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OUTREACH PLAN

 

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The Phoenix Project will identify eligible individuals through a multi-pronged outreach strategy targeting veterans with elevated psycho-social risk factors such as PTSD, depression, substance abuse, housing instability, and social isolation.

 

Methods include:

  • Behavioral Risk Mapping to pinpoint high-need zones based on community health data, VA utilization trends, and Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) call activity.

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  • Targeted peer engagement at VA clinics, Vet Centers, transitional housing shelters, firearm retailers, and community hubs.

 

  • Collaboration with VSO partners, healthcare providers, and crisis units to identify veterans with unmet behavioral health needs.

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  • Trauma-informed screening tools to assess suicide risk and invite voluntary program enrollment.

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Outreach Locations and Rationale

Target counties in North Alabama will include:

        County                                 Rationale

  • Madison- High veteran density; elevated Veteran Crisis Line call rates.

  • Limestone- Limited behavioral health infrastructure; rural isolation.

  • Morgan- Notable population of homeless and justice-involved vets.

  • Jackson- No crisis stabilization unit or veteran-specific services.

  • Lauderdale- Underserved rural veteran population with firearm access.

 

Outreach will be prioritized in counties with demonstrated gaps in suicide prevention services, minimal mobile mental health units, and high firearm ownership.

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Outreach Activities

Planned outreach methods include:

  • Individual Peer Contact – Veteran outreach specialists will conduct one-on-one meetings in field settings and during community activation.

  • Group Engagements – Support groups, listening sessions, and mentoring circles facilitated at libraries, VA buildings, and VSO offices.

  • Workshops and Trainings – Lethal means safety seminars, mental health literacy workshops, and suicide prevention education led by clinicians and peers.

  • Conferences and Presentations – Participation in veteran wellness fairs, employment expos, and housing forums to reach broader networks.

  • Digital Campaigns – Social media content and webinar series aimed at raising awareness, promoting self-screening, and reducing stigma.

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The program will operate across the North Alabama region, focusing on counties with high veteran density and demonstrated gaps in behavioral health infrastructure, including:

 

County Key Focus Area

  • Madison- High VCL call rate, veteran population ≥25,000

  • Limestone- Underserved rural communities

  • Morgan- Homeless veteran outreach, limited crisis services

  • Jackson- No dedicated veteran behavioral health programs

  • Lauderdale- Elevated firearm access, mobility barriers.

 

This catchment includes both urban centers and remote communities where veterans face limited access to culturally responsive care and elevated suicide risk factors.

 

Service Delivery

Services are designed to be scalable and responsive to the unique cultural, geographic, and clinical needs of the region’s veteran population

 

Vocational Education: Strategic Advantages

Vocational schools provide a compelling alternative to traditional four-year institutions, particularly for individuals seeking applied, career-oriented training. These institutions are structured to equip students with the skills and certifications necessary to thrive in today’s workforce.

 

Career-Aligned Skill Development

Vocational programs deliver intensive, hands-on instruction tailored to specific industries such as welding, healthcare, information technology, and automotive services. Students gain real-world competencies from the outset of their training.

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Support Agencies

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Veteran Population Overview – North Alabama

Alabama is home to approximately 310,000 veterans, with an estimated 60,000 to 75,000 residing in the North Alabama corridor, including urban and rural communities such as Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, and Scottsboro. Among this population, veterans aged 18–34 represent one of the fastest-growing subgroups, yet face the highest suicide risk—with rates reaching 48.5 per 100,000.

 

According to recent data:

  • Veterans account for 18% of suicide deaths in Alabama, while comprising only 9.1% of the general population.

  • Male veterans die by suicide at a rate 1.3x higher than their civilian counterparts; female veterans face a disparity of 2.1x compared to non-veteran women.

  • Firearm involvement is present in over 86% of veteran suicides, emphasizing the need for lethal means safety interventions. Source: VA Alabama Suicide Prevention

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The Phoenix Project formal coordination plan ensure seamless integration of services with identified community partners. This model emphasizes collaborative care, shared accountability, and continuous engagement with veteran-serving organizations across North Alabama.

 

The plan includes:

  • Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and partnership agreements outlining roles, referral protocols, and data sharing practices

  • Monthly coalition meetings to assess progress, address emerging challenges, and align services across sectors

  • Centralized case tracking system to ensure continuity of care, manage referrals, and track service engagement

  • Co-hosted outreach events and workshops to enhance visibility, facilitate screening, and engage underserved veteran populations

  • Shared evaluation metrics and quarterly reporting to monitor outcomes and drive continuous improvement

 

This coordination approach ensures that suicide prevention efforts remain veteran-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent.

 

Partner Organizations and Suicide Prevention Services

 

WellStone Inc.

