Training For Community Organizations

Help Build a Veteran-Centered System of Care

Community-Based, Veteran-Centered Care Navigator Training for Organizations

Community-based, Veteran-centered care navigators provide non-clinical support to Veterans who may be in acute crisis, at elevated risk for suicide, and disconnected from care through outreach, referral, and follow-up – helping with social and emotional challenges and promoting care continuity after crises occur.

Community-based, Veteran-centered care navigators (Safeguard Navigators) serve as the quarterback of support for Veterans. The Safeguard Navigator helps Veterans by providing immediate support in times of crisis, coordinating access to services across both community and VA settings, and ensuring continuity of care, so that no Veteran falls through the cracks.

Partner organizations interested in participating in the Safeguard Navigator pilot program have the opportunity to select and host at least two Safeguard Navigators, ensure Safeguard Navigators attend a virtual training (three hours weekly for four weeks), and support basic evaluation and data collection requirements.

Partner organizations that participate in the Safeguard Navigator initiative will gain access to…

  • Enhanced organizational capacity to serve Veterans, whether or not they are connected to VA
  • Increased visibility through coordinated outreach, communications, and community engagement support
  • Evaluation data, impact insights, and performance metrics that help demonstrate outcomes to funders and stakeholders
  • Training provided by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, a national organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of its 3,200+ mental health and substance use treatment organization members
  • Implementation and evaluation technical assistance to help implement the initiative and meet evaluation requirements
  • Partnership contribution along with the potential bonus contribution, for meeting and exceeding initiative requirements

Safeguard Navigators could support Veterans in several ways. For example, Veterans may receive…

  • An understanding of their care eligibility and access to both community and VA services
  • Coordinated services across VA and community settings for mental health support, crisis care, and social supports
  • Help navigating complex systems and staying connected to their care over time
  • Smoother transitions between community care and VA services, improving their continuity of care

The Safeguard team can set up a time to connect to learn more about the community-based, Veteran-centered care navigator initiative. If interested, please email contactus@safeguardveterans.net for more information.

Support Veterans in the Places They Live, Work, Worship, and Gather

Evidence-Based, Basic Mental Health Training and Ongoing Support For Organizations

The Safeguard task-sharing program is partnering with Veteran-serving organizations, mental health providers, faith-based entities, and community-based organizations to train trusted community members to deliver evidence-based, basic mental health support that reaches Veterans outside traditional clinical care.

Through the Safeguard task-sharing pilot program, staff or volunteers in the community will receive access to evidence-based training to provide basic mental health support to Veterans. Trainees will learn how to identify and treat multiple mental health and substance use disorders and when to triage to higher levels of care, helping close the gap in access to care for Veterans at elevated risk for suicide who are outside or disconnected from the VA system.

Partner organizations interested in participating in the Safeguard task-sharing pilot program have the opportunity to select at least four staff or volunteers to go through the evidence-based training, select an additional staff member or volunteer with a clinical background to serve as a supervisor, ensure selected staff or volunteers attend the three-day in-person training, and support basic evaluation and data collection requirements.

Partner organizations that participate in the Safeguard task-sharing initiative will gain access to…

  • Enhanced organizational capacity to serve Veterans at elevated risk for suicide, whether or not they are connected to VA
  • Increased visibility through coordinated outreach, communications, and community engagement support
  • Evaluation data, impact insights, and performance metrics that help demonstrate outcomes to funders and stakeholders
  • An internationally recognized training, at no cost to the partner organization delivered to strengthen their workforce with evidence-based skills
  • Standardized protocols and data tools to support the mission of serving Veterans in the community with options for continued access to data tools beyond the pilot period
  • Implementation and evaluation technical assistance to help implement the initiative and meet evaluation requirements
  • Partnership contribution along with the potential bonus contribution, for meeting and exceeding initiative requirements

 

Trained community members could support Veterans in several ways. For example, Veterans may receive…

  • Identification of need for higher levels of care through a structured screening at every session
  • Practical, evidence-based coping skills (e.g., cognitive coping, behavioral activation, problem solving, safety planning) that they can use to manage stress, depression, PTSD, and substance use challenges
  • Support delivered in trusted, familiar community settings where Veterans already feel connected

The Safeguard team can set up a time to connect to learn more about the Safeguard task-sharing initiative. Please email contactus@safeguardveterans.net for more information.