The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) is accepting non-competitive applications for each County to receive approximately $4,200 to fund local efforts to help address veterans suicide in their communities.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) is asking interested counties to help with veterans suicide awareness and prevention efforts at the local level. ODVA is making available an estimated $4,200 to each of Oregon’s 36 counties to help with veterans suicide prevention; this amount may increase if some counties opt not to participate. These funds were created as a result of passage of Ballot Measure 96 in November 2016; BM 96 dedicates 1.5 percent of lottery proceeds for services to veterans. This is not a grant, and ODVA will not be asking for reporting of the funds or follow-up results.

In order to receive funding for your County, please complete and return this one-page Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention Funds Request form to farkas@ODVA.state.or.us by June 15, 2018.

ODVA encourages all Counties to help highlight September 22nd in recognition of the 22 veteran suicides that occur across the nation each day. Here in Oregon, one in five victims of suicide is a veteran.
Veterans are at risk for suicide for all the reasons a non-veteran might be, such as coping with effects of aging or financial stress. Additionally, veterans may be dealing with lingering effects from their military service, difficulties with readjusting to family roles and civilian life after discharge, and underlying mental health and/or substance abuse issues aggravated by their military service.

The required contents of the one-page form are short and straightforward; requested information includes a high-level summary of how your County intends to utilize the funds to best suit your local efforts to aid veterans suicide awareness and prevention. ODVA is encourages each County to consult with their County Veteran Service Office and to include your local veteran population in your planning.

ODVA anticipates funds will be distributed in July 2018; each County must submit a form by the June 15th deadline to receive funds. The funding needs to be used by December 31, 2018.

More information…
Contributed by: Andy Smith | AOC Policy Manager