County Awarded $500K Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant

​Alachua County has been awarded a $500,000 Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention grant (SSG Fox SPGP) from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to strengthen suicide prevention efforts and expand support services for veterans throughout the community.

The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program supports community-based organizations and local governments in implementing suicide prevention strategies that connect veterans with life-saving resources and improve access to care.

The grant will enhance existing programs within Alachua County Community Support Services' Veteran Services Division by identifying and engaging veterans who are not currently connected to VA healthcare or benefits. Through proactive outreach and coordination, the program will help veterans access VA healthcare, earned benefits and other supportive community resources.

Alachua County Veteran Services, in collaboration with the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center and Alachua County Crisis Center, brings together VA services, case management, and the Mobile Response Team to reach unaffiliated veterans. Together, this collaborative will provide crisis intervention and stabilization, peer support, and ongoing care coordination to ensure veterans receive timely and comprehensive assistance.

"Every veteran deserves access to the care and benefits they have earned," said Olajuwon White, director of Alachua County Veteran Services. "This grant allows us to expand our outreach to veterans who may not be connected to available services, strengthen our partnerships, and ensure that veterans experiencing crisis receive coordinated, compassionate support when they need it most."

The Alachua County collaborative will focus on:

• Identifying and engaging veterans at risk for suicide to reduce suicide risk and improve access to supportive services.
• Connecting unaffiliated veterans to VA healthcare, benefits, and community-based resources to reduce barriers to care while improving long-term stability, health and wellness outcomes.
• Enhancing collaboration among local partners to provide coordinated crisis response, stabilization, follow-up services, and ongoing care coordination.
  

Through this investment, Alachua County reaffirms its commitment to serving veterans and their families by ensuring they have access to the resources, support, and coordinated care needed to thrive.

Learn more about the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Program​.

For more information, contact Olajuwon White at 352-264-6739 or [email protected].

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