Partnered Implementation Evaluation of a National Sponsorship Program for Transitioning Service Members (PEC 20-170)

What this Trial Is About

The trial focuses on the urgent issue of rising suicide rates among the youngest U.S. Veterans aged 18 to 34, particularly during their first year after leaving military service. Researchers are studying the Veteran Sponsorship Initiative, a community-based program designed to reduce reintegration difficulties, psychological distress, and suicidal thoughts by providing personalized support to transitioning servicemembers and Veterans (TSMVs). The study aims to evaluate the initiative's effectiveness and how best to implement it in six Texas cities, with plans for future nationwide expansion. Participants are divided into two groups: one receiving the Veteran Sponsorship Initiative, where each TSMV is paired with a certified volunteer sponsor starting about six months before discharge and continuing for six months after discharge, and a control group following usual transition processes. Sponsors assist TSMVs through regular contact and monthly meetings, helping set goals, develop reintegration plans, and encourage attendance at healthcare appointments. The initiative is supported by community integration coordinators who manage sponsors and facilitate local partnerships. Participants will be assessed at multiple points from baseline through 12 months post-discharge using surveys and interviews to measure reintegration difficulties, psychological health, connectedness, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and healthcare use. Data will be collected from TSMVs and stakeholders to evaluate barriers and facilitators of the program. The study uses mixed methods, combining quantitative models with qualitative analysis, to guide future implementation and address the critical "deadly gap" period after military discharge.

National Sponsorship Program for Transitioning Service Members