Mental Health PlaybookCohen Veterans Network
- Geographic Focus: Twenty states across the country.
- Mission: Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) improves the mental health and quality of life of veterans, service members and their families through our nonprofit network of outpatient mental health clinics, enabling them to lead fulfilling and productive lives.
- Operating Budget: $87 million (gross), $65 million (net)
- People Served: Post-9/11 veterans, regardless of discharge status or role in the military, active duty service members (including National Guard and Reserves) and military families as defined by the veteran or service member, including children.
- Focus Areas and Core Competencies: Accessible, high-quality mental health care and wrap-around services to the military-connected community, plus comprehensive training and research to advance the mental health field.
Impact Statement
Cohen Veterans Network, Inc. (CVN) has improved the mental health and quality of life of over 76,000 veteran and military families through a nonprofit network of outpatient mental health clinics using evidence-based practices to provide high-quality, accessible care.
A conversation with Anthony Hassan, president and CEO of Cohen Veterans Network
Q: What is the mission of your organization? What specific areas related to mental health challenges are you working to solve?
CVN is a crucial nonprofit organization focused on improving mental health care access for post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members and their families. Through Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics across the U.S., we provide evidence-based mental health services for issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD and adjustment difficulties. We emphasize suicide prevention, offering therapy and support during the “Deadly Gap.”
We aim to prevent transition challenges and support reintegration into civilian life. Our holistic approach includes case management, telehealth services and referrals for unemployment and housing stability. Additionally, we focus on community engagement through education and outreach initiatives to raise awareness and support for military families.
Q: How do you describe the big goals your organization is working to achieve? How do you measure impact?
Our Five-Year Strategic Vision (2025-2030) aims to enhance access, service quality and impact through several key areas. The plan focuses on improving access and clinical outcomes, expanding services across all states and internationally and optimizing our model by reviewing partnerships and enhancing business efficiency. Leveraging technology and improving resources support these goals alongside a multi-pronged sustainment strategy for financial and service delivery balance.
The strategy emphasizes community training, research and technology integration, led by the Cohen Veterans Network Institute for Quality (CVN-IQ), targeting the mental health needs of post-9/11 veterans, improving mental health outcomes and delivery.
We measure impact by evaluating patient progress, service reach and efficiency in financial and resource use through our real-time performance data dashboards. We also assess community training and research contributions to advance best-in-class mental health care practices.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges the organization has experienced in working to accomplish its mission? How did your organization overcome those challenges?
America has a mental health crisis for all, not just our military population. The biggest challenges we have observed include limited access to quality care, increasing demand, especially among children, licensure issues across states and low insurance reimbursement rates. Moreover, the mental health field faces a shortage of clinicians, impacting organizations like ours and others nationwide. Rural areas also struggle with insufficient internet for telehealth and are health deserts, which is discouraging new therapists from joining the profession or relocating to rural areas.
Our Scholars and Fellows internship program aims to address this shortage by training clinicians in evidence-based practices and military cultural competency. We are committed to improving mental health care accessibility through free training for professionals and educating stakeholders to drive change and grow our own clinicians.
Q: What are the organization’s biggest needs? How can philanthropists help your organization achieve its goals?
Philanthropic support is vital to meeting our organization’s greatest needs and is essential for sustaining the mental health field, which requires a multi-pronged funding approach with philanthropy at its core. Our experiences tell us that government funding alone cannot ensure accessible, high-quality mental health care.
Philanthropy is needed to fill gaps where government funding falls short and the for-profit sector is unwilling to invest. This gap is a primary contributor to the mental health crisis in America, highlighting the ongoing need for significant philanthropic engagement to keep services accessible.
Strengthening partnerships with local organizations, government agencies and philanthropic supporters can help close service gaps and expand access in underserved communities. Together, these entities can develop sustainable, comprehensive programs that address current mental health needs while proactively focusing on prevention and resilience-building.
In addition, we are committed to advancing mental health research through innovative treatments and techniques across our network. We believe in fostering a culture of research and continuous learning to stay ahead of emerging mental health issues and tailor interventions for military families’ evolving needs. Emphasizing applied and translational research also supports evidence-based policymaking, ensuring sustainable, effective mental health care systems.
Q: Beyond the organization, where should philanthropists who care about advancing knowledge related to improving mental health invest their charitable dollars?
Philanthropists should prioritize investing in operational support for mental health organizations, given the inadequate reimbursement rates from government programs and insurance providers. Additionally, they should fund training, education and scholarship programs for mental health clinicians to address the clinician shortage and encourage new talent to enter the field. Supporting evidence-based therapies and measurement-based care is essential for improved treatment outcomes.
The post-pandemic mental health crisis among children also calls for targeted support toward children’s mental health initiatives. Community-based organizations recognize the need to provide greater support for mild to moderate mental health conditions, which can help prevent lifelong struggles. However, most government funding is directed toward treating the most severe cases. Philanthropic funding can help shift this reactive, government-funded focus from inpatient and residential care to a more proactive, outpatient mental health treatment approach.
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