WDVA’s 2025 Year in Review
Message from Director David Puente Jr.
As we progress into our mission of Serving Those Who Served in 2026, I’m proud to share the 2025 Year in Review Accomplishments. While this does not capture everything we achieved last year, it does highlight the dedication of our WDVA team, our partners and the communities we serve. It also demonstrates how our work is already advancing the goals outlined in our updated 2026–29 Strategic Plan, which focuses on expanding access, strengthening partnerships, modernizing systems and improving outcomes for every Veteran and family member in Washington.
Counseling & Wellness
This year, our Counseling and Wellness programs continued to grow in reach and impact. More than 700 individuals participated in LEARN suicide prevention trainings, and we distributed 3,600 firearm locking devices statewide. Sales of the “There Is Hope” emblem made nearly $22,000 available to support community-based prevention efforts. Through the SSG Fox program, we expanded services to 15 counties with the support of a $750,000 grant and our contracted counselors delivered 12,898 hours of care. These efforts reflect our commitment to whole health support and early intervention—key pillars of our strategic plan.
Veterans Services
Our Veterans Services teams helped ensure that Veterans and families received the benefits and support they earned. Washington now has 2,846 registered Veteran Owned Businesses (VOB), a 14% increase, and state agencies purchased $43 million in goods and services from VOBs. We processed nearly $11 million in payments for Veterans who are unable to manage their own finances. These outcomes directly support our strategic goals around economic stability, access to benefits and long-term financial security for Veterans and their families.
State Veterans Homes
Our State Veterans Homes continued to provide exceptional care and community. We completed $33 million in capital improvements, increased our census to 95%, and expanded resident centered programming—from Eldergrow gardening to Wellness, Arts, and the Military initiatives—that foster purpose, connection and quality of life. These investments ensure our Homes remain modern, safe and supportive environments for those who served.
Veterans Cemetery
Our State Veterans Cemetery served 860 families and provided final honors to more than 175 unclaimed remains. The cemetery also received $500,000 to conduct a pre-design study for a new Tri-Cities State Veterans Cemetery.
Support Services
Behind the scenes, our Support Services teams delivered innovations that strengthened the entire agency. IT improvements—including the transition to Teams Phones and efax—generated $200,000 hours in savings, while automation between the Federal VA and the SSG Fox Program eliminated 1,125 hours of manual processing. Our public website saw 264,584 users and more than 40,000 online engagements during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month alone. These advancements reflect our strategic commitment to modernization, efficiency, and improved access to information.
Across all programs, our mission remains clear: to honor and serve Washington’s Veterans and their families with compassion, innovation, and accountability. I invite you to explore the full 2025 Year in Review Accomplishments document to see the breadth of what we achieved together.
We couldn’t have achieved these many accomplishments without our partners! Thank you for your continued support. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected future for Serving Those Who Served.
— David Puente Jr. Director, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs
