Category: September 2025

🎃🍂 Celebrate the Season and Our Veterans at the 2025 Fall Harvest Carnival! 🍂🎃

We’re inviting the community to join us for the Fall Harvest Carnival on Saturday, September 20th, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM at the Idaho State Veterans Home – Post Falls. This annual event honors our Veterans with a family-friendly fall celebration filled with laughter, music, and community spirit.

The goal? To “leaf” no space empty! The entire front parking lot will be transformed into a festive carnival packed with:

• 🎪 Veteran-supportive booths

• 🧁 Soft, seasonal sugar-free treats

• ☕ Warm fall beverages

• 🎯 Carnival games & fun prizes

• 🐐 Petting zoos

• 🎶 Live music & dance performances

• 🚚 Food trucks

• 🍁 Creative, fall-themed activities for all ages

Booth Setup: Begins at 12:00 PM. All booths must be fully ready by 1:00 PM.
Location: Idaho State Veterans Home – Post Falls, 590 S. Pleasant View Road, Post Falls, ID
Contact: Kady Aamot, Activities & Volunteer Coordinator
📞 (208) 415-3436
📧 Kady.Aamot@veterans.idaho.gov

👉 If you or your group would like to host a booth, bring your tent, table, chairs, fall decorations (pumpkins, hay bales, colorful leaves), and volunteers to help make this event magical for our Veterans.

In case of rain, the fun moves indoors to the Activity Room!

Let’s make this a fall festival to remember. Your participation brings joy, gratitude, and community spirit to those who have served. See you there! 🍁💛

Join the 2025 Virtual Mental Health Summit Hosted by Boise VA Medical Center

Date: September 17, 2025
Location: Virtual via WebEx
Theme: Mental Health Access
Host: Boise VA Medical Center
Contact: Joshua.Bode@va.gov

September is National Recovery Month, and the Boise VA Medical Center is inviting community members, healthcare professionals, and organizations to participate in its 2025 Virtual Mental Health Summit. This year’s theme—“Mental Health Access”—addresses one of the most critical challenges facing Veterans and their families today.

Purpose of the Summit

The Mental Health Summit serves as a bridge between the VA and community stakeholders, uniting efforts to improve mental health services for Veterans and their families across Idaho and beyond. By fostering collaboration and dialogue, this event aims to:

• Expand access to care

• Raise awareness about recovery resources

• Address the evolving needs of Veterans

• Strengthen VA-community partnerships

Full Agenda

🕣 8:30–9:00 AM – Registration
🕘 9:00–9:30 AM – Welcome: National Recovery and Suicide Prevention Month
Speaker: Dr. Caroll Berndt, Associate Chief of Staff for Behavioral Health, Boise VAMC

🕤 9:30–11:30 AM – Keynote: Accessing Mental Health Services in VA Healthcare
Speaker: Joshua Bode, LCSW, Assistant Chief of Behavioral Health

🍽 11:30–1:00 PM – Lunch & Networking

🕐 1:00–2:00 PM – Managing Chronic Substance Abuse
Speaker: Tom Hogan, LCSW, Social Work Supervisor

🕑 2:00–2:15 PM – Break & Networking

🕝 2:15–3:15 PM – Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Resource Expansion
Speaker: Kirk Stadelmeyer, LCSW, Social Work Supervisor

🕞 3:15–3:30 PM – Closing Remarks & Q&A
Speaker: Dr. Caroll Berndt

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How to Attend

This is a free virtual event open to community partners, health professionals, and anyone dedicated to supporting Veteran mental health. The event will be hosted via WebEx.

🔗 WebEx Link:
Email: Joshua.Bode@va.gov for link

📧 RSVP or Questions?
Email: Joshua.Bode@va.gov

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Why You Should Attend

• Stay up to date with Veteran mental health services

• Learn from experienced VA social workers and clinicians

• Expand your network with professionals in behavioral health

• Take part in the national conversation on suicide prevention and recovery

Let’s unite for Veteran wellness. Mark your calendar for September 17, 2025—and join us in strengthening access to mental healthcare in our communities.