Veteran and Military Navigator Program
In 2016, the State of Michigan created the Veteran and Military Family Navigator Program to assist the more than 634,000 veterans living in the state and family members. The first service of this type in the nation, it works to identify, connect and engage them to mental health, substance use and other community resources.
There are 25 offices throughout the state. More than 20,000 veterans live in the Great Lakes Bay area, and the Navigator Program office covering this area is located at the 500 Hancock location of Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority.
Since 2025, it has been directed by Ashton Hero, a four-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
“There are so many resources that are available to veterans and their families,” Hero said. “Unfortunately, many veterans are unaware of what these resources are or how to access them. Veteran Navigators are here to provide the information and connections to those resources that can go unannounced.”
Services and support provided include:
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“As a Veteran myself, I understand military culture and the challenges it brings,” Hero said. "The military teaches veterans to figure it out and never ask for help. The Navigator program was created to help those veterans break out of the stigma involving mental health and other related concerns and connect those veterans to resources.”
Hero meets with 30-40 veterans regularly every quarter, building on these relationships and determining the best ways for them to seek services. He also spends his time strengthening relationships with community resource partners and other professionals with basic knowledge about the culture of the U.S. military and better equip them to serve veterans and their families.
“I’m happy to meet with any veteran or their family member within the Great Lakes Bay Region,” Hero said. “Whether it be in the office, at a coffee hour, or at a local business. I want the person to feel comfortable and safe when talking with me.”
For more information about the Veteran and Military Navigator Program, Ashton can be reached via email at ashton.hero@sccmha.org or by phone at (989) 272-7375 or (989) 988-9602.
Veteran Coffee Hours
Ashton hosts coffee hours for veterans to meet, connect with other veterans and learn about resources available to them, as well as ask questions on how to get them.
| 1. Every second Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
American Legion Post 443 2080 N. Meridian Rd Sanford, MI 48657 |
2. Every fourth Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Veteran’s Workshop and Learning Center 1009 N. Madison Ave Bay City, MI 48708 |