Washington, D.C. – (May 27, 2025) – In January 2014, the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF) was formally recognized on the floor of Congress for the first time. Then-Representative Kyrsten Sinema stood in front of her colleagues and the nation to highlight the vital work being done in Arizona to support our National Guard members, their families, and the broader military-connected community. 

This moment marked the first public Congressional mention of the Be Connected program and of ACMF’s collaborative approach, an early acknowledgment of a model that has gone on to shape policy, inform national strategies, and build new capacity to support service members, veterans and their families across Arizona and beyond. Eleven years later, we’re proud to reflect on that milestone and what it represents: a strong, sustained partnership with our state and national leaders.

Senator Sinema, a member of a military family herself, has remained a consistent champion of Arizona’s service members, veterans, and families. Her early recognition of Arizona’s innovative approach to supporting service members and families helped bring national attention to the importance of coordinated community partnerships with Arizona leading the way.

That 2014 speech recognized the leadership of Arizona and emphasized the importance of programs that integrate resources and connect military families to the support they need. It was an early validation of the Coalition’s model, one built on public-private partnerships, data-informed strategies, and a shared commitment to upstream suicide prevention. Over the past decade, this model has grown into a statewide ecosystem of support, focused on meeting real-world needs with practical, scalable solutions that reach service members, veterans, and their families before a crisis occurs.

Since that time, ACMF has been called on as a subject matter expert by Congress, the White House, and federal agencies to share insights, support policy development, and help other states replicate what works. We’ve worked hand-in-hand with Arizona’s congressional delegation, state leaders, and our more than 500 public and private sector partners to expand access, build capacity, and create lasting impact.

The success of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families offers a proven framework that can be adapted and applied nationwide. As states seek effective ways to support service members, veterans, and their families, the Coalition’s model demonstrates the power of public-private partnership, data-informed decision-making, and upstream prevention strategies. By building coordinated ecosystems of support, other states have the opportunity to replicate what’s working in Arizona—improving access, reducing risk, and strengthening outcomes for military-connected communities across the country.

The video clip from Congress is more than a memory, it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and the importance of continuing to advocate for strong, coordinated support systems for every service member, veteran, and family in Arizona and across the nation.

To explore more about our work alongside national leaders, visit ConnectVeterans.org/Championing.