Governor’s Challenge: Focused Priority Areas
Members
Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Gold Star Families of Washington
Washington Employment Security Department
Joint Base Lewis-McChord Suicide Prevention Program
Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldier Recovery Unit
Makah Nation Tribals Veterans Service Officer
Cowlitz Indian Tribe Veterans Service Officer
The second priority area of Washington State’s Governor’s Challenge is to enhance connectedness and improve care transitions for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF). We are dedicated to ensuring every Veteran, Service Member, and their Families receive support and are not overlooked. This includes emphasizing connections, encouraging collaboration across different sectors, and carefully assessing care transitions.
Goals
- Enhance awareness of the resources, services, and benefits available to SMVF
- Increase access to the resources, services, and benefits available to SMVF
- Boost the coverage and utilization or resources, services, and benefits available to SMVF
Initiatives
Before Transitioning from the Military:
It’s never too early to have a plan. Learning about resources and services that will benefit you during your military to Veteran transition can be a great way to get an early start on the next phase of your life.
- Geico Podcast (coming soon)
During the Transition Process:
Navigating the transition from military to civilian life can be quite challenging. Fortunately, there are resources available to assist, ensuring that those leaving the military are not alone in this process.
- Veteran Sponsorship Partnership Network - Program Factsheet
- How to guides for planning your military to Veteran transition (coming soon)
- Veteran Lived Experience Panel at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Transition Assistance Program
After Military Transition:
Transitions are hard. Getting an early start on your Veteran benefits can make it easier. Connecting to a VSO can help you navigate the process of VA benefits, healthcare, and resources for key stressors such as housing, education, and employment.
- Increasing the number of VSO statewide, and especially in tribal communities - Report
Anytime:
It’s never too early, or late, to get or give support. Knowing how to recognize crisis can help prevent a crisis from escalating. Leaning on community and clinical services can help resolved the crisis all together. Knowing how to reach out for support is the key.
- WDVA LEARN Training
- S.A.V.E. Training - Register here to learn how to recognize signs of suicide risk and some simple steps for what to do next.
- #Strength2Rise - Suicide Prevention | VA Puget Sound Health Care | Veterans Affairs
- 988 Debit/Credit Card – Exclusively through America’s Credit Union (coming soon)