National Sponsorship Program for Transitioning Service Members

Consistent with preventive, universal and public health approaches to suicide, the VA's TSMV Sponsorship Initiative establishes public-private partnerships with federal and community organizations to provide TSMVs with one-on-one, certified and volunteer sponsors in their post-military hometowns. Sponsors are assigned approximately six months prior to discharge and help TSMVs to accomplish reintegration tasks pre-and post-discharge. After certification, sponsors are assigned to and managed by a community integration coordinator (CIC), which is a local organization. CICs recruit sponsors, manage sponsors and match sponsors with TSMVs moving to the local region. After being matched with a TSMV, sponsors then integrate their skills during regular contact with matched TSMVs and monthly video or in-person sessions and help TSMVs identify SMART goals and develop reintegration action plans and ensure TSMVs attend VA healthcare appointments.