JOSEPH P. DWYER
VETERANS PEER SUPPORT PROJECT
OF PUTNAM COUNTY
Dwyer of Putnam offerings
The Putnam County Veterans Service Agency PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Vet2Vet (Veterans’ Peer Services Project) provides services such as support groups, social activities, helping Vets get their benefit claims back on track, advise them on how to access their education benefits, and much more.
Our new TALK LINE offers veterans a safe, confidential, and veteran-led space to be heard, supported, and connected. If you’re burdened, unsure, looking for direction or simply want to talk, give us a call.
VET2VET TALK LINE: VET-200-8286
Our events
For everything we organize, we cover the logistics & the costs. All you need to do is block out your calendar & show up (a challenging but worthwhile task in your busy life!)
Each event is for a specific group — because sometimes it’s great to bring the whole family, but we also know how valuable it is to make time for couples to connect and for individuals to nurture their own needs.
Located at 110 Old Route Six, Bldg. 3, Carmel, NY 10512
Putnam County Veterans Service Agency
Assistance with claims, disability compensation, allowance for dependents, pension, education, aid & attendance, burial & memorial, medals & awards, military records/discharge papers, healthcare & ID (in conjunction with the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System), and VA benefit representation.
Contact Information:
Phone: 845-808-1620
Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm
VET Center
Counseling: Provides individual, group, couples, and family counseling to address challenges, find solutions, and support personal growth.
Referrals: Connects Veterans and families with medical, benefits, employment, and community resources.
Community Engagement: Builds partnerships with local organizations and advocates for Veterans and their families.
Point of Contact: Jocelyn Gray, LCSW
Phone: 914-682-6250
Office Hours: Wed & Thurs, 9am-5pm
NYS Division of Veterans Services
Advocacy: Ensures Veterans and families receive earned benefits. Advising: Offers free, expert help with benefit applications and appeals. Support: Connects Veterans to employment, healthcare, education, and other resources.
Contact Information:
Phone: 845-831-2000 extension 215449
Office Hours: Fridays, by appointment only
oUR pUTNAM pARTNERS
Meet the Team
Megan Castellano
Executive Program Director
TODD DORRIS
Program Coordinator
Connect with us
Have a question, a resource to share, or just want to get in touch?
We’d love to hear from you!
Say hello at dwyerputnam@guardianrevival.org
THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH P. DWYER VETERANS PEER SUPPORT PROJECT
The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Vet2Vet Program was established in honor of Army Medic PFC Joseph P. Dwyer. Dwyer became known to Americans during the early days of the Iraq War, when a 2003 photograph captured him risking his life to carry an injured Iraqi child to safety. His courage and compassion made him one of the first widely recognized heroes of the conflict.
After his passing in 2008, the Dwyer Peer Support Project was launched founded on the belief that the place Dwyer felt most understood after returning home was among his peers - his fellow veterans.
Originally launched in Suffolk, Jefferson, Saratoga, and Rensselaer Counties in 2012, the initiative has since expanded across New York State. Putnam County joined in 2014, and after demonstrating lasting impact, the Dwyer Program was made a permanent line item in the New York State budget in 2023—ensuring all 62 counties have access to Vet2Vet peer support services. Each community's Dwyer Program is tailored to the unique needs of the veterans in its community, making it matter one veteran at a time.
CREATING COMMUNITY
We aim to help establish connections across the extended community of military & first responder families. As family members of guardians of any kind, you have many shared experiences and the ability to understand each other’s particular lifestyles.
There are benefits from connecting with peers with whom you overlap significantly in similarities — and also with peers you only loosely resemble. Regardless of your degree of similarity, spending time with peers can offer connectedness, belonging, and community.
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Family members of any guardian type
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Same broad guardian service category (military or first responder)
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Same specific service branch or community (Army, Navy, Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, EMS, etc)
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Same service AND demographic and/or inherent identity
(gender, age, location, family situation, etc)
Keep in Touch
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