Actively Recruiting
Expanding Veteran Sponsorship Initiative+ to Support High-Risk Transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans A Precision Medicine Approach
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2026-01-21
2700
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
V
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
V
VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Young Veterans in the U.S., especially those aged 18 to 34, face a significantly increased risk of suicide during the first year after leaving military service, often called the "deadly gap." This research evaluates the Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI), which connects transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans (TSMVs) with trained peer sponsors to ease their transition and improve access to VA care. The study expands VSI with enhanced predictive analytics to identify high-risk individuals before discharge and adds targeted VA mental and health care services in a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. The trial compares three groups: Transition as Usual (no additional services), VSI Base (peer sponsorship and community support), and VSI+ (VSI Base plus VA stepped care services). The VSI+ includes approximately five telehealth video sessions with social workers before and after discharge, assisting with VA registration, benefits applications, sponsor contact, and connections to primary care. Peer sponsors maintain regular contact with TSMVs over about six months post-discharge. The study enrolls 2,700 high-risk TSMVs across four military installations from 2026 to 2027. Participants join about six months before discharge and provide data at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months after leaving service. Researchers assess reintegration difficulties using the Military to Civilian Questionnaire and measure depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and VA healthcare use. The study also tracks implementation feasibility, adoption, and healthcare costs. The primary outcome is change in reintegration difficulties over time, helping to evaluate the impact of VSI and VSI+ compared to usual transition support.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Expanding Veteran Sponsorship Initiative+ to Support High-Risk Transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans: A Precision Medicine Approach
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans must be 18 years of age or older
- Must enroll prior to military discharge
- Planning to transition from one of the participating military installations during an active enrollment window
You will not qualify if you...
- Army STARRS score identifies the individual as low risk or acute high risk for suicide and not within the study's targeted risk range for participation
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person or virtual) for screening and enrollment
Duration - Up to 6 months prior to military discharge
High-risk transitioning servicemembers and Veterans meet with VA VSI+ social workers for approximately two sessions before discharge. These sessions include assessments and planning for reintegration, completing VA registrations, and connecting with sponsors and VA primary care.
Up to 2 telehealth video sessions before discharge
Duration - Approximately 6 months post-discharge
Participants matched with a peer sponsor receive community-based support through social media, email, and monthly video or in-person meetings to help with reintegration and goal setting.
Monthly meetings plus regular informal contacts
Duration - Up to 6 months post-discharge
Participants receive approximately three additional VSI+ social worker sessions via telehealth after discharge to assist with VA enrollment, healthcare access, and coordination with sponsors and community partners.
Approximately 3 telehealth video sessions after discharge
Duration - 12 months post-discharge
Participants complete surveys assessing reintegration difficulties, mental health, suicidal ideation, and VA healthcare utilization at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months after discharge.
3 survey timepoints: baseline, 6 months, and 12 months post-discharge
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY
The Bronx, New York, United States, 10468-3904
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
J
Joseph C Geraci, PhD
D
David E Goodrich, EdD MS MA
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
3
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