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RETIRED JUSTICE EVELYN LUNDBERG STRATTON'S VETERANS' CRIMINAL JUSTICE & MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES NEWS

DECEMBER 6, 2015

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Retired Veterans in the Courts Initiative

Evelyn Lundberg Stratton retired from the Ohio Supreme Court at the end of 2012 so as to pursue more fully criminal justice reforms with a particular emphasis on veterans who become involved with the justice system. She

established the Veterans in the Courts Initiative in 2009. Video http://bit.ly/1glCXZ0

Subscribe to this free weekly, all volunteer-generated, news summary by joining our Veterans in The Courts Initiative Group

Nationwide, 2,981 providers of veterans’ services, just like you, receive this newsletter directly.

Thank you for sharing!

VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE estrattonconsulting.wordpress.com

Editor's Note: To refocus this newsletter on veterans-related criminal justice and mental illness issues and to shorten it to a more

manageable size, we have moved our tables & lists of reference materials and other longer term information to retired Justice Stratton's blog. Please follow the links below.

Operation Legal Help Ohio http://bit.ly/1Gg0HbK

National Legal Assistance http://bit.ly/19DC5zu

VA Town Halls & Events http://bit.ly/1Gg1DN6

Jobs & Hiring Fairs Listings http://bit.ly/19Dz2ay

Events: Conferences, Webinars, etc.

http://bit.ly/1Gg1nOi

Additional Resources http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH

Current Newsletter

http://bit.ly/19ovER5

2015 Newsletters

http://bit.ly/1FKASAC

Ohio Resources For Veterans

http://bit.ly/19ouWn0

This data will be updated constantly. Please use the links below to share the information. Please send us new sources when you find them. Thank you!

Editor's Note: Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations that provide articles for these news clips every week. I would especially like to thank and urge you to follow: Mary Ellen Salzano, founder facilitator of the CA Statewide Collaborative for our Military and Families, Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee, NAMI Military & Veterans Policy, Dr. Herrera-Yee is currently a Board Member for the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Military Spouses of Strength, Military Mental Health Project and the National Guard Suicide and Resiliency Council among others. She has also been a special contributor to NBC News, Military Times, Air Force Times, Military Spouse Magazine and BuzzFeed. She spends her free time mentoring spouses through eMentor and Joining Forces. Dr. Herrera-Yee received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and was a Clinical Fellow at Harvard University. Lily Casura, journalist, author and founder of Healing Combat Trauma - the award-winning, first website to address the issue of combat veterans and PTSD (established February 2006), and Kelly Kennedy, author and former national health policy, congress and veterans issues reporter (USA Today, Army Times, Chicago Tribune Media Group and USMC 1stLt Andrew T. Bolla, PIO at the USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment, publisher of WWR In the News, DoD Morning News of Note and USA Colonel (Ret.) James Hutton, Director of Media Relations at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

FEATURED STORIES

Army launches review of soldier misconduct discharges http://bit.ly/1jGucxG

The Army will conduct a “thorough, multidisciplinary review” in response to a call from a

group of 12 senators to investigate reports that the service discharged for misconduct as

many as 22,000 soldiers who had been diagnosed with mental health problems.

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Carter Opens All Military Occupations, Positions to Women http://is.gd/MT7pcM WASHINGTON, December 3, 2015 — Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced today that

beginning in January 2016, all military occupations and positions will be open to women,

without exception.

For the first time in U.S. military history, as long as they qualify and meet specific

standards, the secretary said women will be able to contribute to the Defense Department

mission with no barriers at all in their way.

“They’ll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars and lead infantry soldiers into combat,"

Carter added. "They’ll be able to serve as Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs,

Marine Corps infantry, Air Force parajumpers, and everything else that was previously open

only to men."

White House considers opening the draft to women Retired Ohio Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton promotes “The Stepping Up Initiative” at 2015 Private Psychiatric Inpatient Provider Conference http://bit.ly/1lXyjXT

On Oct. 30, the Ohio Hospital Association and Ohio Mental Health Addiction Services

(OhioMHAS) hosted “Barrier Busting: A Breakthrough in Holistic Care,” the biennial Private

Psychiatric Inpatient Provider Conference at the Quest Conference Center in Columbus.

. . . Guest speaker Retired Ohio Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton promoted The Stepping

Up Initiative, a national movement supported by the Council of State Governments Justice

Center, the National Association of Counties and the American Psychiatric Foundation to

reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation 2015 Compass Award is bestowed on Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton (Retired) (http://bit.ly/1PZx7zV

Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, (retired) is the Margaret Clark

Morgan Foundation 2015 Compass Award winner for her lifelong commitment to improving

the lives of individuals suffering serious mental illness by sharing her personal experiences

and professional power to address their needs.

