Veteran Community Initiatives, Inc. is the Administrator for Cambria County Together With Veterans. Through this program, our organization leads efforts in coordinating communication and referral networks to assist Veterans and the broader community with behavioral health and suicide prevention support. In partnership with the National Together With Veterans movement, research, and community service agencies, we work to promote individual, family, and community connectedness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “over 70 percent of people who engage in suicidal behavior never seek health services. As a result, prevalence figures based on health records substantially underestimate the societal burden” (2013).
Our role is to advocate, educate, and spread awareness of the tools in recognizing self-harming behaviors, and to equip our communities with the resources available to promote interconnectedness within our rural regions.
Women Veterans have unique stories, but share common ground. This year, the theme is "Sharing Our Stories". Tentative activities include (and may not be limited to): campfire with drums, hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, archery, arts and crafts, foosball, yoga, reading, and board games.
Primary Contacts:
Committee Chair, Johna McCormick
jlomcco68@yahoo.com | (910) 584-0124
Vice-Chair, Karis Hagen
hagen.kl@gmail.com | (651) 246-2319
Retreat Location
White Sulphur Springs Retreat Center
4500 Milligans Cove Road, Manns Choice, PA 15550
Dates
April 5-7, 2024
Outdoor Odyssey is a nonprofit organization located in Boswell, Pennsylvania that offers top notch adventure programming, unrivaled leadership curriculum and superior service built to strengthen individual and team resiliency. Semper Fi Odyssey (SFO) is one of the most profound programs in the region, where "all activities focus on the development of realistic, near-term goals that leverage warriors’ unique experiences while addressing obstacles that must be overcome". Our region has taken great lengths to give space for our civilian and military communities to merge, with Outdoor Odyssey being a great example of a unique, impactful environment that builds and fosters coping mechanisms, communication strategies, and relationship-building skills that are much needed - especially in high stress, fast-paced environments.
Thanks to the generous support of the Cambria-Somerset COVID-19 Task Force and Somerset County Ambulance Association, EMS, Fire, Police, 911 Dispatch, and Healthcare Personnel can participate in an Outdoor Odyssey Wellness Retreat at no cost. These opportunities allow healthcare workers to meet and work with people who have faced similar challenges with working under immense pressure and stress. Please see the flyer for dates and more information.
If you are a military member or veteran and you would like to participate, please contact your case manager through the Semper Fi Fund or local VA Center.
If you are a qualifying personnel member and would like to participate in this retreat, please email info@centerforpophealth.org to learn more.
If you are having trouble contacting either agency, please call our office or fill out our contact form and we will assist you.
In addition to veteran and active duty programs, Outdoor Odyssey has numerous additional programs available. Check them out here: https://www.outdoorodyssey.org/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
https://988lifeline.org/media-resources/
Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
https://cssrs.columbia.edu/the-columbia-scale-c-ssrs/about-the-scale/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Homefront Mental Health Resources
https://homefrontresources.nami.org/
nfographic Source: World Health Organization https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/mental-health/suicide/infographics-suicide.pdf
Lock It Up: Promoting the Safe Storage of Firearms
Means Matter, Harvard Injury Control Research Center
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/
Gatekeeper Level 1 Trainings Available through TWV, the VA, and other agencies:
- S.A.V.E., VA Training
- safeTalk: https://livingworks.net/training/livingworks-safetalk/
- QPR: https://qprinstitute.com/about-qpr
- Construction Working Minds: https://www.constructionworkingminds.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC Publications (Fact Sheets, Definitions, Reports, Articles, and Other Publications)
Prevent Suicide PA
Pennsylvania County Task Forces and Contact Information
https://preventsuicidepa.org/task-force-county-init/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013, July 10). Promoting individual, family, and community connectedness to prevent suicidal behavior: strategic direction for the prevention of suicidal behavior. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.