SMVF TA Center Upcoming Events
SAMHSA’s SMVF TA Center would like to welcome you to attend any of our upcoming events.
Through a variety of events each month, the SMVF TA Center promotes increased awareness of resources and promising, best, and evidence-based practices to strengthen SMVF behavioral health care systems. Some events are geared towards the general public, while others are closed events for specific initiatives and audiences. Session information can be found below.
For questions related to upcoming TA events, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
February
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
*Registration is limited.* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use for Governor’s Challenge Teams
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Community of Practice (CoP) meetings are designed to strengthen technical assistance support for Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge workgroup leaders and members. CoPs meet monthly to (1) Increase knowledge about suicide prevention best practices related to each specific priority area, (2) Facilitate team-to-team sharing of insights and suicide prevention strategies, and (3) Inspire practice improvement ideas and innovations across teams.
Topic: Breakout Discussions
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team members
Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET
Suicide loss has lasting effects on families, peers, providers, and entire communities. A thoughtful, organized postvention response not only supports survivors in their grief but also serves as a vital component of suicide prevention. Building on the webinar Support After Suicide Loss: Postvention for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families, this three-part learning community series will offer participants a deeper dive into strategies and resources for creating community-driven postvention responses that reduce risk, promote healing, and strengthen resilience.
This learning community will provide participants with an opportunity to learn in a small group and interactive setting. The objectives of this learning community are to (1) understand the role of postvention in reducing risk and supporting recovery after suicide loss, (2) explore peer and community-based models that provide timely and ongoing support to suicide loss survivors, and (3) identify practical resources and tools for building sustainable postvention systems that meet the unique needs of military and Veteran families.
The learning community will meet monthly for three sessions beginning in January 2026 via Zoom. Each session will feature an expert presentation with engaging group discussion incorporated throughout.
Topic: Supporting Healing After Suicide for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families
Session 2 of 3: Honoring and Supporting Suicide Loss Survivors through TAPS
Intended Audience: Open to the public: Anyone interested in Postvention related to Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF)
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
*Registration Limited* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: Breakout Discussions
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
March
Time: 2– 3 p.m. ET
*Registration Limited* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: Breakout Discussions
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Substance use among Veterans and Service Members continues to be a critical behavioral health challenge that intersects with trauma, pain management, and the transition to civilian life. Veterans are at significantly higher risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD) as compared to non-veterans. Veterans with SUD are also more likely to suffer from a mental illness or experience homelessness (Lloyd, Prakash, and Terplan, 2024). Federal, state and local agencies are continually working to reduce the prevalence of SUD among Service Members, Veterans and their families (SMVF).
This webinar will explore evidence-informed strategies, emerging trends, and innovative models that support recovery and resilience among SMVF. Presenters will discuss the importance of coordinated care across systems including the Department of Veterans Affairs, state health authorities, and community-based organizations. The presenters will highlight programs that are improving access to effective substance use treatment and long-term recovery support.
Join us for this conversation as we bring together leaders from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the SAFE Project, and the Oregon Health Authority to share practical tools, lessons learned, and resources for those working to address substance use and promote wellness across the military and Veteran continuum of care.
This webinar will be followed by a learning community series exploring each of these topics in greater detail. If you are interested, you can get further information via upcoming issues of our monthly enewsletter, “Topics in the News” or from our Upcoming Events page.
Eliza Lloyd, Krithika Prakash, MS, and Mishka Terplan, MD, MPH, (2024) Veterans & Substance Use Disorder (SUD): Evidence-Based Strategies & Programs, with contribution from Cheryl Holm-Hansen, MA, PhD, and edited by Emily Warthman, JD, MPH (University Park, PA: Research-to-Policy Collaboration, Pennsylvania State University).
Topic: Addressing Veteran Substance Use: Promoting Recovery Through Collaboration and Compassion
Intended Audience: Open to the Public: Anyone interested in addressing Veteran substance use
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Community of Practice (CoP) meetings are designed to strengthen technical assistance support for Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge workgroup leaders and members. CoPs meet monthly to (1) Increase knowledge about suicide prevention best practices related to each specific priority area, (2) Facilitate team-to-team sharing of insights and suicide prevention strategies, and (3) Inspire practice improvement ideas and innovations across teams.