Her leadership roles at the local, state, and national level, are contributing to changes in

mental health policies.

Here is a brief video about Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton and her work to improve the

lives of those suffering serious mental Illness. . .

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Dunford Says All in Military Will Work to Fully Integrate Women http://is.gd/daKIcr SIGONELLA NAVAL AIR STATION, Italy, December 5, 2015 — Following Defense Secretary

Ash Carter's announcement Dec. 3 that all military specialties would be open to women, it is

the responsibility of all in the military to ensure that the integration process is done well, the

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.

VA officials say Pikes Peak region a 'role model' for the nation http://bit.ly/1SHdqus Department of Veterans Affairs officials held up the Pikes Peak region as "a role model" for

the nation Thursday, citing the close partnerships between local groups that offer help for

veterans.

The federal agency remains troubled here, with one-third of Colorado Springs veterans

waiting a month or more for care. But Danny Pummill, the agency's acting undersecretary,

said local groups are helping fill in when his agency falls short.

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"You guys have broken the code - it is working the way it's supposed to work," Pummill said

during a town hall meeting at the Norris-Penrose Event Center.

Colorado Springs is a testbed for VA efforts to better coordinate services with local

governments and nonprofits through its new program "MyVA Pikes Peak region."

VA: November Veteran unemployment numbers decreased from 3.9 to 3.6% BLS

Employment Data - November 2015.pdf

Colleagues and Fellow Veterans, As with the first Friday of each month, the BLS employment

statistics were released today. Attached is our monthly ‘cheat sheet’ for your use and

information. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.0% and the

Veteran unemployment numbers decreased from 3.9 to 3.6%.

Thanks to all of you who are working directly or indirectly, to ensure our Veterans have

meaningful employment.

Curtis L. Coy

Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity

Veterans Benefits Administration

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vice Adm. Raquel Bono kicks off the Federal Health 2015 conference in San Antonio http://1.usa.gov/1LOfKKy

Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, director of the Defense Health Agency, kicked off the Federal Health

2015 conference in San Antonio, Tuesday morning with a presentation highlighting the

contributions DHA has made since its establishment in 2013, and its future goals.

“One of the things we’ve demonstrated in the last 10 years,” Bono said, “is that when we

work together we’re so much more effective. The conference, hosted by AMSUS, The

Society of Federal Health Professionals, is an annual continuing education meeting. VA Makes Changes to Veterans Choice Program http://1.usa.gov/1PZvmCP

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a number of

changes to make participation in the Veterans Choice Program easier and more convenient

for Veterans who need to use it. The move, which streamlines eligibility requirements,

follows feedback from Veterans along with organizations working on their behalf. Veterans Affairs to Enhance Collaboration Resources for Blinded Veterans http://prn.to/1O4MqBa

Discover Technologies announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acquired

enterprise licensing on behalf of the agency's Section 508 Program Office. The Discover 508

for SharePoint solution was acquired to help bring the VA's 600 SharePoint site collections

and 8,000+ subsites into compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as

amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, commonly referred to as "Section

508".

Discover 508, a server-based usability tool, enables blind and low vision users to easily

perform collaborative tasks in SharePoint such as uploading documents, creating calendar

events, and managing alerts and permissions. Discover 508 is a software solution that

once installed at the SharePoint farm level, renders SharePoint sites in a user friendly

version without images, tables, etc., by eliminating any hypertext markup language (HTML)

or cascading style sheets (CSS) formatting elements. Once installed, Discover 508's usability

mode utilizes a few basic navigation keys (tab, back-tab, space bar) to enable easy cursor

navigation. This extends the usability of SharePoint to blind and visually impaired users.

