USU Extension Awarded Nearly $750,000 to Support Veterans and Their Families
Utah State University Extension was recently awarded a $747,048 grant that will expand its work supporting veterans and their families. The grant comes through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
The award is part of a national initiative providing nearly $112 million to 191 organizations for community-based veteran suicide prevention. The project will initially focus on four Utah counties: Duchesne, Uintah, Salt Lake, and Tooele, but will cover all Utah veterans.
According to Troy Allan, USU Extension assistant professor, the project emphasizes reaching veterans before they experience a crisis.
“We want to strengthen community connections, reduce isolation, and make mental wellness resources more accessible, especially for veterans who are not currently connected to VA healthcare,” he said.
Reaching veterans in need of help can be challenging, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Approximately 62% of veterans who died by suicide in 2023 were not receiving VA healthcare during their last year of life. The grant will help bridge the gap by directing funding to community-based organizations.
In 2025, approximately 17,000 veterans, service members, and family members received services through the grant, marking a 31% increase from 2024. More than 340 at-risk veterans were connected to life-saving emergency mental healthcare through these grants.
Allan said the grant-implementation plan includes developing a network of trained veteran and family peer-support specialists; hiring two part-time grant navigators to help veterans access services, benefits, and community resources; and providing mind-body bridging opportunities through the I-System Institute at USU, in partnership with USU Extension. Mind-body bridging (MBB) equips veterans with practical skills to manage stress and difficult thoughts, regulate emotions, and build resilience. MBB helps veterans recognize what's happening in both mind and body so they can respond with greater calmness and clarity.
In addition, Allan said the plan includes developing community-based wellness activities, including outdoor and experiential programs that encourage meaningful social connection, and strengthening partnerships with VA facilities, veteran organizations, and community providers.
“As a retired Army chaplain and someone who has spent much of my professional life working with veterans and service members, this project is especially meaningful to me,” said Allan. “It will be wonderful to see what universities, community partners, and veterans can accomplish together.”
Allan said the implementation team is currently being organized. They will develop evaluation and reporting systems and will have an activities-planning meeting in November. He said the first official outing was held at the end of October in collaboration with Project Healing Waters, where veterans gathered for fly fishing, fellowship, and meaningful connection.
“The fishing is important, but the relationships built along the way are what really matter,” Allan said. “Every veteran deserves to feel connected, valued, and part of a community. If we can help create those connections before someone finds themselves in a difficult place, then we are doing something truly meaningful.”
Veterans in a suicidal crisis can contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988, then pressing 1, or by texting 838255. For immediate danger, call 911.