Military spouses can attend a free day of wellness activities and benefits assistance Nov. 14 at Clear Path for Veterans in Chittenango, with reservations due Nov. 4.
The New York State Department of Veterans' Services announced the first in-person Healing Haven for Military Spouses retreat Thursday. It is organizing the event with Clear Path's Wellness and Enrichment Program and Stress Is Gone founder Brett Cotter.
The retreat runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1223 Salt Springs Road in Madison County. It is open to spouses of active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve personnel, and veterans.
Participants should RSVP by emailing benjamin.pomerance@veterans.ny.gov by Nov. 4. Breakfast and lunch are included at no charge, and participants should share dietary restrictions when registering. Funding to help cover childcare expenses is available upon request through the department.
Wellness activities and practical assistance
The day's complimentary activities include chair massage, yoga, sound therapy, music therapy, meditative mindfulness, stress reduction workshops and clinical nutrition guidance.
Participants can also receive legal services and help with veterans benefits, TRICARE, VA medical care enrollment and VA home loans. FreshConnect Checks and information about additional military-family programs will be available.
Department benefits advisers and representatives of partner veterans service organizations will help attendees understand available assistance and navigate benefits systems.
Deputy Counsel Benjamin Pomerance said the event is intended to combine wellness with useful guidance for families managing responsibilities that may be less visible to others.
“Our goal is for participants to leave feeling supported, better informed about the benefits and resources available to them, and connected to people and organizations that can help them navigate the challenges they may face,” Pomerance said.
Cotter, whose organization provides stress reduction education and wellness programming, will help participants learn techniques for managing stress and incorporating mindfulness and self-care into daily life. The department said he has more than 25 years of experience working with emotional stress, trauma and anxiety.
Program expands from virtual meetings
Healing Haven began as a virtual program in December 2025, supported by suicide prevention funding in the 2025-26 state budget. The November event brings participants together in person for the first time during Veterans Month.
Veterans' Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohen said the retreat expands opportunities for military spouses to focus on their own well-being while connecting directly with resources and other families.
Clear Path President and CEO Ryan Woodruff said supporting veterans also means supporting their families. The nonprofit's Chittenango campus offers wellness programming, peer support, career services, canine programs and other community connections.
Cindy Meili, assistant director of the Onondaga County Veterans Service Agency and the 2022 National Guard Military Spouse of the Year, helped develop Healing Haven. She said the program was designed around spouses' experiences and their need for space to focus on themselves.
“We become so accustomed to adapting, finding solutions, and putting our families first that we sometimes forget to make time for ourselves,” Meili said.
For benefits assistance beyond the retreat, veterans, service members and military families can contact the Department of Veterans' Services at 888-838-7697 or visit veterans.ny.gov to arrange an in-person or virtual meeting with an accredited benefits adviser.
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