Early experiences of employing consumer-providers in the VA.

Objectives: Following guidelines in the mental health strategic plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VA began in 2005 to fund a number of new positions for consumer-providers (CPs)--that is, individuals with personal experience of serious mental illness who provide support services to others with serious mental illness, typically as clinical team members. This study explored the challenges of CP implementation in its early stages within the VA.

Methods: Four focus groups were conducted with a total of 59 VA CPs and 34 VA supervisors from across the United States.