Continued from page 13 S R ichmond, Va. S S uffolk County, N.Y. S T ruckee Meadows, Nev. S T ulsa, Okla.
Team Composition Governors, mayors, or county commissioners appoint team leaders to serve as the point of contact and coordinator for the challenge process. Team leaders then receive technical assistance to design a strategic interagency team composed of individuals with the ability and authority to advance and implement statewide policy and practice changes. Teams are encouraged to include both military and civilian representatives as described. Perhaps most critically, teams are encouraged to include suicide prevention coordinators representing the state public/behavioral health agency, VA, and National Guard. S S enior-level representatives/policy makers are included from the following: • G overnor’s/mayor’s/commissioner’s office representative • G overnor’s Challenge • Suicide prevention coordinators from state, VA, and National Guard • State agencies responsible for mental health, substance use, and VA • National Guard • Reserve Affairs • Medicaid and/or Social Security Administration • VA’s Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) serving the state • Veterans Experience Office • M ayor’s Challenge • MyVA community veterans engagement board • VA local suicide prevention coordinator • National Guard suicide prevention coordinator • State public health suicide prevention coordinator • State SMVF team leader
S A service member or veteran and/or a family member of a service member or veteran Teams are also asked to consider including other members, such as: S SMVF peer support leaders S Veterans service organizations S Military and veteran caregivers S State and/or local legislators S State/local training leadership S Leadership from federally recognized tribes S Private-sector leadership from innovative programs serving the needs of SMVF, such as community mental health clinics, community service boards, and crisis service systems S Individuals with expertise in labor/ employment, criminal justice, housing/ homelessness, primary care, substance use and mental health services (including suicide prevention), and child/family issues S Individuals representing advocacy groups, social/public health organizations or coalitions, and the faith-based community This cross section of military and civilian agencies allows the teams to effectively plan for increased coordination of efforts and integration of SMVF into their existing state/local suicide prevention plans. Creating a representative team is a critical phase of the work as it builds collaborative working relationships across sectors that are too often isolated. This process also allows for initiatives to be championed, coordinated, and disseminated across many sectors.
Framework for Planning: Ensuring a Comprehensive Approach The VA program, “National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide,” provides a framework for integrating and coordinating suicide prevention activities across multiple sectors. The Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges advance the principles of the national strategy by facilitating policy-topractice implementation plans. These plans will serve as instruments of change, providing a best-
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practice public health model that demonstrates meaningful results in suicide prevention. The four interconnected strategic directions of the VA national strategy are as follows: 1. Healthy and Empowered Veterans, Families, and Communities 2. Clinical and Community Preventive Services 3. Treatment and Support Services 4. Surveillance, Research, and Evaluation In addition, the CDC program, “Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs, and Practices,” is used to help teams incorporate evidence-based strategies and best practices into their planning. The Governor’s Challenge is an intensive process that takes each state team through the stages of both a policy academy model and an implementation academy model. These models offer a proven process and foundation for bringing policy-to-practice change in state behavioral health care systems.
Key Efforts and Accomplishments Key accomplishments for the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge teams include the following: S Reducing suicide among service members, veterans, and their families. S Increasing access to services and support. S Expanding statewide capacity to engage SMVF in public and private services. S Enhancing provider and SMVF peer practices. S Forming cross-system military and civilian consensus on priorities and plans for action. S Identifying critical data elements to measure impact and quality of care. S Strengthening the continuum of care. S Transferring knowledge on evidence-based practices, policies, and strategies that are effective across teams. For more information about the program go to www.samhsa.gov.