The Challenge: Strengthening Bereavement Support for Veterans’ Survivors
We invite collaborators external to VA to propose a bereavement and grief support tool, app, program, or service that enables Veterans’ survivors to access compassionate and people-centered grief and bereavement support.
The solution should provide virtual support options, be widely and publicly accessible to Veterans’ survivors, not be dependent on a formal visit or scheduled appointment with a licensed counselor, and demonstrate an understanding of the Veteran/military family, caregiver, and/or Veterans’ survivor experience. Success will be measured by the solution’s effectiveness for a wide range of Veterans’ survivors, ease of use, and ability to fill VA’s survivor bereavement and grief support gap by the close of the pilot project.
The Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support Program (SAMS) seeks to increase access to bereavement and grief support for all Veterans’ survivors. Under current law, there is limited authority for VA to provide Veterans’ survivors with bereavement counseling through VA after a loss of their Veteran family member, resulting in increased hardship for Veterans’ survivors who must navigate the VA system after their family member has died, and decreased trust in VA to help them.
Desired Outcomes
- Veterans’ survivors will experience increased support from VA in navigating grief after the loss of a Veteran
- Staff will be better equipped with appropriate tools to provide support to Veterans’ survivors in their transition
- The system will close a key service gap and increase access to care for Veterans’ survivors
Requirements
- Must be usable by all survivors of Veterans, 18 years of age and older, at all levels of technological ability
- If the support includes bereavement counseling, it must be via licensed, credentialed, or certified grief providers
- Must provide information or a direct connection to 988 and crisis services
- Must comply with VHA Policy and Directives
- Must not require the integration of a separate technological platform into VA systems
- Must be at the “test” phase of maturity – model developed, ideating, prototyping, and redesigning a minimum viable product to determine feasibility and functionality
Submission Deadline
- The Bereavement Challenge deadline is August 18, 2025
The submission window is now closed.
Please visit the PathFinder homepage for updates on this effort and to learn more about upcoming Challenges.
Join the Challenge
All proposals are reviewed based on the following standard evaluation criteria:
- Feasibility
Can the solution be implemented effectively within VA's ecosystem? - Impact
Does the solution significantly improve care for Veterans? - Strategic Alignment
Does the proposal align with and mission?
We welcome a range of applicants, including:
- Veterans & Caregivers
- SDVOSBs, Startups, & Entrepreneurs
- Healthcare Professionals
- Nonprofits & Veteran Service Organizations
- Community Healthcare Institutions
Is the PathFinder Challenge Series the right place for your solution?
Help shape the future of Veterans’ survivor support
Please note, if you are a VA employee and have solutions, questions, or feedback about the PathFinder Challenge Series, please log in to the VA network and submit here.
The submission window is now closed.
Thank you for your interest in this Challenge. We invite you to visit the PathFinder homepage for updates on this effort and to learn more about upcoming Challenges.
Your solution may be better suited to support other offices in VHA. Please explore VA’s various avenues for engagement.
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Become a Vendor
- Submit to a VA Market Research Database to become a vendor.
- PathFinder Innovation is not involved with purchasing or acquisition in any way. Learn more about VA Procurement and the Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics.
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Conduct research and clinical trials
- Inquire about research opportunities with the Office of Research and Development’s Partnered Research Program.
- PathFinder Innovation does not lead or conduct clinical validation trials or scientific research studies. You can search the National Library of Medicine’s Clinical Trials database to find a like-minded study sponsor for your proposed trial at clinicaltrials.gov
- Become a Community Care Provider
The PathFinder Challenge Series does not currently offer funding, award contracts, provide grants, or offer other forms of financial support at this time.
Please note, if you are a VA employee and have solutions, questions, or feedback about the PathFinder Challenge Series, please log in to the VA network and submit here.
We welcome non-monetary collaborations and healthcare solution submissions from a range of applicants including but not limited to:
- Veterans & Caregivers
- SDVOSBs, Startups, & Entrepreneurs
- Healthcare Professionals
- Nonprofits & Veteran Service Organizations
- Community Healthcare Institutions
VHA priorities
- Cut red tape around VA care and services
- Deliver timely access to care for Veterans
- Support all aspects of Veteran well-being
- Instill a culture of caring, customer service, and accountability
- Improve outreach to vulnerable Veterans
- Support rural Veterans with enhanced outreach and services
- Enhance the operation of Community Care
- Increase efficiency and maintain high standards of care
