Community organizations asked to apply for grants from VA
(KBSI) – Community-based organizations are asked to apply for grant money available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The VA announced the availability of $52.5 million in grants. The money helps organizations provide suicide prevention services for veterans and their families.
This includes conducting veteran mental health screenings, providing case management and peer support services, delivering emergency clinical services, reaching out to veterans at risk of suicide and more.
These grants are awarded through VA’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
Applications are due by 10:59 p.m. April 26 and awards to be granted to eligible entities by Sept. 30, 2024. The funds are used by the selected organizations in fiscal year 2025.
Ending Veteran suicide is the VA’s top clinical priority.
Since 2021, the VA worked aggressively to expand support for veterans in crisis, including offering no-cost health care to veterans in suicidal crisis at VA or non-VA facilities; to help veterans connect more quickly with caring, qualified responders through the Veterans Crisis Line; partnering with community-based suicide prevention organizations to provide veterans with on-the-ground support; expanding firearm suicide prevention efforts; and encouraging veterans to reach out for help through a national veteran suicide prevention awareness campaign.
“Veterans in crisis should always have access to mental health screenings, peer support, emergency services, and more,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “There are countless great organizations across America that work side-by-side with VA to do this life-saving work, and we are proud to support their efforts.”
This is the third round of grants awarded as part of VA’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
Grant funding will be divided into two priorities. Under Priority 1, the VA will provide opportunities for funding to those entities with existing SSG Fox SPGP awards. Under Priority 2, new organizations can apply for grants worth up to $750,000.
Following the selection of Priority 1 grantee applicants, any remaining funds will be awarded according to Priority 2. VA may prioritize the distribution of suicide prevention services grants under this priority to:
- Rural communities
- Tribal lands
- Territories of the United States
- Medically underserved areas
- Areas with a high number or percentage of minority veterans or women Veterans
- Areas with a high number or percentage of calls to the Veterans Crisis Line
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Dial 988 then press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
