Be Connected News

Recently, I had the privilege of attending a roundtable hosted by Arizona’s senior Senator, Kyrsten Sinema. I was honored to attend this roundtable event on behalf of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF) to represent the 500+ partner organizations that are members of the ACMF. The roundtable brought together several Arizona VSOs and members of Senator Sinema’s Veterans Advisory Council.

June marks PTSD Awareness Month, a time when we work to raise awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and support individuals affected by this condition. One of my personal goals is to ensure that anyone who is experiencing PTSD understands that seeking treatment is a sign of courage and strength.

In a world more interconnected than ever, the prevalence of loneliness has reached epidemic proportions, with more than half of Americans reporting feelings of isolation.

Thank you for everyone who attended the 13th Annual Statewide Symposium. If you were not able to join us this year, we have the general session videos and the presenters’ slides available at ACMFEventCenter.org.

The Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF) has been honored with the Copper Eagle Award from the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society for exceptional service and leadership in support of Arizona veterans and their families.

As we approach Memorial Day, a day of profound significance and remembrance, let’s take this moment together to reflect on the immense sacrifice made by our brave service members and to honor the indelible legacy they have left behind.

The Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the National Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Distinguished Service Award. This prestigious national recognition is given to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated exceptional national leadership and service in support of the military community.

Nicola shares more detail about how the Arizona Coalition for Military Families began and the important work happening across Arizona to support service members, veterans, and their families.

A tribute to Col. Wanda Wright (Ret.), one of Arizona’s finest female leaders, as she concludes her service as Director of the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services.

Read the real stories of how the Be Connected Support Line team has helped Arizona veterans thrive.

An important voter-approved initiative for veterans passed in November. The initiative reinstates property tax exemptions for disabled veterans. The approval of Proposition 130 on the statewide ballot restores a benefit that reduces the assessed value of real estate, thus reducing the amount of taxes owed.

America lost a beloved son on July 21, 2020. Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox died by suicide at his home in Columbus, Georgia at the age of 25. After graduating high school in 2012, he joined the United States Army in 2014, eventually working as a sniper after completing the U.S. Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. To prevent tragedies like the death of SSG Fox, Congress authorized a $174 million grant program named in honor of SSG Fox.

A Veteran Suicide Prevention Workshop was hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Deloitte in Washington, DC, in October 2022. The purpose of the workshop was to develop action plans for addressing suicide in three focus populations: women, rural and American Indian veterans. The two-day event featured remarks and panels from leaders from the VA, Department of Defense, and other key entities, as well as intensive workgroup sessions.

An upstream approach to suicide prevention is a way to leverage time and expand the opportunities for intervention from one single pivotal moment to a series of moments that might span years, months, weeks, or days. With the advantage of time to notice, reach out, engage, and connect – people experiencing increased stress, and the people who can support them, have more options. The idea behind an upstream approach is that rather than allow time to pass where a situation progresses to that pivotal point of crisis, systems, communities, people, and other support systems are there to provide access to resources and support to address situations as they arise before they escalate into a life-threatening crisis.

In March 2020, in an effort to reduce suicide rates among Arizonans, Governor Ducey signed into law a measure, known as Jake’s law, to improve access to mental healthcare in Arizona, especially for youth and the uninsured. The law was named for 15-year-old Jake Machovsky who died by suicide in 2016 after his insurance company denied a request for mental health treatment. One aspect of the new law resulted in the creation of a Suicide Mortality Review Team.

Read the real stories of how the Be Connected Support Line team has helped Arizona veterans thrive.

In March 2020, in an effort to reduce suicide rates among Arizonans, Governor Ducey signed into law a measure, known as Jake’s law, to improve access to mental healthcare in Arizona, especially for youth and the uninsured. The law was named for 15-year-old Jake Machovsky who died by suicide in 2016 after his insurance company denied a request for mental health treatment. One aspect of the new law resulted in the creation of a Suicide Mortality Review Team.

Our upstream approach means we seek to connect with people “upstream” before an issue or problem worsens into a crisis that can lead to suicide. We work to tackle the issues today so that they don’t turn into life-threatening situations that can cause people to think of suicide as an option.

This August marks 13 years since the founding of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families! Continuing in our tradition of showcasing Arizona’s innovation, an Arizona team traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in an Innovations Conference for the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.

September is National Service Dog Month, so we thought it was a perfect time to share this amazing story of how the Be Connected program was able to make a community connection that benefitted veterans and their service dogs.

Read the real stories of how the Be Connected Support Line team has helped Arizona veterans thrive.

Operation Enduring Gratitude (OEG) is a Be Connected Partner that helps veterans with mobility challenges who have difficulty entering and exiting their homes.

On August 19, 2009, the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF) was launched to build support for all who serve. Ten years later, in 2019, ACMF celebrated the milestone of being recognized as the longest-serving statewide veteran collective impact initiative in the country.

Rosemarie and Richard St. Michael have been living with a run down air conditioning unit for more than a decade. “We have been here for …

The Be Connected support line, 866-4AZ-VETS (866-429-8387) is available for any Arizona service member, Guard and Reserve members, veterans, their families and caregivers. This is a statewide …

Be Connected Career Navigation is a no-cost career coaching and employment matching service exclusively available to all transitioning military members (Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve) as well as veterans, their spouses, and family members.

To be the best caregiver you can be, you have a responsibility to also take care of yourself. Practice self-care.

Learn More A Veteran Benefits Counselor (VBC) will be available two days a week at the West Valley Veteran Success Center, 12425 W. Bell Road, Suite …

Learn More Just announced: The Arizona Coalition for Military Families, Be Connected, the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services and Maricopa County Community Colleges are offering …

Be Connected Community Corps, or BCCC (“B Triple C”) is an initiative that connects volunteer helpers in the community to new and ongoing service opportunities …