Why Veterans and First Responders Only Treatment? 4 Questions for Executive Director Matthew VanLiere
Why Veterans and First Responders Only?
Matthew (Matt) VanLiere has a BA in Criminal Justice and 29 years of experience in law enforcement. Matt worked with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department in narcotics investigations (undercover work), bench warrant enforcement, general road patrol, and crisis negotiation. He was an honor guard member for his entire law enforcement career. During his years of service, he received a Life Saving Award and a Meritorious Service Award.
Matt also has a personal journey with addiction recovery. He has been in recovery for over a decade and is active in the recovery community as a certified recovery coach. His journey, combined with his safety and security experience, came together at the right time to secure his position at Sanford Behavioral Health four years ago. As one of the first employees at Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus, he built the safety team and went on to become the Director of Operations. J.O.H.N. (Just One Hero Needed), Sanford’s new treatment center exclusively for first responders and Veterans, is his self-styled “dream come true.” As Executive Director of Operations, Matt VanLiere will oversee all aspects of the residential facility located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We sat down with Matt on the cusp of opening JOHN to ask him four questions.
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Why Veterans & First Responders Only Treatment? 4 Questions for Matt VanLiere
Executive Director of Operations, Matthew VanLiere
1. SBH: Tell us about JOHN and why Sanford Behavioral Health is opening a Veterans and First Responders-only treatment center.
Matt VanLiere: There is such a need for mental health and addiction recovery treatment for first responders and Veterans, and we are filling that need. We sit in the heart of Grand Rapids, hidden in plain sight in a beautiful, private residence that blends seamlessly into its surroundings. It provides an extra layer of anonymity that first responders and Veterans require. We operate independently, but we join forces with Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus (Sanford West) and work with a collaborative care team. We provide detoxification services and offer a full continuum of care for addiction, mental health conditions, and eating disorders.
JOHN will be occupied by adult (18+) first responders and Veterans only, which is extremely important to this population. In that regard, they won’t have to acclimate to recovery while integrating with others outside of the military and first responder communities. As a former police officer and a person in recovery, my biggest fear was having to sit in a space and share with the general population. I went to a treatment center out of state without a program designed for first responders because of it. The general population may share an addiction or mental health condition, but they don’t understand what I experienced. To provide an evidence-based, safe space in Michigan for others in my situation is a dream come true for me.
2. SBH: Who is JOHN designed to treat?
Matt VanLiere: Google defines “first responder” as “a person with specialized training who is among the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency.” So, we treat Veterans, law enforcement and corrections officers, EMS personnel, dispatchers, firefighters, or anyone else who provides emergency care. We provide trauma-informed programming that addresses the singular challenges faced by Veterans and first responders.
3. SBH: How does a person get admitted to JOHN?
Matt VanLiere: First, they make the call. We have a full admissions team prepared to address the needs of first responders and Veterans. We developed a personalized assessment that our highly trained admissions team uses for this population. Individuals call us directly, family members call, or we receive referrals from the VA, therapists, or other psychiatric or medical professionals. There are several ways to contact us, including email, online forms, and social media links. Our EZ Admissions and Clearances process means you talk to a real person on the phone 24/7, with expedited admissions to treatment.
The admissions process begins at 221 John Street NE. The individual arrives with their belongings at the appointed time. They are greeted by me, their therapist, and the resident support specialist. The process is actually like going through customs in a foreign country. We ensure that all their paperwork is accurate and that what they brought with them is suitable. After a tour and a short acclimatization, they may join a group immediately at JOHN. We take individuals who need detox from alcohol or controlled substances, or medical stabilization, to the Detox Center at Sanford West. The good news is that everything is under one umbrella – Sanford Behavioral Health. I always say, ‘You just have to trust the process.”
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4. SBH: You say JOHN is a dream come true. Could you talk more about that, please?
Matt VanLiere: I am very open about my recovery. I have 29 years of experience in law enforcement, and I come from a law enforcement family. My late father retired after 30 years in law enforcement, and he was a person in recovery. So, I was raised in a family where substance use was rampant and tied to law enforcement, and then I turned around and did the same thing myself [laughs]. So, I have a background as a first responder and 12 years of active sobriety through recovery. Since I came to Sanford four years ago, I have forwarded the idea of treating first responders and Veterans exclusively. I brought it up in meetings, and to anyone who would listen [smiles]. The fact that we are providing healing and restoration for those who have served feels like a full circle for me.
SBH: Congratulations.
Matt VanLiere: Thank you. As Director of Operations at Sanford Behavioral Health for four years, I gained a deep understanding of how it works from the ground up (literally). I also understand what it’s like to push the boundaries and finally become accountable to my family and support network. In short, I know what it is like to be on the edge of losing everything.
At JOHN, we will have internal recovery meetings facilitated by first responders and Veterans in recovery. We are working to staff this program with as many people as we can who “get it” from a personal or professional standpoint—someone who has walked that walk. JOHN is staffed by clinical therapists, nurses, resident support specialists, and other providers. Our location is perfect for short off-site excursions. For example, Veterans own an excellent coffeehouse just down the road. We’re on a steep hill, so morning walks or jogs are also a good way to get the blood flowing! There will be opportunities for supervised exposure to “real-life” activities in the community, but our first objective is to foster safety, privacy, and comfort for everyone in our care.
SBH: Thanks, Matt!
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