Webinars
Presentation Slides Will be Available Here
Wednesday May 13, 2026 at 12-1PM ET
Developing, Tailoring, and Implementing a Clinician Resource for High-Risk Homeless Veterans accessing VA Emergency Services
with Ryan Holliday, PhD and Evan Polzer, MA
Registration:
VA Attendees (TMS #131023974)
Non-VA Attendees (VHA TRAIN #1136405)
Purpose Statement:
Veterans experiencing homelessness are significantly greater risk for suicide relative to the general Veteran population. Veterans often utilize VA emergency services as a method of managing their health and social service needs, and as such, this suggests emergency services may be an important intercept for identifying and connecting these Veterans to services. Nonetheless, continuity of care following emergency services has traditionally been a challenge. This presentation will present findings across a 5-year project that includes qualitative interviews, with both Veterans and providers, and quantitative data to inform the development and refinement of a clinician resource. We will then detail the implementation of this resource into a series of VA emergency service settings. We will include with lessons learned, including necessary next steps to save Veteran lives.
Outcome/Objectives:
At the conclusion of this educational program, learners will be able to:
- Explain factors driving elevated risk for suicide among Veterans experiencing homelessness.
- Describe barriers to continuity of care among homeless Veterans accessing VA emergency services.
- Discuss how the clinician resource can facilitate service access and engagement by high-risk Veterans experiencing homelessness and accessing VA emergency services.
Program Description:
The VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (MIRECC) pursues a discovery-to-recovery approach to determine the causes, identify predictors, and develop treatments for individuals with serious mental illness, with emphasis on psychosis and on suicide. The topics for this series consist of innovative treatments that we have created/tested and insights from research that have helped to inform clinical care.
Target Audience:
Physicians, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, Counselors, and Therapists
Accreditations (1 CE): ACCME, ACCME-NP, APA, ASWB, JA IPCE, NBCC, NYSED-SW, NYSED-Psychology
PRESENTERS:
Ryan Holliday, PhD, is a Clinical Research Psychologist in the Department of Veterans Affairs and an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His research aims to understand the intersection of social drivers of health (e.g., homelessness, criminal legal involvement), trauma exposure, and suicide risk. He is further interested in translating these findings into evidence-based practice to ensure all Veterans receive equitable and optimal care.
Mr. Evan Polzer is a Health Sciences Specialist within the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention. His work utilizes qualitative research methods to learn from the lived histories of Veterans to develop and optimize suicide prevention strategies. His research focuses on patient-centered and trauma-informed approaches to suicide prevention among women Veterans and Veterans experiencing homelessness. Mr. Polzer’s academic background is in anthropology and was trained in mixed methods research.
Additional Information for TMS Registration:
Questions?
Non-VA employees, please contact the VHA TRAIN Help Desk by email at VHATRAIN@va.gov.
VA employees, please contact Ainelda Alfred at brian.jewell@va.gov.
