[News release from Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, 18 October 2024]
Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prevent Veteran suicide in Washington state.
Through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP), WDVA was recently awarded $750,000 for the third consecutive year of funding, starting on Oct. 1. The SSG Fox SPGP provides funding to community-based organizations serving Veterans and their families with both evidence-informed and innovative approaches to suicide prevention.
“By focusing on suicide prevention, we can build a network of support that reaches out to those in need, providing them with hope, compassion, and a lifeline during their toughest times,” said David Puente, WDVA Director. “Together, we can foster a community where everyone has the opportunity to overcome their challenges and realize they are not alone on their path to healing and recovery.”
With the SSG Fox SPGP award, WDVA will support suicide prevention efforts in several counties, including Island, Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Kitsap, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, and Grant.
Read the full press release from WDVA.
More about the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program:
The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program enables the WDVA to provide resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts to meet the needs of eligible Veterans and their Families through outreach, peer support, suicide prevention services, and connection to VA and community resources.
The program seeks to aid Service Members, Veterans and their Families through:
- Upstream suicide prevention intervention
- Outreach and education on suicide prevention, peer support, and wrap-around services available throughout the state
- Peer Support Case Management
- The Equipment & Services fund for alternative behavioral health services
- Referrals and warm handoffs to resources
The primary contact for this program in Chelan, Douglas, and Grant counties is our very on Tony Sandoval, prior Vet Corps Navigator-turned-Regional-Coordinator and former Chelan County Veteran Service Officer. You can expect to see Tony around the region doing outreach events, connecting with vital veteran resources, and making warm handoffs in support of fellow veterans.
You can contact Tony via email [Anthony.Sandoval@dva.wa.gov] or phone [360-791-1497].