Topic: SMVF TA Center Resources Available for Teams
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team members
Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET
Suicide loss has lasting effects on families, peers, providers, and entire communities. A thoughtful, organized postvention response not only supports survivors in their grief but also serves as a vital component of suicide prevention. Building on the webinar Support After Suicide Loss: Postvention for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families, this three-part learning community series will offer participants a deeper dive into strategies and resources for creating community-driven postvention responses that reduce risk, promote healing, and strengthen resilience.
This learning community will provide participants with an opportunity to learn in a small group and interactive setting. The objectives of this learning community are to (1) understand the role of postvention in reducing risk and supporting recovery after suicide loss, (2) explore peer and community-based models that provide timely and ongoing support to suicide loss survivors, and (3) identify practical resources and tools for building sustainable postvention systems that meet the unique needs of military and Veteran families.
The learning community will meet monthly for three sessions beginning in December 2025 via Zoom. Each session will feature an expert presentation with engaging group discussion incorporated throughout.
Topic: Supporting Healing After Suicide for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families
Session 3 of 3: Building the Foundations of Postvention with LOSS Teams
Intended Audience: Open to the public: Anyone interested in Postvention related to Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF)
Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET
This six-part webinar series brings together RAND researchers to examine critical issues affecting service members, Veterans, and their families across the military-to-civilian transition. The series explores how data, research, and policy insights can inform more effective programs, services, and prevention strategies at national, state, and community levels.
Across the series, individual webinars will focus on topics related to transitioning service members, suicide prevention, or both, depending on the research focus of each session. Sessions will highlight variations in veteran needs across populations and geographies, examine how data are collected and used to inform policy, and translate research findings into practical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and community partners.
Topic: Advancing Data, Policy, and Prevention for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families
Webinar 1 of 6: Veteran Needs, Well-Being, and Data to Inform Policy and Prevention
Intended Audience: Open to the public. This webinar is intended for anyone interested in supporting SMVF during the transition to civilian life and strengthening suicide prevention efforts.
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people have a proud and exemplary tradition of military service, consistently serving at one of the highest per-capita rates of any ethnic group in the United States. This dedication and sacrifice, however, have come at a significant cost. According to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data, AIAN Veterans are among the groups most heavily impacted by suicide.
To address this urgent issue, the VA has partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to host a webinar learning series, bringing together champions for the health and well-being of AIAN Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) for a dedicated time of learning, sharing, and collaboration.
Topic: Preventing Suicide Among American Indian and Alaska Native Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Webinar Learning Series
Webinar 1 of 4: The Healing Power of Stories – Digital Storytelling with Veterans
Intended Audience: Open to Native and Tribal community leaders, advocates, and service providers committed to supporting the health and well-being of AIAN SMVF
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
*Registration is limited* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: Addiction/Opioid/Substance Use Disorder/Sedatives
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
April
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Registration information coming soon.
Community of Practice (CoP) meetings are designed to strengthen technical assistance support for Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge workgroup leaders and members. CoPs meet monthly to (1) Increase knowledge about suicide prevention best practices related to each specific priority area, (2) Facilitate team-to-team sharing of insights and suicide prevention strategies, and (3) Inspire practice improvement ideas and innovations across teams.
Topic: Evaluation and Metrics: Telling the GC Story with Data
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team members
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people have a proud and exemplary tradition of military service, consistently serving at one of the highest per-capita rates of any ethnic group in the United States. This dedication and sacrifice, however, have come at a significant cost. According to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data, AIAN Veterans are among the groups most heavily impacted by suicide.
To address this urgent issue, the VA has partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to host a webinar learning series, bringing together champions for the health and well-being of AIAN Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) for a dedicated time of learning, sharing, and collaboration.
Topic: Preventing Suicide Among American Indian and Alaska Native Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Webinar Learning Series
Webinar 2 of 4: Understanding the Need: Insights from Rural and Urban Data
Intended Audience: Open to Native and Tribal community leaders, advocates, and service providers committed to supporting the health and well-being of AIAN SMVF
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
*Registration is limited* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: Building State-Level Infrastructure for Military Data Integration
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
May
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Registration information coming soon.
