Most people see only the moment when support reaches someone: a veteran gets connected to housing, a spouse finds employment guidance, a family receives help during a difficult transition. What they may not see is the larger network behind that moment - the people, partnerships, systems, and shared commitment that make support possible.

That is one of the things I love most about the Statewide Symposium in Support of Service Members, Veterans & Their Families. For two days, the people behind that network are in the same place. You see familiar faces, meet new partners, hear what is working across Arizona, and get reminded that none of us is doing this work alone.

And that is where this work continues to grow. We have expanded our outreach to put support information in front of veterans in new ways. In this edition, you’ll read more about these efforts and how they are helping bring connection into the everyday spaces where veterans are.

Public transit is part of the daily rhythm of the Phoenix metro area. People use Valley Metro light rail to get to work, school, appointments, services, and community events.

Stations are places where people move through the community every day. That makes light rail stations meaningful places to share information that can help someone connect.

Through a partnership between Valley Metro and the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, informational decals are now on emergency call boxes at light rail stations throughout the Phoenix metro area. A visible sign in a familiar public space can make support easier to find when someone is ready to take a first step.

Support does not always begin with a formal appointment. Sometimes it starts with a simple question: “How are you doing this week?”

This is the idea behind Early Alert, a text-based service designed to help veterans stay connected to support before challenges become crises. We’re partnering with Early Alert to expand how we reach veterans. Each week, Early Alert sends participating veterans a short text check-in about one area of wellness. The veteran can respond by text without having to make a phone call, schedule an appointment, or explain everything all at once. Together, Early Alert and Be Connected help make support easier to find, easier to access, and easier to get started.

One of the most important questions in veteran suicide prevention is how to reach veterans who may not be connected to traditional systems of care or support.

One recent insight led to a new outreach effort with licensed marijuana dispensaries. If veterans are already spending time in these spaces, support information can be there too.

Dispensaries are community touchpoints, and they offer another place where veterans may see information about support, connection, and available resources. A simple postcard or resource card may help someone take the next step, or remind them that support exists.

The Be Connected community engagement team is regularly out across Arizona — raising awareness, connecting with veterans at statewide veteran standdowns, and strengthening relationships with partner organizations. Recently, Be Connected was delighted to support the launch of a new location for Soldier's Best Friend in Tucson.

A veteran became unhoused after facing eviction. The veteran was also unable to pay storage fees to retrieve personal belongings. Be Connected worked with the veteran to coordinate financial assistance, generously donated by TSMC, to help recover the essential belongings. At the same time, Be Connected linked the veteran to local housing partners supporting the veteran’s next steps toward permanent housing.