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Activities at local VA Facilities Columbus VA Town Hall, December 7th

Miami VMAC Town Hall, December 8th

VA Minneapolis VA Town Hall, December 9th

Wilmington VAMC Town Hall, December 10th

VA Long Beach Mental Health Town Hall Meeting Friday, Dec 11, 2015

VA Pittsburgh Veteran’s Town Hall, December 11th

VA New Orleans Town Hall, December 14th

VA Biloxi Town Hall, December 16th

VA OIG Reports

Healthcare Inspection – Point of Care Testing Program Concerns, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA

Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio

Healthcare Inspection – Quality of Care Concerns at a Residential Rehabilitation Treatment

Program, VA Maryland HCS, Baltimore, MD

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, Virginia

Review of Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Other Outpatient Clinics of Oklahoma

City VA Health Care System, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Combined Assessment Program Summary Report – Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance

Imaging Safety in Veterans Health Administration Facilities

Additional resources from my blog

LIST OF VA TOWN HALLS & OTHER MEETINGS NATIONWIDE: http://bit.ly/1Gg1DN6

OHIO

Toledo Treatment court aims to leave no vet behind http://bit.ly/1OIl0pG Standing before Toledo Municipal Judge William Connelly, Jr., Matthew Nicolai explained why

the Veterans Treatment Court helped get him back on track after he was charged with

domestic violence.

“I think a lot of times when we exit the military, we lose a sense of camaraderie, a sense of

brotherhood or sisterhood,” Mr. Nicolai, 31, told the judge, who was flanked by flags

representing each branch of the military. “I was in the infantry so that's one of the biggest

fraternities in the world, especially in the Army. When I left that, I felt alone. I felt

disconnected.

“When I came into this treatment court, under different circumstances, I found that I'm not

alone,” he said. “I have support from every angle — mentors, people who actually care and

come and see you and make sure that you're doing OK, that you matter.”

Judge Connelly, who helped start the Veterans Treatment Court nearly a year ago, couldn't

have said it better.

Akron Center Serves Needs of Veterans http://1.usa.gov/1lXsqKj

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Cynthia Dungey (pictured above,

second from right) and Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Chip Tansill (far

right) recently met with staff and toured the US. Department of Veterans Affairs Community

Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) in Akron, Ohio.

The Akron CRRC is one of only 23 such centers in the country. Ohio has two; the other one

is in Cleveland.

The primary goal of the CRRC is to provide rapid and comprehensive housing-related

services to veterans who are experiencing homelessness, especially the chronically

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homeless, and to assist at-risk veterans in maintaining their current housing.

CRRCs are committed to increasing access to homeless services by creating welcoming

environments for integrated service delivery.

The Akron Center provides clean, safe shower and laundry facilities with on-site access to

mental health services and vocational rehabilitation.

OhioMeansJobs staff dedicated to veteran employment and Summit County Veterans Service

Officers have regular office hours at the center. Click HERE for more information

Bill to aid homeless vets outlined by Sen. Sherrod Brown http://bit.ly/1LOgE9X CLEVELAND, Ohio – The good news, according to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, is that the

number of homeless veterans has decreased by nearly a third, nationally, since 2009.

The bad news is that there are still an estimated 47,725 homeless veterans on any given

night, added Brown during a press conference today in East Cleveland.

Brown took the opportunity to outline details of the Veteran Housing Stability Act of 2015,

which he has co-sponsored. The bill is designed to improve services to homeless veterans

and provide greater access to permanent housing for vets, who represent about 12 percent

of the adult homeless population in the U.S. The bill is currently before the Senate

Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Healthcare Inspection – Point of Care Testing Program Concerns, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio http://1.usa.gov/1PZvTET

11/30/2015 07:00 PM EST OIG conducted an inspection in response to complaints about lapses

in policy compliance and quality oversight for the point of care testing program by Pathology and

Laboratory Management Service at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (facility),

Cleveland, OH.

A complainant alleged that some facility staff members improperly shared point of care operator

identification barcodes with those who had not been issued identification barcodes or whose

identification barcodes had lapsed due to lack of training.

The complainant also alleged that some patient point of care laboratory values could not be

linked to the correct patient’s electronic health record because operators entered incorrect

patient identifiers, that management failed to track misuse of operator identifications and

incorrect patient identifiers, including unresolved errors, and that testing operators were not

trained in accordance with facility policy.

We substantiated the allegations that some staff shared test operator identifications and

improperly entered patient identifiers. We did not substantiate the allegation that management

failed to track misuse of operator identifiers and incorrect patient identifiers including unresolved

errors.

The facility had a process established to track missing or incorrect patient identifiers; however,

we found that managers did not consistently track errors to resolution. We substantiated that

staff not trained in accordance with facility policy and procedure were performing tests, and we

found weaknesses in the training and competency assessment process, which may have been a

contributing factor. We made four recommendations.

