Fun & Camaraderie at the JOHN Veterans & First Responders Open House!
Sanford team members at the Open House for JOHN – a Veterans & First Responders only residential treatment center in Grand Rapids!
Thank you to everyone who attended our JOHN Open House last week in honor of our new facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thanks also to Sanford Director of Nursing Natalie Frelix for the fabulous photos! The party was a great success, with Sanford Behavioral Health team members mixing with neighbors, veterans, referral partners, veteran services representatives, law enforcement representatives, and first responders. Even Sanford Behavioral Health’s therapy dog Apollonia was there! JOHN Executive Director Matthew VanLiere has 29 years of experience in law enforcement and is in recovery. So, when Matt gave a speech to the crowd, it truly reflected how all of us at Sanford felt about the opening of JOHN.
Matthew Van Liere’s Speech to Open J.O.H.N. (Just One Hero Needed)
“It is with deep pride, and even deeper purpose, that I stand before you today to introduce a program that means more to me than words can fully express. JOHN is not just a name; it is a promise. A promise to first responders and Veterans that they are not alone, that their service is recognized, and that their healing matters. Studies show that at least 30% of first responders develop mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. We lose an average of one hundred Veterans a day to suicide.
These individuals are not just statistics; they are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, people who dedicate their lives to protecting others. The JOHN program is built for them. It is a mental health and substance use disorder program exclusively for Veterans and first responders. Our mission is simple but urgent – to save the lives of those who spent their careers saving others. This program has been a personal dream of mine since I joined Sanford four years ago. As a retired deputy sheriff and someone who has been in recovery for more than twelve years, I know the weight of the badge, the silence behind the uniform, and the fact that recovery is possible – but only if we reach out a hand.
JOHN is that hand, a lifeline, a call to just one hero.
Sometimes, one person is all that is needed to start the ripple of healing. At JOHN, we believe in a core truth: forged in service and strengthened in healing. That is the foundation of this mission. We want every hero to know that they not only can heal, but they deserve to. Thank you for standing with us as we launch this lifesaving program. Together, we will honor the service of Veterans and first responders with action.”
Matt VanLiere with members of his proud family!
J.O.H.N. (Just One Hero Needed)
J.O.H.N. (Just One Hero Needed) is a Veterans & first responders only residential program addressing addiction, PTSD, mental health, and eating disorders. We are located in a restored historic home with 24/7 nursing, a private chef, an on-site fitness center, and staffed by Veterans and first responders. Our experienced care team understands the culture and challenges faced by those who have served. We offer specialized care for stress management, trauma and PTSD, home life transition, relationships, substance use, anger management, coping, peer support, and community. Our signature EZ Admissions & Clearances means you speak with a real person and enter treatment 24/7. Clinical assessments are completed using referral packets.
Members of the JOHN team at the Open House!
For More Information:
For more information about our programs for those who have served, click the photo below for a printable, one-page brochure.
And if you didn’t get a chance to join us for the JOHN Open House, take a virtual tour of our beautiful facility by clicking the link below!
