COLUMBIA, S.C.- The South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs (SCDVA) received nearly $374,000 from the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) to assist Veterans in our state. This three-year community-based grant program was created to provide resources to community organizations that serve certain Veterans and their families across the country.

With this grant, SCDVA's goal is to increase the number of Palmetto Pathfinder Courses regionally across the state from four annually to six or seven per year. Palmetto Pathfinder is a South Carolina Veteran peer-support program that provides personal support for transitioning Veterans by connecting them to relevant resources and services in their community, and assists them in accomplishing their personal and professional goals and thrive post-military service.

The Palmetto Pathfinder Program helps Veterans connect with healthcare, employment, nutrition, transition, housing, healthy/established social networks, judiciary initiatives and suicide prevention resources. With the increase in the number of Pathfinder Courses, SCDVA hopes to grow the number of Pathfinders in the state to between 150 and 200 over the next fiscal year. 

SSG Fox SPGP enables Veterans' Affairs to provide resources toward suicide prevention services and establishes a connection to VA and community resources. Congress authorized $174 million to fund this grant for the fiscal years of 2021-2025. Recipients of the grant are organizations that provide or coordinate suicide prevention services for eligible Veterans and their families including:

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• Outreach to identify those at risk of suicide.
• Baseline mental health screening for risk (required of all grantees for participants ages 18+).
• Education on suicide risk and prevention to families and communities.
• Provision of clinical services for emergency treatment.
• Case management services.
• Peer support services.
• VA benefits assistance for eligible individuals and their families.
• Assistance with obtaining and coordinating other benefits provided by the federal government, a state or local government, or an eligible entity.
• 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 child care.
• Non-traditional and innovative approaches and treatment practices, as determined appropriate by VA.
• Other services necessary for improving the mental health status and well-being and reducing the suicide risk of eligible individuals and their families as VA determines appropriate.

You can find more information on the Palmetto Pathfinder Program, and how to apply to become a Pathfinder by clicking here.

For more information on the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program and answers to Frequently Asked Questions click here.