The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance (SAMHSA’s SMVF TA) Center would like to distinctly recognize the state, territory, and community teams participating in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)/SAMHSA Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among SMVF. In 2017, VA and SAMHSA partnered to support the implementation of a public health approach to prevent suicide among SMVF, first at the city and county levels through the Mayor’s Challenge (2017-2018) and then at the state level through the Governor’s Challenge (2018-present). Six years later, the SMVF TA Center is honored to have the opportunity to support all 50 states, 5 territories, and 22 communities in their ongoing suicide prevention efforts for SMVF.
The SMVF TA Center would like to take a moment to say “thank you!” to the interagency teams across the country doing this extraordinary work and to reflect on some of their accomplishments to date.
2018 Cohort
The Jacksonville, Florida, Mayor’s Challenge team established The Fire Watch project as a systematic way to end Veteran suicide in Florida. The Fire Watch, one of the first efforts of its kind in the country, aims to build life-saving networks of trained community members and organizations across the state to prevent suicide and direct SMVF to resources. The project has also launched the Watch Stander program, first launched in Northeast Florida and now available state-wide. This program mobilizes thousands of community members to be alert to Veteran’s concerns and to direct them to the support they need. Congratulations, Team Jacksonville, for your successful “boots on the ground” initiative!
2019 Cohort
Team New Hampshire, one of the seven original Governor’s Challenge teams, has created and released the “Ask the Question” Toolkit for teams looking to develop military cultural competence in healthcare settings. This toolkit has been utilized and adopted by many other Governor’s Challenge teams via their “Identify SMVF and Screen for Suicide Risk” priority groups, such as Team Montana and Team Vermont. Thank you, Team New Hampshire, for your remarkable contributions and continued commitment to this initiative!
2020 Cohort
Team Maryland, 1 of the 20 teams representing the 2020 Governor’s Challenge cohort, is working to improve care transitions for SMVF engaged in the state-wide crisis response system through their Crisis Intercept Mapping (CIM) Project. The Maryland Department of Health is working to ensure that at least half (12 of 24) of the state jurisdictions have completed the CIM process by June 2025. The goal is to transform and improve the crisis care continuum across the state to reduce SMVF suicides. Way to go, Team Maryland, for your efforts to implement such an innovative strategy!
2021 Cohort
Team Arkansas has implemented its “CampConnect Kiosks“ initiative, which has expanded the use of the CampConnect web-based platform through digital, community-based kiosks. These kiosks aim to increase awareness and access to available resources. Available resource connections include VA, educational, vocational, mental health and substance use treatment and prevention, community-based, and faith-based resources. Several Governor’s Challenge teams have connected with Team Arkansas to discuss implementing kiosks as part of their suicide prevention strategies. Congratulations, Team Arkansas, on your ongoing success!
2022 Cohort
Team American Samoa, one of the very first territories to sign on to the Governor’s Challenge, has implemented a Food Security Program for SMVF to gain sustainable employment and food security through agriculture and mentorship. As we know, food insecurity is a risk factor for suicide, and this program’s goal is to reduce the food insecurity risk factor by teaching Veterans how to grow vegetables in a safe and therapeutic environment and to alleviate stressors by improving overall mental well-being. Thank you, Team American Samoa, for the creativity and care you have put into this program!
2023 Cohort
The 2023 Governor’s Challenge cohort teams have just completed their Policy Academy, or planning, phase in the last few months and are diligently planning for the Implementation Phase in FY2024. These teams are diligently planning to launch their implementation strategies, and we’d like to recognize Team Idaho for their efforts thus far. Team Idaho is planning a Joining Forces Event at one of their state parks, which will include a reunion event for local Veterans and a resource-sharing event for organizations to meet and start collaborating. We look forward to Team Idaho’s implementation of this strategy in the new year!
Though we only noted a handful of teams’ accomplishments, we’d like to acknowledge the time, expertise, and resources that all teams have dedicated to this initiative. Congratulations, and, most importantly, thank you!
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