PORTLAND, Ore., July 16,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independence
Fund and First Responders Action Group (FRAG) will
present the Veterans Justice Initiative (VJI) program at the VA/DOD
Suicide Prevention Conference. The event is the nation's only
conference dedicated to military and Veteran suicide prevention and
will occur July 16-18, 2024, at the
Oregon Conference Center in Portland, Oregon.
VJI is a comprehensive program designed to avoid the
criminalization of mental illness and substance abuse while
diverting Veterans from incarceration by intervening on behalf of
eligible Veterans at the onset of their contact with the criminal
justice system. The program aims to better the lives and
experiences of these Veterans and ultimately reduce their risk of
Veteran suicide.
"I am proud to be part of these organizations working together
to prevent Veteran suicide," said Clark Pennington, Executive
Director of FRAG and Chief Operating Officer of The Independence
Fund. "This is an issue everyone should be aware of because it
impacts those who have sacrificed so much for our country, and it
is preventable with the right actions. We operate multiple programs
aimed at reducing and eliminating Veteran suicide in addition to
VJI, all of which have seen impactful results in the lives of real
people and Heroes."
Criminal justice involvement is 61% greater for Veterans with
PTSD than Veterans without PTSD. To combat these statistics, VJI
was founded in early 2021 by The Independence Fund in partnership
with the state of North Carolina
through funding provided by the No Veteran Left Behind
Act.
Since then, VJI has trained over 3,789 First Responders and
community partners across North
Carolina on Veteran-specific response techniques. In 2023,
FRAG expanded VJI services nationally through alternative funding
to ensure Veterans and law enforcement in other states receive this
life-saving assistance.
Data suggests Veterans in the legal system are more at risk
for suicide. By implementing training for First Responders and
offering resources for Veterans, the program reduces recidivism,
provides tailored support, and seeks to address the underlying
issues, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), leading
Veterans to become involved with the justice system.
The Independence Fund's Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Verardo, previously presented at the 2019
VA/DOD Suicide Prevention Conference, discussing another effort to
prevent Veteran Suicide: Operation Resilience (OpRes).
The Independence Fund's OpRes program has since served more than
664 Veterans from units deeply impacted by combat and suicide.
OpRes allows these Veterans to reunite and strengthen the bonds of
brotherhood forged in war.
For any media inquiries regarding these efforts to prevent
Veteran suicide, Clark Pennington is
available for interview upon request. Please see below for contact
information.
ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE FUND:
Founded in the halls of Walter Reed National Military Medical
Center, The Independence Fund was born to care for our nation's
most catastrophically wounded surviving service members from the
Global War on Terror. With an expansion to caring for the
warfighter's family and all generations of wounded, ill, and
injured heroes. The Independence Fund stands in the gap to help
combat Veterans, active military, and wartime Allies with unmet
needs. By restoring independence to those who sacrificed their
independence so that we can remain a nation of freedom, The
Independence Fund deploys tangible programs to restore our
Veterans' and families' physical, spiritual, and emotional health.
Known for the hallmark all-terrain track wheelchair program, The
Independence Fund has provided over 2,600 trackchairs to severely
wounded American heroes.
ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS ACTION GROUP (FRAG)
The First Responders Action Group (FRAG) is committed to
supporting the heroes of our communities—First Responders and
Veterans. Originally born out of The Independence Fund's mission to
serve the invisible scars of war, FRAG is networked under The
Verardo Group, whose mission is to "Be the Somebody" in communities
worldwide. FRAG serves America's First Responders with unwavering
assistance, resources, and advocacy to meet the unique and evolving
needs of those who selflessly serve and protect us. To learn more,
visit www.fragheroes.org.
Media Contact:
TIF Communications
tifcommunications@independencefund.org
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SOURCE The Independence Fund