Health & Wellbeing
For so many people who serve as Peace Corps Volunteers, readjusting to life after service is difficult even in the best of times. For some returned Volunteers, it takes years or even decades to rediscover the sense of community and belonging that they experienced as Volunteers. And during times of economic turmoil and a global health crisis, the challenges are compounded.
Many returning Volunteers — both those who finished Peace Corps service as planned, and thousands who were evacuated in 2020 — have found great value in peer support from our community. Many have reached out with particular needs for support navigating or advocating for post-service health benefits. NPCA has long championed these needs and supported groups of RPCVs in their efforts to improve access to such benefits — and we continue that important work.
Post-Service Insurance
Here are some resources to help: from information on health insurance to assistance with a service-related condition.
NPCA Benevolent Fund
The NPCA Benevolent Fund provides assistance that is modest but impactful, and it’s geared to help returned Volunteers in a time of need. Getting involved and asking for support only requires an expression of interest and a follow-up application. If you’re a returned Volunteer, remember that this resource is available when speaking to any of your fellow RPCVs who might be in need. Contact us for more information.
Ten Tips for Staying Mentally Resilient
Advice from a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and former Peace Corps Headquarters Staff Psychologist. Huong Diep is licensed psychologist and international consultant, and she put together this guide specifically for Peace Corps Volunteers who evacuated in 2020. But it’s good advice for all of us in tough times.
Peer Support Circles
As members of the Peace Corps community, we have the ability to support one another in a variety of ways. That includes a number of RPCV Peer Support Network Circle led by trained facilitators. Some circles are focused on specific communities — such as returned Volunteers who identify as BIPOC, or RPCVs who are job seekers — while others are open to anyone. Find a group you are interested in and reach out to that group’s facilitator about getting involved.
Health and Wellbeing:
Webinar Resources
Need help with your next career opportunity after service? With the Global Reentry Program, National Peace Corps Association is here to help returned Volunteers with readjustment at home after service, provide resources to overcome challenges, and be there as RPCVs take the next steps toward healthy lives and successful careers. Explore webinars that tackle topics ranging from cultural re-integration to career indecision, from dealing with burnout to continuing service through planned acts of kindness.