ODVS November/December Newsletter http://1.usa.gov/1OIo5WE The November/December Newsletter articles include:

¦ New OhioMeansJobs Veteran Challenge Coins

¦ ODVS Welcomes Col. Mark J. Cappone

¦ Ohio Veterans Home Opens New Addition

¦ Attend the Wreaths Across America Event

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¦ OSU Recognized as #1

¦ Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Welcomes Class of 2015 at Induction Ceremony

¦ Preventing Veteran Homelessness in Akron

EVENT: Columbus VA Town Hall, December 7th http://is.gd/qVQfGr Veterans, Veteran Caregivers, and all Community Stakeholders are invited to the Columbus

VA Ambulatory Care Center’s Town Hall Meeting on Monday, December 7th at 3pm. The

event will take place in the Columbus VA Learning Resource Center (420 North James Road).

Columbus VA leadership, along with representatives from the VA health care services will be

on-hand to answer questions. In addition, representatives from the Veteran Benefits

Administration (VBA) will be there to assist and answer any questions regarding your VA

benefits. EVENT: VA Pittsburgh Veteran’s Town Hall, December 11th http://is.gd/uBt4Fa

VA Pittsburgh’s next quarterly Veteran town hall is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, from

1 - 2:30 p.m., in the Consolidation Building, 2nd Floor, Learning eXchange at our University

Drive campus in Oakland.

The town hall, which is open to the public, is part of an ongoing effort to hear from Veterans

and the community and to use this feedback to improve VA care. Front line employees—

including experts from the Veterans Benefits Administration—will be available to offer on-

the-spot assistance with individual questions and concerns.

Additional resources from my blog

OPERATION LEGAL HELP OHIO http://bit.ly/1Gg0HbK

OHIO RESOURCES FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/19ouWn0

OHIO JOBS FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/1CL3Ay0

RESURRECTING LIVES FOUNDATION http://bit.ly/1R9toOV

EVENTS FOR OHIO VETERANS & VETERAN SERVICE PROVIDERS http://bit.ly/1cpZrKQ

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS

Research: Criminal justice researchers to conduct nationwide evaluation of Veterans Treatment Courts http://bit.ly/1jGv7hw

(Dec. 3, 2015) -- Richard Hartley, an associate professor and chair with The University of

Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Department of Criminal Justice is to receive $186,157 from a

$761K grant awarded to Missouri State University, under the direction of co-

investigator Julie Baldwin. The grant is awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National

Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct the first multi-site evaluation of Veterans Treatment

Courts.

. . . Over the next three years, Hartley and Baldwin will evaluate outcomes from the VTC

programs. These outcomes include the effects of VTCs on substance abuse and addiction,

mental health and PTSD and whether, overall, there has been a reduction of criminal activity

among the VTCs’ veteran population. Special Report: ‘One Day at a Time’ http://bit.ly/1jGtJM7

For the four years that Manuel Welch, charged with assorted felonies and misdemeanors,

lingered on the docket of a Buffalo, N.Y. drug court, he largely failed to follow the rules.

“I felt like all the drug court judge really wanted to do was send you to jail for the slightest

infraction,” U.S. Navy veteran Welch said.

The drug court, like many similar ones around the country, was aimed at keeping substance

abusers and addicts out of prison, but “they didn’t seem interested in helping me get well,

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and didn’t seem to care about my personal story, my hardships,” said Welch, now 58, a

former drug addict and alcoholic, who, in 1992, was diagnosed with military service-

related post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression and anxiety.

. . . What finally turned his life around, he said, was having his criminal case shifted in

2008—the last year he was arrested for drug-related crimes—from drug court to the then

brand-new Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court.

From Day 1 until his graduation 12 months later from the Buffalo program, he felt

understood. He felt a kinship with other vets who were defendants or who had volunteered

to mentor defendants.

He was particularly impressed by the empathy social workers, the judge and other court

officials displayed toward those who had served their country in battle or defended it during

peacetime, he said.

”We come in there with charges that can carry hefty [prison] sentences,” said Welch, now a

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs peer specialist, counseling and steering other troubled

veterans.

“But the judge, the mentors, everyone in veterans court, makes you feel proud to be a

veteran. They thank you for your service. So, my whole mindset changed.”

. . . Serve and honor. There are now about 230 veterans-only treatment courts across the

country, and some of the men and women who’ve passed through swear it has helped turn

their lives around. ”Every time I went to veterans court, they asked me how I was doing:

‘What do you need?’ They got to know my wife. There was a camaraderie that simply

did not exist in drug court,” one rehabilitated defendant says.

CO: First Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court celebrates first graduation http://is.gd/snWK2n

The First Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court will celebrate its first graduation

ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, marking more than 18 months of dedication by the first

military veteran to have successfully completed the intensive treatment and monitoring

program.

