Implementation Academies bring states and territories together to receive intensive technical assistance focused on strategic plan priorities. The Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance (SMVF TA) Center works with small delegations of state and territory participants to determine optimal ways to implement best practices and define success. Each Implementation Academy targets a specific topic, connects teams with subject matter experts, and promotes peer-to-peer sharing.
Key Objectives
Implementation Academy participants focus on the following key objectives:
- Deepening understanding of and familiarity with a specific issue
- Gaining an understanding of promising, best, and evidence-based practices to address the issue
- Increasing knowledge about the challenges and lessons learned in implementing strategies through state-to-state sharing
- Expanding the components of existing strategic plans that focus on the issue, including defining assignments, deadlines, and measurable outcomes to be reported
Implementation Academy Process
Step One: Orientation Call
During step one, each state and territory team lead:
- Receives an overview of the Implementation Academy from SMVF TA Center staff
- Begins identifying specific implementation issues
- Discusses delegation selection
Step Two: Web-based Prep Sessions
During step two, all state and territory delegations and all team delegates:
- Participate in web-based technical assistance sessions with a subject matter expert
- Prepare for Implementation Academy work
- Complete “homework” assignments
Step Three: Implementation Academy
During step three, all state and territory delegations and all team delegates:
- Convene in a single location
- Participate in intensive team work sessions
- Review progress and identify gaps
- Share innovations and best practices
- Receive onsite technical assistance
- Refine action plan with timelines and measurable outcomes
Step Four: Individualized TA
During step four, state and territory teams and all team delegates:
- Receive tailored technical assistance to promote follow-through
- Adapt best practices and strategies
- Review, capture, and monitor outcome data
Virtual Implementation Academies
A Virtual Implementation Academy is a blend of virtual and onsite technical assistance designed to coordinate plan implementation strategy among state and territory participants. Like in-person Implementation Academies, Virtual Implementation Academies target a specific topic, involve subject matter expert help (at every stage of the implementation process), and promote peer-to-peer sharing.
The Virtual Implementation Academy process is the same as the Implementation Academy process, except for step three. During step three, all state and territory delegations and all team delegates:
- Convene in multiple locations local to their state or territory (for example, the Virginia team gathers at a conference room in Richmond, while at the same time, the Illinois team gathers at a conference room in Chicago, and so on)
- Receive professional assistance at each site
- Connect with each other and participate in presentations virtually
Past Implementation Academies
Previous Implementation Academies have explored the following topics:
- VA/SAMHSA Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among SMVF
- SMVF Crisis Intercept Mapping for Suicide Prevention (Virtual)
- “Talk. They Hear You.” Underage Drinking Prevention Campaign for Military Children (Virtual)
- Advancing Suicide Prevention Best Practices in Peer Support for SMVF (Virtual)
- Substance Use Disorders: Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery (Virtual)
- Military and Veterans’ Families
- Justice-involved Service Members and Veterans
- Suicide Prevention for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families