05.03.2025

SAVE THE DATE! JUNE 16, 2025 VALOR’S INAUGURAL DINNER

The Veterans and Police Assistance Agency (VPAA, myvpaa.org), in a powerful partnership with the Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ, bvsj.org), has launched the VALOR Initiative – the Veterans Assist and Life Assist OutReach – to specifically address veteran suicide and PTSD through community-based comprehensive assistance.

Born through the SSGT Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Program, funded by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the VALOR Initiative recognizes the significant veteran population in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, NY. Our inaugural dinner, the first annual event of its kind, will be held at the renowned Westbury Manor in Westbury, NY, on June 11, 2025, bringing together Long Island’s Veteran Services Officers (VSOs) and county executives and administrators associated with veteran affairs.

Our keynote speaker, Wendy McClinton, President and CEO of BVSJ, will provide insight into the VALOR Initiative and other programs offered by her organization. Ms. McClinton, an Army veteran active during the Desert Storm era, is an intellectually gifted and dedicated leader, as noted by the many citations and awards she has received during her tenure with the military, the Black Veterans for Social Justice, the National Association for Black Veterans, the National Association of Black Women Veterans and a renowned member of the Sigma Theta Alpha Military Sorority.

Stay tuned to this page for more speaker information!

 03.18.2025

Announcing VALOR, Veterans Assist and Life OutReach, a new intiative serving at-risk veterans on Long Island, New York

An open message to our valuable Veteran Services Officers and Veteran Program Administrators

Now well into 2025, and every day, we wholeheartedly extend our gratitude and appreciation to all veteran service officers and those individuals in critical veteran support positions for your unwavering dedication and invaluable service to our veterans. You play a crucial role in ensuring that our veterans receive the support, benefits, and resources they rightfully deserve.

In this spirit, we’d like your help in reaching the most vulnerable of our veterans, those suffering, usually silently, with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), or those undergoing other life changes that may make these veterans particularly susceptible to suicidal ideation.

Recently, we partnered with Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ) in a new initiative, VALOR (Veterans Assist and Life OutReach) specifically to provide additional resources for at-risk veterans.  To that end, below is our information card, which we hope to have you distribute to your veteran clients. While it may not be your veteran who is at-risk, he may know of another veteran who is experiencing a difficult time with mental health issues. Let us strive together to give the gift of hope and good mental health to our veteran heroes.

With my deepest appreciation,

Lina

Staff Sargeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Program

The SSG Fox SPGP is funded through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) SSG Fox
SPGP enables the VA to provide resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts to
meet the needs of Veterans and their families through outreach, suicide prevention services, and
connection to VA and community resources.
Through the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, BVSJ offers:

  • Peer support
  • Case management
  • Education on suicide risk and prevention to families and communities
  • VA benefits assistance
  • Assistance with obtaining and coordinating other benefits provided by the federal government,
    a state or local government, or an eligible entity
  • Housing placement assistance
  • Employment placement assistance
  • Assistance with emergent needs relating to health care services, daily living services, personal
    financial planning and counseling, transportation services, temporary income support services,
    fiduciary and representative payee services, legal services to assist the eligible individual with
    issues that may contribute to the risk of suicide, and childcare
  • Other services necessary for improving the mental health status and wellbeing and reducing the
    suicide risk of eligible individuals and their families as VA determines appropriate.
  • Outreach to identify those at risk of suicide
    Eligibility:
  • Must be a military veteran with a discharge status other than dishonorable
  • Must fill out an intake form, a psychosocial assessment, and a Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) screening.
  • Veterans must have an eligible score (at least a 1 on the C-SSRS; low risk)
    to qualify for the program
    Contact:
    Program Director:
    Jose M. Rios     (718) 852-6004 or (347) 767-3889