The "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act" amends and reauthorizes the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, extending its duration, modifying grant funding and eligibility criteria, and enhancing coordination and awareness of available suicide prevention resources for veterans.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Representative
IA-1
The "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act" amends and reauthorizes the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, extending its duration to September 30, 2028, and modifying grant funding to better support veterans. It emphasizes coordination between grantees and local VA medical centers, requires grantees to inform individuals about emergent suicide care, and clarifies eligibility criteria for entities providing mental health support. The act allocates specific funding amounts for fiscal years 2021 through 2028 and allows flexibility in screening protocols for suicide risk.
No Wrong Door for Veterans Act: Streamlining Suicide Prevention and Care Coordination
The "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act" makes significant changes to the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. This means more support for veterans at risk of suicide, with a focus on better coordination between community organizations and the VA.
Cracking the Code on Care
The bill reauthorizes the grant program, bumps up the funding, and extends it through September 30, 2028. It also clarifies who can apply for these grants. Now, organizations need to have been providing mental health care or support services continuously for at least two years before applying. This aims to ensure that funds go to established, reliable providers. The funding structure also shifts. Grantees can now receive up to $500,000 per fiscal year, plus an additional $10,000 for each eligible individual they serve (SEC. 2). This could incentivize organizations to reach more veterans.
Real-World Impact
Imagine a veteran in rural Montana struggling with PTSD. Under this act, a local community organization could receive a grant to provide counseling and support. This veteran could get the help they need without having to navigate the often-complex VA system alone. And, because the bill requires grantees to inform veterans about emergent suicide care (available under section 1720J of title 38, United States Code), that veteran would know exactly where to turn in a crisis.
Connecting the Dots
One of the biggest changes is the emphasis on coordination. The bill mandates that the VA Secretary brief personnel at local VA medical centers (within 100 miles of a grantee) at least quarterly about the program (SEC. 2). A grantee representative may even be allowed to attend these briefings. This should help bridge the gap between community-based services and the VA, making it easier for veterans to access the full range of resources available.
Screening Overhaul
The Secretary will select the risk screening protocol that organizations must use. However, the Secretary may allow an organization to use a different protocol. Also, the organization itself may choose to use a different protocol. (SEC. 2). The bill does not specify what the requirements are for using a different protocol.
Funding Breakdown
The legislation allocates a total of $174,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through 2025, and $157,500,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 (SEC. 2). This represents a substantial investment in veteran suicide prevention. The shift in funding allocation, with the added $10,000 per eligible individual, is designed to ensure that resources are directed towards directly serving veterans.