PEER (Personalized Experiences, Engagement, and Resources) Support Coordinators (PSCs) are individuals who are deployed to 10 geographical regions to provide regionalized support to military caregivers and caregiver stakeholders. PSCs assist in convening Military Caregiver PEER Forums, conduct outreach activities for caregivers, identify & report on gaps in support, assist in locating & providing information on military caregiver support services, and act as the military caregivers’ point of contact for his/her region.

Tonia Russell REGION 1 (CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT) PEER Support Coordinator (Contractor)   Tonia Russell has a Master's degree in Human Relations and previously taught high school English. Tonia serves as the PEER Support Coordinator for Region 1, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. As a military spouse, mother, and daughter, Tonia has worked with military families for more than 20 years. Tonia has assisted more than 50 caregivers and helped with multiple resources for various needs. As a caregiver herself, Tonia feels that it is an honor to serve other caregivers in her region and give them a voice. Tonia also runs a food pantry that serves active duty service members, Veterans, and military families in her local area.
Belinda Sell REGIONS 2 (AL, FL, GA, MS, PR) & 8 – National Capitol (DC, MD, VA) PEER Support Coordinator (Contractor)   Belinda Sell is the PEER Support Coordinator for Regions 2 & 8 (NCR), which includes Washington, DC; Maryland; Virginia; Alabama; Florida; Georgia; Mississippi; and Puerto Rico. She is a US Army Veteran, a spouse of a Veteran and a mother of a Gulf War Wounded Warrior. Belinda knows all too well what it means to have the perils of war shake your very foundation. She has served as a caregiver for her son off and on for nearly a decade. Belinda holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and has over 20 years of experience in Healthcare Administration. She served as Director, Ambulatory Services, Business Developer, Managed Care Analyst, and Business Office Manager.
Dexter Peggins REGION 3 (LA, NM, TX) PEER Support Coordinator (Contractor)   Dexter Peggins is the PEER Support Coordinator covering Region 3, serving Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care, as well as a Master’s in Public Administration. He is passionate about helping others and has committed his adult life to service. He is a US Army Veteran, former hospital chaplain, and served for 7 years as the Region 2 PEER Support Coordinator. As a PEER Support Coordinator, Dexter’s personal mandate is to, “provide compassionate care for those who have taken on the role of caregiver.”
Rhonda Smoot REGION 6 & Southwest (CA, HI, NV) PEER Support Coordinator (Contractor)   Ms. Rhonda Smoot is the PEER Support Coordinator for Region 6, covering the states of California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Rhonda holds a Master's of Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Health Education degrees, has 20+ years experience in the medical field, and the creator and Project Coordinator of “The Gate to Bridge Project” (G2B). Ms. Smoot, also, continues to support her son and family as a family caregiver. With her combined experience in the medical field and skill at connecting with local Veteran and military communities, it led her to her current position as PEER Support Coordinator with the DoD Warrior Care program.
Jamela Davis REGION 7 – West South Central (AR, AZ, MO, OK, TX) PEER Support Coordinator (Contractor)   Jamela Davis is an active duty military spouse of 18 years and has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is the PEER Support Coordinator for Region 7, which includes Arkansas, Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma, and North Texas. Jamela has personally assisted and supported numerous caregivers of wounded, ill and injured Service members by providing resources in finance, education, and employment. Through her efforts, she is able elaborate on the range of challenges that impact caregivers and their families on a daily basis.
Claudia Flores REGION 8 (DC, MD, VA) PEER Support Coordinator (Contractor)   Claudia Flores is the PEER Support Coordinator for Region 8, which covers Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia. Claudia has a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Children and Family Services, and a sub concentration in Military Social Work, as well as Bachelor of Science in Human Services. Currently Claudia is pursuing licensure in Social Work. Claudia has experience working with diverse populations and at-risk population including Foster Care Youth, Older Adults, Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, Homeless Veterans, Mental Health and Co-Occurring disorders. Claudia has over 12 years of case management experience. Claudia has been a military spouse for over 25 years and, has been a caregiver to her husband who is still active duty in the Marine Corps.
Max Dolan REGION 9 – Mid-Atlantic (NC, SC, WV) PEER Support Coordinator (Contractor)   Max Dolan is retired from the US Army and has degrees in Law Enforcement, Management and MIS. He is the PEER Support Coordinator for Region 9, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia. Max has personally assisted over 100 caregivers with referrals for resources. He has developed a network of approximately 500 stakeholders across the four states that he supports. He is unique in that he has a long history of providing services that includes vocational rehabilitation employment counseling, many years of experience as a training center instructor and director, and VA benefits counseling.
Bobby Silva REGION 10 – Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA) PEER Support Coordinator (Contractor)   Bobby Silva has worked with Soldiers and their dependents for most of his adult life. Within the past 5 years, after retiring from active duty in the US Army, Bobby has served as an US Army Wounded Warrior Advocate providing support to Veterans, military families, caregivers, and severely wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers working to reach a state of self-sufficiency during their recovery and reintegration process. Bobby is the PEER Support Coordinator for Region 10, which includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. He looks forward to assisting military caregivers and help them connect to resources that may affect their everyday life, as well as the military member.

Contact Us

For more information on caregiver support, please contact us or click to view our Regional PEER Support Coordinator Map