Taos, a place where veterans feel safe
Together With Veterans-Taos Steering Committee Members Attend the TWV Summit TWV Taos sent three steering committee members to the annual TWV National Summit in Denver, Colorado. Over 200 members from 38 TWV communities attended. The TWV Rural Veteran Suicide Prevention Program and Summit are co-sponsored by the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), and the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC for Suicide Prevention.
The two-day summit included presentations and breakout sessions with plenty of time for attendees to network and exchange information about their community’s programs. Booths for the co-sponsors and other veteran-related service providers were also present.
A panel of representatives from four TWV communities discussed Cross-Community Partnerships They provided insight into key strategies TWV Taos looks forward to considering for our Action Plans: :
– Engage spouses and youth, especially high school students in TWV activities – Create partnerships with sheriff’s departments and correctional facilities
– Ensure your sustainability is evidence-based (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Resiliency Theory)
– Establish your organization as a stakeholder in your community
– Hold a local Summit to provide resource to community organizations
– Start a vet center
– Perform a SWOT analysis to inform your Sustainability Action Plan
– Engage with your senators, representatives, and local government veterans’ representatives
– Provide mental health training to local first respondersOne of the panelists emphasized the importance of branding your organization.
Some of these are actions our Steering Committee is already working toward, while others will be useful in assisting our TWV community as we transition from planning into our implementation phase, beginning April 2025.
For Bob Johnson, Taos-based veteran peer support leader and advocate, one of the breakout sessions was especially noteworthy. Two representatives of American Legion Post #31 in Shinnston, West Virginia gave an inspriring and informative presentation along with a Beginner’s Guide to Navigating the Grant Landscape. The 52-page guide includes detailed information about types of grants, a grant document database, a grant proposal Needs List, the grant writing process, and budgets. It also includes Lessons Learned and a glossary.
Bob was also pleased to meet and connect with Lawrence Rhone, a member of the Northeast Montana TWV community. He is the Program Manager of the Farmer Veteran Coalition out of Texas. FVC’s mission is to “cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders and develop viable employment and meaningful careers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities.” More information about this veteran-focused organization here: farmvetco.org
For Ryan Timmermans, Director of Veterans Off-Grid in Carson, the most meaningful moment that he took away from the conference came on the last day. “‘My story is not over’–a somewhat obvious, simple phrase but that really is quite profound and full of hope and promise.
“Sometimes it’s too easy to succumb to the thoughts that my life is over, or almost over. Too easy to succumb to the defeats, set backs, and bad days.
“Saying that phrase, ‘My story is not over’, helps me to keep hoping, to keep fighting, to keep striving to make things better for myself and others.”
Ryan said the networking that occurred between people from all over the country, including as far as TWV in Guam, was equally beneficial. “I met people who ‘get it’ and really are developing and implementing strategies to help veterans rise above the specter of suicide.”
He cited specifically sharing of studies on the connection between gut health and balanced biome to mental health, and also work with plant medicines and ketamine.
Our committee looks forward to receiving the invitation to attend next year’s Summit!