Overview: Homeward Bound Adirondacks (HBA) is committed to supporting veterans in Northern New York, offering a variety of services designed to address mental health challenges and improve overall well-being. Our mission revolves around mitigating the causes of suicidality and providing comprehensive support through non-clinical, peer-led interventions. This year, HBA has expanded its offerings through multiple grant programs, enhancing our capacity to deliver life-saving services to veterans and their families.

Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP)

The SSG Fox SPGP, in partnership with the Veterans Administration (VA), is a cornerstone of HBA’s suicide prevention efforts. This federally funded grant allows us to take a holistic, non- clinical approach to addressing the underlying causes of veteran suicidality. Our services include:

• Holistic Case Management Services: Addressing psychosocial stressors such as transportation, housing, food insecurity, healthcare access, and justice involvement.
• Peer-to-Peer Services: Combatting social isolation by connecting veterans with peers who have also served, fostering a sense of belonging.
• Innovative Retreats: Offering peer-led weekend retreats focused on mental health, peer bonding, outdoor recreation, and therapeutic activities.

Key Accomplishments:

• Screened over 450 veterans for suicide prevention services.
• Provided 12,000 miles of transportation, 9,360 hours of case management, and 4,539 hours of peer-to-peer support.
• Delivered 600 hours of non-clinical intervention services through 15 retreats.
• Offered emergency housing assistance to 17 veterans.

New York State Health Foundation (NYSHF) Grant Program

The NYSHF Grant Program is designed to serve veterans who do not meet the requirements for other suicide prevention programs. Under this grant, HBA continues to provide the same high level of care and attention:

• Comprehensive Case Management: Addressing transportation, food, and housing insecurity, justice involvement, and healthcare access.
• Peer-to-Peer Connections: Promoting socialization and community bonding among veterans.
• Weekend Retreats: Focused on non-traditional mental health and outdoor therapeutic activities.

Key Accomplishments:

• Screened over 450 veterans, with 75 qualifying for services.
• Provided 2,080 hours of case management and over 9,000 miles of transportation.
• Offered emergency housing to 5 veterans.

Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Grant Program

Funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health, the Joseph P. Dwyer Grant Program aims to reduce suicidality by offering veteran-to-veteran support services across Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties. These services adhere to three key principles: veteran-led, non-clinical, and accessible to all veterans.

Key Accomplishments:

• Provided 750 meals through veteran meal programs.
• Engaged 420 veterans in outdoor recreation and 600 veterans in indoor recreation.
• Facilitated adaptive recreation for 75 veterans and provided peer mentoring to over 150 veterans.
• Delivered over 4,000 miles of transportation to medical and justice appointments.
• Reached over 2,000 veteran interactions and provided 4,160 hours of care annually.

Retreat Program Highlights

Our retreats serve as a powerful intervention for veterans, blending outdoor recreation with therapeutic practices to promote mental health and peer bonding. This year, HBA hosted 15 weekend retreats, featuring activities such as:

• Non-clinical Mental Health Groups.
• Team Building Exercises.
• Forest Therapy.
• Sound Therapy.

These retreats, which provided a total of 600 hours of direct intervention, have been pivotal in reducing isolation and fostering a community of support among veterans.

Looking Forward

Homeward Bound Adirondacks is committed to expanding our services and reaching even more veterans in the coming year. We continue to seek new partnerships and funding opportunities to ensure that every veteran in need has access to the support they deserve. Together, with the help of our dedicated staff, volunteers, and community, we remain steadfast in our mission to save lives and create a brighter future for veterans across Northern New York.

Contact Information: For more details on our programs, upcoming retreats, or ways to support our mission, please contact us at:

Homeward Bound Adirondacks
Website: https://homewardboundadirondacks.org/
Phone: (518) 354-5144
Email: [email protected]g