Strategic action 1:
Promote connectedness

& help-seeking

Action Item 1.1


Annually attend and participate in 20 community events, resource fairs, events to include farmers market, and meetings to increase awareness of Together With Veterans by 2024.

Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee members

Resources Needed: Flyers, TWV Swag including gun locks. Funding, advertising, email newsletters.

Action steps/processes:

    Strategic action 1:
    Promote connectedness

    & help-seeking

    Action Item 1.2

    Annually facilitate and participate in 4 community workshops, i.e., arts and crafts tailored to Veterans in Taos County to increase camaraderie by 2024.


    Responsible Partners/Persons:
    Together with Veterans Steering Committee members

    Resources Needed: Flyers, TWV Swag including gun locks. Funding, advertising, email newsletters.

     

    Action steps/processes:

    • Send a report to Valentina by the end of the month.
    • Jennifer can track and help organize events like the Paseo Project Arts for Military just completed. 6/10/23. Time frame – current – end of 2023.

      Strategic action 1:
      Promote connectedness

      & help-seeking

       

      Action Item 1.3


      Annually facilitate outreach in Taos and Rio Arriba Counties.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee members

      Resources Needed: Vehicles, information, volunteers, phones, computers

      Action steps/processes:


      Create a centralized database of veterans in Taos County with detailed information and the status of contact (in person, on phone, etc. last contacted).

      • Knock on remote doors when necessary and safe.
      • Ensure that the people in this database are contacted in relation to every event, workshop, resource fair, etc.

      Strategic action 2:
      Improve communications across veteran-serving programs

       

      Action Item 2.1


      Host a luncheon for Veterans and their families to increase awareness of programs and services.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee members, Veterans Off-Grid

      Resources Needed: Funding, venue, advertising, and outreach.

      Action steps/processes:

      • Schedule our first luncheon during Veterans Day in Taos
      • Schedule our 2nd luncheon in Penasco

      Strategic action 2:
      Improve communications across veteran-serving programs

       

      Action Item 2.2


      Join Unite Us to improve relationship building and resource development to better support Taos County Veterans.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee, Unite Us, VNL

      Resources Needed: UniteUs-referral system

      Action steps/processes:

      • Asset Mapping: VA, REd Cross, USO, NFO, VOG, TWV, 100% TCI, American Legion, VUB, TAos Pueblo Veterans, MAS Comunidad, Behavioral Health agencies, Medical agencies, Dennis Romero–Taos LEAD

      Strategic action 2:
      Improve communications across veteran-serving programs

       

      Action Item 2.3


      Leverage the Asset Mapping tool to bridge communication gaps between agencies.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee, Unite Us, VNL

      Resources Needed: VNL partner ToolKit,

      Action steps/processes:

      • Challenge: How do we continue to keep communications between agencies open?
      • Asset Mapping: VA, REd Cross, USO, NFO, VOG, TWV, 100% TCI, American Legion, VUB, TAos Pueblo Veterans, MAS Comunidad, Behavioral Health agencies, Medical agencies, Dennis Romero–Taos LEAD

      Strategic action 3:
      Provide suicide prevention training

       

      Action Item 3.1


      Facilitate/schedule 4 QPR Suicide Prevention Gate Keeper trainings for the community to increase education of early signs of suicide and appropriate assisting of people at risk by 2024.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Recommend Rich Kalenka, the VOG Case Manager can organize, advertise, sign people up; ensure training happens in communities outside the Town of Taos, too–Carson, Questa, Penasco

      Resources Needed: Funding, venue

      Action steps/processes:

       •  All Steering Committee members are QPR trained

       •  QPR at: DreamTree, Questa, Penasco, Taos Pueblo, Carson

       •  Train more trainers to train QPR

       •  Pay $150/training

       •  Jennifer to meet with Rich; week of 6/19

       •  Connect with Rich Kalenka to schedule training for Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gate Keeper training Train-the-trainer certifications.

       •  Schedule QPR training at Carson Cafe on Dec. 13

       •  Schedule QPR training for Jan or Feb 2024

      • How to spread the word to veterans and others re: QPR training:
        • Flyers in Food Distribution: Questa Food Bank, Shared Table,
        • SPOT/Penasco, NFO–Food Boxes
        • Flyers through Harm Reduction agencies
        • Flyers through Churches, Pueblo Color Guard, Gyms,
        • Dispensaries
      • Jennifer: ask VOG case manager to schedule train the trainer QPR

      Strategic action 4:
      Promote lethal means safety

       

      Action Item 4.1


      Invite and encourage local firearm retailer owners and staff to TWV steering committee and community meetings.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee, Dennis Romero

      Resources Needed: Marketing materials, training materials and promotional one-pagers to share

      Action steps/processes:

      • Reach out to gunshops – Gunslingers, Big 5, Walmart
      • Connect with Dennis Romero/LEAD
      • Prescription take back events, gun locks

      Strategic action 4:
      Promote lethal means safety

       

      Action Item 4.2


      Develop 2 Little Love Libraries to increase awareness of lethal means safety.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee, Tripp 

      Resources Needed: Funding

      Action steps/processes:

      • Signs at the bridge
      • Stages of prevention: catch at bridge, catch before going
      • Connect with TruKids1 to make signs, videos re: suicide, at the
      • Bridge particularly
      • Support Tripp’s organization: what assistance do they need

      Strategic action 5:
      Enhance primary care suicide prevention

       

      Action Item 5.1


      Facilitate an Asset Mapping among healthcare or health related organizations to better understand the challenges and gaps.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee, VNL 

      Resources Needed: Funding

      Action steps/processes:

      •  Asset Mapping: Holy Cross Hospital, VA, Taos Whole Health, DOH, Questa – PMS, Women’s Health Institute, Mountain Home Health Care, VA – Albuquerque, Urgent Care, IHS, TCCY, Schreiber’s, El Centro Penasco, Family Practice, Acupuncturists, Alternative Medicine, Wellness.

      •  Do care providers screen for veterans?

      Note: We are limiting ourselves to our meetings

      Strategic action 5:
      Enhance primary care suicide prevention

       

      Action Item 5.2

      Increase awareness and relationship building with clinics and share about TWV; Distribute Suicide Prevention ToolKit–download from website, print.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee 

      Resources Needed: Funding, marketing materials, training materials and promotional one-pagers to share

      Action steps/processes:

       

      Strategic action 5:
      Enhance primary care suicide prevention

       

      Action Item 5.3

      Participate in existing community meetings to share about TWV.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee 

      Resources Needed: Funding, marketing materials, training materials and promotional one-pagers to share

      Action steps/processes:

      •  Research what meetings we need to attend and participate in

      Strategic action 6:
      Enhance behavioral care suicide prevention

       

      Action Item 6.1

      Facilitate an Asset Mapping among behavioral health and health related organizations to better understand the challenges and gaps.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee, VNL

      Resources Needed: Funding, marketing materials, training materials and promotional one-pagers to share

      Action steps/processes:

      • Asset Mapping: TBH, Team Builders, Rio Grande ATP, Recovery Friendly Taos, VOG Case Manager has list of therapists in county who treat veterans; VA – Espanola clinicians works with VOG veterans; Angel Fire Retreat Center: director@veteranswellnessandhealing.org

      Approach: What have you seen? What do you think is needed?

      Strategic action 6:
      Enhance behavioral care suicide prevention

       

      Action Item 6.2

      Host a Behavioral Health Providers Breakfast to increase awareness and relationship building.

      Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee, Jennifer Ammann

      Resources Needed: Funding, venue

      Action steps/processes:

      • Schedule breakfast