. . . “We appreciate and respect the significant sacrifices our veterans have made to ensure

our nation’s freedom,” said District Judge Margie Enquist, who presides over the Veterans

Treatment Court. “We also know that some veterans return from service with mental health

conditions related to their service, struggle with addiction and/or have PTSD. Left untreated,

such conditions contribute to their involvement in the criminal justice system.

This program was founded on the premise that veterans deserve the opportunity to engage

in treatment, have access to resources and receive community support.” FL: UPDATE: Hillsborough judge's bid to get veteran back into USF gets attention of U.S. secretary of Veterans Affairs http://is.gd/uklB5w

TAMPA — A Hillsborough County judge's effort to have a former Army Green Beret re-

admitted to the University of South Florida won an influential ally Friday: the U.S. secretary

of veterans affairs.

In an email to a USF trustee, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald didn't specifically

mention the case of former Army Staff Sgt. Clay Allred, who is on probation for firing a gun

outside a Tampa gas station last year, a felony offense.

But McDonald emphasized the importance of education in rehabilitating veterans — "even

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those who have committed felonies."

"If a school like USF eliminates our ability to use education (GI Bill, Voc Rehab) as a way to

treat a veteran … I find that a very serious issue that I would like to discuss with the

leadership of the school," McDonald wrote.

USF Board of Trustees chairman Harold Mullis said he hadn't seen the email Friday.

Circuit Judge Gregory Holder, who sits on a special court for veterans, has pushed USF in

recent weeks to readmit Allred, 30, who needs 17 credits to finish his degree.

FL: Lawmakers look to divert mentally ill from criminal justice system http://bit.ly/1jGwlti A House panel on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill aimed at keeping Floridians with

mental illnesses out of the criminal-justice system.

The House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee supported the measure, filed by Rep.

Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville, that would create a statewide framework for counties to

offer treatment-based mental health courts.

Many counties have mental-health courts, but they have varying eligibility and program

requirements.

The bill would also establish a pilot program in Duval, Broward and Miami-Dade counties to

serve offenders who have mental illnesses and are at risk of being sent to state forensic

hospitals or placed behind bars.

And it would widen the pool of veterans and service members who are eligible for veterans'

courts by including those with general discharges. Revived Bill Reforming Mental Health In Florida's Criminal Justice System Starts Moving

Hawaii: Veterans Treatment Court salutes graduate http://bit.ly/1jGurZw

The Hawaii Veterans Treatment Court of the 3rd Circuit celebrated its first graduate Monday.

“I want to thank our graduate and the other Veterans Treatment Court participants for their

service to our country, and for their commitment to this program,” said Hawaii Chief Justice

Mark Recktenwald. “Your faith in the program, and your commitment to succeeding in it, has

helped to prove its worth, and has opened doors for many others who will be able to benefit

from it in the future.”

. . . The court takes a holistic approach to help provide the resources and treatment these

veterans need to get healthy and employed and return to being law-abiding citizens so they

can enjoy the freedoms they fought to protect.

Each veteran has undergone extensive treatment and counseling, which includes frequent

urinalysis, meetings with probation officers and court appearances. Many services were

provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at no cost to the state. NJ: Vets make case for court for PTSD sufferers http://is.gd/0cINAo

. . . Wynn, a self-described “big, bad Marine” who was involved in the initial invasion in Iraq,

was one of 15 people to speak at the third and final Veterans PTSD Task Force hearing, held

at American Legion Post 331.

All spoke of their experiences with the mental health disorder and how veterans would

benefit from a court designed to use diversion rather than incarceration as a solution.

New Jersey, many noted, is one of a handful of states without a veterans court.

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Wynn, who said he spent years “in and out of the court system in Philadelphia, addicted to

drugs and alcohol to cope with the PTSD,” credited Philadelphia Veterans Court with turning

around his life following a road rage incident two years ago.

“I finally found a place where people understood what I was going through. I found a

home,” Wynn said. “I wasn’t in a cell anymore. I finally had a chance to fix myself.”

PA: Veterans courts in Pennsylvania dubbed remedy for recidivism http://bit.ly/1LOh5kt

. . . Pennsylvania has “emerged as a real national leader” among 37 states with such

programs, said Chris Deutsch, a spokesman for Justice for Vets in Alexandria, Va. There are

256 programs nationwide that help 13,000 vets.

The first veterans court in Pennsylvania was established in Lackawanna County in 2009.