Community of Practice (CoP) meetings are designed to strengthen technical assistance support for Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge workgroup leaders and members. CoPs meet monthly to (1) Increase knowledge about suicide prevention best practices related to each specific priority area, (2) Facilitate team-to-team sharing of insights and suicide prevention strategies, and (3) Inspire practice improvement ideas and innovations across teams.
Topic: COMPACT ACT
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team members
Time: 2– 3 p.m. ET
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people have a proud and exemplary tradition of military service, consistently serving at one of the highest per-capita rates of any ethnic group in the United States. This dedication and sacrifice, however, have come at a significant cost. According to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data, AIAN Veterans are among the groups most heavily impacted by suicide.
To address this urgent issue, the VA has partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to host a webinar learning series, bringing together champions for the health and well-being of AIAN Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) for a dedicated time of learning, sharing, and collaboration.
Topic: Preventing Suicide Among American Indian and Alaska Native Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Webinar Learning Series
Webinar 3 of 4: Someone to Call – A Lifeline for Indigenous People
Intended Audience: Open to Native and Tribal community leaders, advocates, and service providers committed to supporting the health and well-being of AIAN SMVF
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
*Registration is limited* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: Breakout Discussions
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
June
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Registration information coming soon.
Community of Practice (CoP) meetings are designed to strengthen technical assistance support for Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge workgroup leaders and members. CoPs meet monthly to (1) Increase knowledge about suicide prevention best practices related to each specific priority area, (2) Facilitate team-to-team sharing of insights and suicide prevention strategies, and (3) Inspire practice improvement ideas and innovations across teams.
Topic: Breakout Discussions
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team members
Time: 2– 3 p.m. ET
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people have a proud and exemplary tradition of military service, consistently serving at one of the highest per-capita rates of any ethnic group in the United States. This dedication and sacrifice, however, have come at a significant cost. According to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data, AIAN Veterans are among the groups most heavily impacted by suicide.
To address this urgent issue, the VA has partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to host a webinar learning series, bringing together champions for the health and well-being of AIAN Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) for a dedicated time of learning, sharing, and collaboration.
Topic: Preventing Suicide Among American Indian and Alaska Native Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Webinar Learning Series
Webinar 4 of 4: From the Field – Approaches to Preventing Veteran Suicide in Tribal Communities
Intended Audience: Open to Native and Tribal community leaders, advocates, and service providers committed to supporting the health and well-being of AIAN SMVF
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
*Registration is limited.* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: Program Evaluation
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
July
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Registration information coming soon.
Community of Practice (CoP) meetings are designed to strengthen technical assistance support for Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge workgroup leaders and members. CoPs meet monthly to (1) Increase knowledge about suicide prevention best practices related to each specific priority area, (2) Facilitate team-to-team sharing of insights and suicide prevention strategies, and (3) Inspire practice improvement ideas and innovations across teams.
Topic: Leveraging Medicaid for Sustaining SMVF Initiatives
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team members
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
*Registration is limited.* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: TBD
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
August
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Registration information coming soon.
Community of Practice (CoP) meetings are designed to strengthen technical assistance support for Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge workgroup leaders and members. CoPs meet monthly to (1) Increase knowledge about suicide prevention best practices related to each specific priority area, (2) Facilitate team-to-team sharing of insights and suicide prevention strategies, and (3) Inspire practice improvement ideas and innovations across teams.
Topic: TBD
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team members
Time: 2–3 p.m. ET
*Registration is limited.* This event is limited to current Governor’s Challenge and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders. To request to be added to the distribution list for this event, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com.
Team leader calls are designed to provide technical assistance support specifically for team leaders of the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges through a monthly 1-hour virtual meeting.
Topic: Breakout Discussions
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team leaders
September
Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m. ET
Registration information coming soon.
Community of Practice (CoP) meetings are designed to strengthen technical assistance support for Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge workgroup leaders and members. CoPs meet monthly to (1) Increase knowledge about suicide prevention best practices related to each specific priority area, (2) Facilitate team-to-team sharing of insights and suicide prevention strategies, and (3) Inspire practice improvement ideas and innovations across teams.
Topic: Breakout Discussions
Intended Audience: Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge team members