Press RoomVeterans
ABCCM’s Veterans Services of the Carolinas is the recipient of a $750,000 grant to facilitate a program of suicide prevention for veterans in all 100 North Carolina counties. The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) provides resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts for veterans and their families. The grant program enables implementation of a public health approach with an emphasis on evidence-based clinical strategies. This program is expected to begin implementation October 1.
“ABCCM is well positioned to administer both community education and training and crisis response across all 100 North Carolina counties, with multiple programs and offices in Asheville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville,” says Brandon Wilson, Director, Veterans Services of the Carolinas. “Over the last decade we have learned that healing happens with community. This opportunity will enhance the ability for churches, non-profits, and local partners to become a vital means of the solution in addressing this pandemic among our military connected communities.”
ABCCM will partner across NC with organizations such as the Stephen A. Cohen Clinic, Lumbee Tribe, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, HOPE Mission, Haywood Pathways, and Veterans Bridge Home, to name a few.
“ABCCM is honored that Veterans Services of the Carolinas was selected to receive this suicide prevention grant that compliments the outstanding work of their Veterans Crisis call centers that will now go from 74 counties to all 100 counties in North Carolina,” says ABCCM’s Executive Director, Rev. Scott Rogers. “We are grateful to collaborate with the VA Medical Centers, veteran services organizations and regional mental health management entities such as VAYA Health.”
Timing is critical in suicide prevention, along with highly trained personnel. “Our call center staff is already trained extensively in mental health first aid, critical time interventions, and suicide prevention,” Rev. Rogers says. “We will work diligently to bring hope and meaning for every caller to help reduce suicide rates in our state. We will also give communities and families of Veterans a way to be a part of Veteran Crisis Assistance Teams, who will assist staff in meeting with the callers in person within the first hour of a crisis call, eye to eye and kneecap to kneecap. Together we will find community solutions that not only saves live, but help let every veteran know that they belong and have a greater purpose with our families and communities.”
U.S. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina spoke of the benefits to NC’s veterans. “Congratulations to Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry and Veterans Bridge Home on being awarded Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants to combat veteran suicide in North Carolina,” he says. “The SSGT Fox grant was included in the Hannon Act, which I proudly supported. Our brave men and women who served our country were faced with challenging situations that many still cope with, and we must do everything we can to help them. This grant will enhance community collaboration and I look forward to seeing the good work both organizations will do to help North Carolina veterans.”
The SSG Fox SPGP awards to organizations that provide or coordinate suicide prevention services for individuals and their families that are eligible, including:
- Outreach to identify those at risk of suicide
- Baseline mental health screening for risk (required of all grantees for participants ages 18+)
- Education on suicide risk and prevention to families and communities
- Provision of clinical services for emergency treatment
- Case management services
- Peer support services
- VA benefits assistance for eligible individuals and their families
- Assistance with obtaining and coordinating other benefits provided by the federal government, a state or local government, or an eligible entity
- Assistance with emergent needs relating to health care services, daily living services, personal financial planning and counseling, transportation services, temporary income support services, fiduciary and representative payee services, legal services to assist the eligible individual with issues that may contribute to the risk of suicide, and child care
- Nontraditional and innovative approaches and treatment practices, as determined appropriate by VA
- Other services necessary for improving the mental health status and well-being and reducing the suicide risk of eligible individuals and their families as VA determines appropriate
ABCCM’s suicide prevention program needs volunteers. Please send an email to volunteer@abccm.org, and put Saving Our Veterans in the subject line.