  • Operates 24/7 crisis stabilization services and emergency mental health interventions

  • Provides outpatient therapy, suicide risk assessments, and substance use recovery support

  • Staffed by licensed behavioral health professionals trained in trauma care and crisis management

 

Still Serving Veterans

  • Offers individualized career counseling, which serves as a protective factor against suicide

  • Facilitates peer support groups and transition-focused mentoring programs

  • Helps veterans reconnect with purpose, community, and employment opportunities

 

Huntsville Vet Center

  • Delivers confidential counseling by veterans, for veterans—focused on PTSD, trauma recovery, and suicide risk reduction

  • Hosts therapeutic group sessions that build peer connection and emotional resilience

  • Coordinates closely with VA suicide prevention offices for continuity of care

 

Priority Veteran

  • Provides housing stability case management and wraparound services for veterans facing homelessness

  • Offers emergency referrals, financial planning, and access to crisis care

  • Delivers integrated support to reduce risk factors such as social isolation and economic stress

 

Stand Down Together Huntsville, Inc.

  • Specializes in outreach to homeless and justice-involved veterans

  • Offers peer navigation, emergency shelter services, and suicide prevention education

  • Creates safe, inclusive spaces that encourage trust and recovery

 

Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs – Madison County Office

  • Connects veterans with statewide suicide prevention resources, benefits navigation, and behavioral health programs

  • Supports public awareness campaigns and participates in community engagement initiatives

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Suicide Prevention Resources

 

The Phoenix Project is committed to enhancing the lives of Veterans, their families, and the broader community by promoting comprehensive Quality of Life programs. Central to this initiative is the integration of resiliency as a foundational element, recognizing the critical influence of physical, psychological, social, and emotional well-being on overall mission readiness.

Through targeted educational efforts, the Phoenix Project will empower both employees and family members with knowledge and tools to embrace healthy lifestyles. Our programming emphasizes holistic wellness across five essential dimensions: physical health, family stability, social connection, spiritual grounding, and emotional resilience.

Looking ahead, the project seeks to embed holistic capabilities within local support systems—facilitating the implementation of suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention, safety awareness, wellness initiatives, and broader quality of life strategies. By championing early identification and timely intervention, we aim to mitigate challenges that undermine individual, professional, and organizational readiness, ultimately fostering a stronger and more resilient community.

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Defense Suicide Prevention Office

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The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) was established in 2011 and is part of the Department of Defense's Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The Secretary of Defense designated a Defense Health Board Task Force to examine efforts to prevent military suicide. 

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DSPO Mission:  Advances holistic, data-driven suicide prevention in our military community through policy, oversight, and engagement to positively impact individual beliefs and behaviors, as well as instill systemic culture change.

 

DSPO Vision:  Unwavering pursuit of a mission-ready, suicide-free military community.

 

DSPO Values:  Holistic; Innovative; Data-Driven, Collaborative; Integrity

 

Please view our site: https://www.dspo.mil/

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Give an Hour’s

Hospital Heroes Program provides six hours of free, confidential, mental health support to all hospital-based essential employees in the states of NY, NJ, and CT as well as their loved ones. Hospital-based essential employees include both clinical personnel offering direct care to patients; as well as non-clinical, non- direct care hospital employees. Learn about the program and how to access care below.

https://giveanhour.org/hospitalheroes/

 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

https://www.samhsa.gov/

 

National Prevention Week

National Prevention Week (NPW) is a public education platform that promotes prevention year-round through providing ideas, capacity building, tools, and resources to help individuals and communities make substance use prevention happen every day.

https://www.samhsa.gov/prevention

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Department of Veteran's Affairs

 

Veterans Affairs’ Vet Center Home http://www.realwarriors.net

 

Deployment Health Clinical Center http://www.pdhealth.mil/

 

TRICARE http://www.tricare.mil/

 

DOJ’s booklet “ADA: Know Your Rights Returning Service Members with Disabilities” http://www.ada.gov/servicemembers_adainfo.html

 

National Caregiver Support Line http://www.realwarriors.net/go/1797

 

National Resource Directory 

https://nrd.gov/

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National List and locations of Crisis Networks:

 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is made up of an expansive network of over 180 local- and state-funded crisis centers located across the United States. The counselors at these local crisis centers answer calls and chats from people in distress that the Lifeline receives every day. The Lifeline’s crisis centers provide the specialized care of a local community with the support of a national network.

 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/our-crisis-centers/

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) Suicide Risk Assessment Standards:

 

These standards are guidelines for NSPL Centers as to the minimum requirements for the core principles and subcomponents of each Center’s suicide risk assessment instrument.

 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Suicide-Risk-Assessment-Standards-1.pdf

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.

 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

 

Contact

People Taking Care of People is Great Prevention.

Roderick Johnson@veteranconnection.online

256-836-5776 

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