WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced the winners of the 2020 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Community Partnership Challenge recognizing VA facility partnerships with local community organizations that help Veterans and their families lead happier healthier lives.

The annual challenge spotlights successful partnerships between VA medical facilities and nongovernmental organizations and brings attention to the collaborative efforts taking place in local communities that serve Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.

The three winning enterprises include:

“VA remains focused on its mission to care for America’s Veterans and collaborating with community partners augments VA’s services,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “These VA medical center staff and their community partners are doing great things for Veterans by helping them find jobs, putting food on their tables, and relieving their stress by helping with noncriminal legal issues.”

More than 45 facilities applied to the 2020 VHA Community Partnership Challenge. This year’s theme was “social determinants of health”. VA medical facilities were encouraged to submit entries that demonstrate how their partnerships are helping Veterans lead healthier happier lives by increasing their access to education, employment, food security, housing, spiritual support and transportation.

Visit VA’s Office of Community Engagement for more information.

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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

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