Transition support through partnership renewal

VA identified suicide prevention as its highest priority, and it reflects on this commitment through the nonmonetary partnership renewal with the Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP).

This partnership, facilitated by VA’s National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP), addresses social determinants of health (SDOH) that influence mental health resilience and improved health outcomes. The collaboration between VA and ETS-SP and ETS-SP’s military transition program, Onward Ops, enhances support for service members and Veterans as they reintegrate into civilian life and communities.

“The partnership between VA and ETS-SP helps VA and the community proactively reduce suicide risks and support the health and well-being of Veterans and their families,” said Christine Eickhoff, HAP health system specialist. “Thousands of Veterans have been served through this partnership, and we are excited to continue our collaboration and serve an increasingly diverse Veteran population.”

Onward Ops reaches more Veterans

ETS-SP, a community partner within the Veteran Sponsor Partnership Network (VSPN), and its military transition support program, Onward Ops, is extending its outreach beyond the Army to include all branches of the military.

Onward Ops pairs service members with local peer sponsors, offering one-on-one support and guidance through VA benefits and connecting them to essential local and regional community resources. While Onward Ops resources have always been available to all branches of service, they are expanding their outreach efforts to other branches of service to increase awareness of the program’s resources.

“Expanding the outreach of Onward Ops from Army Veterans to Veterans from all branches of the military is a critical step towards ensuring all transitioning service members and Veterans have the support they need to thrive in civilian life,” said Mike Eastman, Onward Ops executive director.

Enhancing Veteran support

ETS-SP’s platform, Onward Ops, is excited to announce new developments in its support programs, including the introduction of a suicide risk calculator, representing a significant advancement in efforts to identify and support at-risk Veterans.

Research shows that suicide rates increase during and after transition to civilian life, but the risk isn’t the same for all TSMs. This tool, developed in collaboration with researchers in the Department of Defense and academia, integrates predictive analytics to better assess risk factors, enabling community organizations, peer sponsors and health care providers to offer individualized services and potentially save lives.

For Veterans at acutely high risk, Onward Ops can quickly and easily refer them to the Veterans Crisis Line and VA mental health providers.

VA and ETS-SP: A unified effort

The collaboration between VA and ETS-SP exemplifies a unified effort to support Veterans. Led by HAP, the VSPN initiative fosters the development of nonmonetary partnerships, such as the one with ETS-SP that offer Veterans access to local, regional and national resources essential for successful reintegration into civilian communities.

Partnering with VA significantly enhances ETS-SP’s ability to support TSMs and Veterans by facilitating seamless enrollment into VA health care through the Onward Ops platform. This collaboration leads to 80% of Onward Ops participants being successfully enrolled into VA’s healthcare system by providing them with a handoff to regional coordinators.

“The collaboration between VA and ETS-SP shows how shared efforts can lead to innovative solutions to support Veterans,” said Chien Chen, HAP chief officer and nurse executive. “Strategic partnerships enhance the reintegration process for TSMs and Veterans, and set new standards for how we collectively address service members’ evolving needs.”

As the partnership between VA and ETS-SP enters its next phase, the collaboration promises to make an impact on Veterans’ lives. By using Onward Ops’ support resources to provide tailored support and leverage innovative tools like the suicide risk calculator, the partnership is set to improve mental health resiliency and outcomes for Veterans nationwide.

VA resources

• Mental Health Resources: VA has a variety of mental health resources, information, treatment options and more — all accessible to Veterans, Veterans’ supporters, and the public.
• Veteran Sponsor Partnership Network (VSPN): VSPN leverages the power of public-private partnerships to help transitioning service members and their families access VA services and community resources, such as employment opportunities, education benefits, housing assistance and more.
• Transition Assistance Program (TAP): TAP provides information, resources, and tools to help service members, families and caregivers transition successfully.

To learn more about VHA partnerships, visit the HAP website. To become a mentor or volunteer, visit the Onward Ops website.