Inclusion & Belonging at SMART

This presentation highlights the Veterans SMART Network, a VHA-supported innovation created to address the 94% relapse rate among Veterans after SUD treatment. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program empowers Veterans to become SMART Facilitators and Certified Peer Recovery Specialists through scholarships, technology access, and peer-led support groups. The presentation will explore how this model bridges treatment and long-term recovery, integrates CBT tools with lived experience, and fosters Veteran leadership. Attendees will gain insights into replicating this peer-driven approach to recovery in other systems.