National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
VHA National Community Partnership Challenge (CPC)
2026 Community Partnership Challenge — Now Open!
VA Staff can now submit their entries for the 2026 VHA National Community Partnership Challenge (CPC)!
Who can enter the VHA National Community Partnership Challenge?
Any Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employee may submit a non-monetary partnership entry on behalf of a VISN, Medical Facility, Community Based Outpatient Clinic/Health Care Center, Vet Center, VHA Program Office, or other VHA business entity.
The entry must have documented approval by the employee's Executive Leadership prior to submission.
How to submit applications
Submissions will be accepted on the Partnership Challenge Welcome page on the VA Intranet (VA Intranet link; requires VA network access).
For more information, visit Partnership Challenge Welcome (VA Intranet link; requires VA network access) or contact VHA_Partnerships@va.gov
2025 Community Partnership Challenge — The Power of Partnerships
2025's Community Partnership Challenge (CPC) theme, The Power of Partnerships, celebrated the tremendous impact of non-monetary partnerships between VHA and community organizations on Veterans' health and well-being.
In its 11th year, CPC recognized partnerships that were created to expand or enhance care provided by VA and external partners to address needs across individual and community-based health factors. These can include conditions in the environments in which people live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks in the categories of education, employment, food security, housing, spiritual support, and transportation.
Entries for 2025's CPC demonstrated how the partnerships delivered services and other resources to Veterans, their families, caregivers, or survivors in alignment with one or more of the following categories:
The Power of Coalitions:
Partnerships that leverage community coalitions (more than one partner or VA programs) to directly improve or support Veteran health and well-being.
The Power of Technology:
Partnerships that leverage new technology or existing technology in a new way to improve or support Veteran health and well-being. Technology can refer to machines (like computers, applications, or digital health products) but also techniques and processes (like 3D printing, how we leverage devices, or how we improve access to services).
The Power of the Veteran Voice:
Partnerships that are built on needs/gaps identified by Veterans.
HAP welcomed entries from local (VAMC), regional (VISN), or national program office VHA staff. This 2025 CPC aimed to celebrate the wide range of collaborative VHA partnerships that identify Veterans' needs and gaps in services and address these unmet needs to better serve Veterans. Partnerships bring new opportunities and augment services and programs offered by VHA.
There are thousands of successful partnerships taking place across VHA. Strategic partnerships are force multipliers that help meet Veterans' needs, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Through the CPC, VHA and the community celebrate our shared success!
The top three entries of 2025 were celebrated and announced in 2025 during the VHA National Community Partnership Conference, when the Under Secretary for Health announced and recognize the winning partnership during a formal awards ceremony. Each winner received the coveted VHA National Community Partnership Challenge Diamond Award and special recognition by the Office of the Secretary.
Winners of the 2025 National CPC
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, in partnership with the Chicago Recovery Alliance
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, in partnership with the Chicago Recovery Alliance, for their “Power of Coalitions” initiative. This collaborative effort focuses on harm reduction strategies to create a supportive and safe environment for Veterans, caregivers, and VA staff. By providing access to life-saving supplies, their program has significantly decreased opioid overdose incidents and reduced the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV), demonstrating the critical impact of their work on public health.
VHA Office of Rural Health, the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center in Salt Lake City, the Durham VA Health Care System, Health Systems Research, Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, and the VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement
The Rural WAVE (Wellness and Veteran Engagement) Initiative led by the VHA Office of Rural Health, the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center in Salt Lake City, the Durham VA Health Care System, Health Systems Research, Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, and the VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement made remarkable strides in enriching the lives of Veterans in rural areas. This national initiative leverages partnerships with various VA offices and external organizations to bolster volunteer activities, foster community bonds, and enhance overall quality of life for rural Veterans and their families.
The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center in partnership with the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA
The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center and the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA was recognized for their “Collaboration: MOVE program and YMCA” initiative, which has successfully increased physical activity and health outcomes among Veterans. By integrating Veteran feedback and peer support, they are promoting better health and well-being in their community.
More information about the VHA National CPC?
The VHA National Community Partnership Challenge (CPC) is an annual event recognizing outstanding partnerships that advance the health and well-being of Veterans and their communities. The CPC is facilitated by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) on behalf of the Office of the Under Secretary for Health.
Since 2014, the CPC has recognized recipients for their efforts in a variety of areas, including suicide prevention and addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) – the social, economic, and physical factors in people's surroundings where they live, work, socialize, worship, and age. These partnerships play an instrumental role in closing gaps in care and improving the health and well-being of Veterans.
For more information, contact VHA_Partnerships@va.gov.
- Partnership with Mediflix Enhances Access to Health care Information
- CPC Highlights Innovative Partnerships that Support Veterans
- Partnerships deliver commitment to enrich the lives of Veterans: Winners of the 2023 National Community Partnership Challenge
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