National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
VHA Community Partnership Challenge
2021 VHA National Community Partnership Challenge Winners
On behalf of Dr. Steven Lieberman, Acting Under Secretary for Health, it is with great pleasure that we inform you of the winners for the 2021 VHA National Community Partnership Challenge.
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center—Veteran Safety and Planning with Community Hospitals to Prevent Suicide
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center (MIRECC) – VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry – Suicide Prevention
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System – Medical Legal Partnership with Bay Legal Aid Veteran Legal Project
This year’s theme, “Adaptability in a Changing World” celebrated how VHA and organizations in the community collaborate during times of uncertainty to meet Veterans’ needs through community partnerships that are built on a foundation of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diversity, equity, and inclusion refer to traits and characteristics that make people unique while relying on the behaviors and social norms that ensure people feel welcome. Proactive approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion are associated with improved health and well-being at both the individual and community level. Particularly during times of great uncertainty, VHA and community partners go the extra mile to make sure all Veterans are cared for and can receive the services they need to recover and thrive.
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (VAMC) Veteran Safety and Planning with Community Hospitals to Prevent Suicide– VAMC partners with six community health organizations (Coastal Behavioral Health, Grand Strand Health-South Grand Strand Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina-MUSC, Memorial Health-Savannah, Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health, and Trident Medical Center). The VAMC’s partnership with the six community health organizations is a collaborative to improve clinical care for Veterans transitioning from community inpatient mental health treatment to VA outpatient treatment. These partnerships improve care coordination and address the risk for suicidal behaviors and deaths by suicide that is increased following days and weeks of discharge.
Rocky Mountain MIRECC VA Patient Center of Inquiry – Suicide Prevention Collaborative –The MIRECC partners with thirteen community organizations (Homes for All Veterans, Denver University Sturm Center, Mt. Carmel Veterans Center. Evans Counseling, Colorado Veterans Health and Wellness Agency/Family Care Center, University of Colorado, College of Nursing, Mental Health Center of Denver, Colorado Veteran Courts, Denver Fire Department, Denver Police Department, Denver Sheriff Department, Department of Public Safety, and Denver Public Libraries). This learning collaborative model aids community partners in building suicide prevention programs within their organizations. These additional suicide prevention services increase clinical access and promote wellbeing for all Veterans, while improving social determinants of health. Similarly, the Transit program assists Veterans at-risk for suicide in finding permanent mental health placements and other resources in the community, thus, increasing their access to mental health and suicide prevention care, while simultaneously improving social determinants of health.
VA Palo Alto Health Care System Medical Legal Partnership with Bay Legal Aid Veteran Legal Project – Bay Area Legal Aid. Integrating screening for legal assistance into Veterans’ well-being assessment allows social work to refer to the community partner in order for Veterans to access a cost-free attorney. The partnership is based on the understanding that wraparound legal services coupled with support by culturally competent social workers are essential for Veterans struggling to achieve and maintain health, housing stability, food security, transportation limitations and economic stability, which are recognized barriers to achieving positive health care outcomes.
The virtual awards ceremony occurred August 19th at 12:30 EDT and was well-attended by engaged groups from each medical center, including their leadership, and VA Central Office senior leaders.
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Posted September 8, 2021
