This article highlights issues and successes identified in a study of VTC peer mentor experiences in order to better understand and improve VTC mentor programs; it provides a literature review of drug courts and related programs, and discusses the research methodology, confidentiality, issues and challenges, findings and outcomes, implications for future research, and conclusions.
This article presents a qualitative, exploratory study that addressed an existing gap in the literature on problem-solving courts and their effectiveness. The research study was specifically designed to increase the understanding of the impacts of veteran treatment court (VTC) peer mentors; it sought to shed light on the roles, experiences, and expectations of VTC peer mentors from different geographic and military backgrounds. Research findings include peer mentor perspectives on personal experiences, individualized methods on how each peer mentor approaches their role within selected courts, the importance of building trust and friendship through the use of confidentiality, feelings of separation from the court treatment team, and issues with inadequate training in preparation for their roles as peer mentors. The research study’s findings are an important first step toward better understanding the role and effectiveness of VTC peer mentors and in advancing future research on their use and impact within VTCs.
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