Rep. Ciscomani Presses VA Sec. Collins on Veteran Suicide Prevention Programs

Veteran Suicide Prevention and the Arizona Be Connected Program

• 🎯 Rep. Juan Ciscomani questioned VA Secretary Doug Collins regarding the future of veteran suicide prevention programs, specifically the Arizona Be Connected program.
• 💡 The Arizona Be Connected program, which assists veterans with mental health needs and supports the VA's suicide prevention strategy, was cut under the previous administration.
• ⚠️ Ciscomani highlighted that veteran suicide rates in Arizona are three to four times the national average, with an estimated 260 deaths in 2024 alone, underscoring the critical need for this program.
• 🤝 Both Ciscomani and Secretary Collins expressed commitment to working together to find solutions and ensure veterans continue to receive assistance, despite a lack of full clarity on the program's future.

Program Clarity and Measurability

• ❓ Ciscomani sought greater clarity on the program's status and future, noting that information received the previous night still lacked definitive answers.
• 📊 Secretary Collins emphasized the importance of programs having key, measurable deliverables to ensure results and accountability, and committed to working on making programs like Be Connected measurable.
• 🌟 The Be Connected program is described as a public-private partnership that is yielding results, potentially serving as a model for other states.

Reforms for Survivors Assistance

• 🚀 Ciscomani praised recent reforms to the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA), including moving it within the Office of the Secretary to serve as a direct advising body.
• 🗣️ Secretary Collins explained that bringing OSA back into the secretary's office aims to handle issues of death and end-of-life with more compassion and less clinical detachment, akin to a funeral home director's approach rather than just a medical examiner's.
• ✅ The goal of these reforms is to ensure survivors feel needed, wanted, and heard, even if the outcomes are not what they hoped for, while conforming to the law and earned benefits.
• 👍 Ciscomani commended the VA's progress in the first 100 days, noting a sharp, positive direction, and reiterated his commitment to working with the Secretary on suicide prevention.