

This free, peer-led program run by the Veteran Spouse Network helps military and veteran spouses build connection, resilience, and well-being through evidence-informed practices. The evaluation report highlights what's possible when spouses get the right support:

✅ 100% of participants improved in at least one domain of well-being
✅ Nearly all reported stronger social connections and support
✅ Participants built sustainable self-care habits and gained confidence in su***de prevention skills

Discover how V-SRG is transforming lives and shaping the future of veteran spouse wellness.

🔗 Read the full report: https://na2.hubs.ly/H05P4QL0

Address

405 W. 25th Street
Austin, TX
78705

Website

https://imvfw.utexas.edu/

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