Veterans court produces much lower recidivism rates than most other programs, Deutsch

said. He had no national data but suspects Buffalo, as the longest-running program, offers a

glimpse at what vets helping other vets in specialized treatment can do. Such programs are

alternatives to prison or parole.

In Pennsylvania, “a lot of the success has come from the Supreme Court, which has pushed

for programs statewide,” Deutsch said. It's a growing trend among the states, with a 28

percent increase in veterans courts from 2013 to 2014.

TN: Retired USA Colonel Jeff Davidson seeks solutions to county government problems http://on.dnj.com/1OIlLyY

. . . Davidson has been part of many efforts to improve government and judicial services:

to establish a Veterans Court and reduce overcrowding at the Rutherford County jail.

What have you and others done to help veterans, such as the establishment of

Veterans Court or helping veterans seek jobs here?

Davidson: We have over 21,000 veterans in Rutherford County and that number is

growing. In fact, with our unemployment rate at 4.3 percent we are actively recruiting

veterans to relocate to Rutherford County to meet our current employment needs.

Last April of 2015 the “Warrior Workforce Initiative” of the Chamber of Commerce working

with the Middle Tennessee Society of Human Resource Managers, MTSU and other

organizations, held a veterans hiring conference called “Bridging the Gap,” which provided

employers with information on how to access the veterans population. We will be holding a

similar conference in April of 2016.

Also, this year the county made an important investment in a full-time and certified veterans

service officer. This recent addition to our staff will work to assist Rutherford County

veterans in receiving the benefits they deserve, as well as working with the Veterans

Treatment Court to coordinate certain elements of the treatment plan.

We have also initiated the Veterans Partnership Council, a coalition of agencies that work to

assist veterans by meeting monthly to exchange information and ideas on how to better

assist veterans in need.

What have you and others done in responding to the overcrowding at the county

jail?

Davidson: We have established a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to make sure that

our criminal justice system is communicating effectively and coordinating on the different

issues across the spectrum of the criminal justice system.

Report Shows More Defendants From Recovery Courts In Tennessee Get Clean

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http://bit.ly/1OIpuMV Courts in Tennessee have been putting people who struggle with mental health and

substance use issues on the path to a more successful and rewarding future since 2003, said

officials. Recovery Courts are special courts handling cases involving substance-abusing

offenders. Many of them also serve veterans and people with mental health issues.

The program, sometimes referred to as Drug Courts, offers individuals treatment services

which includes: counseling, supervision, drug testing, and incentives for meeting recovery

goals.

. . . The Recovery Court concept, made possible through funding and support from the

Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, is showing an

impressive trend of positive outcomes, said officials.

In an evaluation of participants in a Tennessee Recovery Court from 2013 to 2015:

81 percent became employed or saw improvement in their job status

3.5 percent had an employment status that remained unchanged

28 percent who were homeless or living in a group home secured their own place

63 percent maintained an independent living situation upon completing the program

7 percent had a living situation that didn’t change from admission to discharge Additional resources from my blog

LIST OF NATIONAL AND STATE LEGAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/19DC5zu

U.S. VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS LOCATIONS http://bit.ly/1Lf1VX5

PTS/TBI/MST

Research: Risk of death nearly doubled for Vietnam veterans with PTSD http://is.gd/2PPXvD

Higher than average death rates among Vietnam War veterans with post-traumatic stress

disorder (PTSD) suggest that combat trauma may still be affecting veterans' health even

decades after the war, according to a new study.

U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War followed from the 1980s to 2011 were almost twice as

likely to die during that period if they had PTSD compared to those without the disorder.

The findings can inform healthcare for Vietnam veterans, now mostly in their 60s and older,

and prevention efforts for the next generation of soldiers, the study team writes in the

American Journal of Epidemiology. MO State Rep. Chrissy Sommer Introduces Legislation to Help Veterans Suffering from PTSD http://is.gd/0ytfU6

Legislation will recognize mental health service dogs on the same level as traditional service

dogs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Chrissy Sommer hopes to provide additional assistance

to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She pre-filed legislation

(HB 1428) this week that would change Missouri law to recognize mental health service dogs

on the same level as traditional service dogs.

EVENT: Bush to hold brain injury forum prior to Invictus Games http://bit.ly/1jGt790

Former President George W. Bush will host a symposium on traumatic brain injury and

combat-related mental health conditions just before the Invictus Games sports competition

scheduled for May in Orlando, Florida.

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Bush, who has spent much of his post-presidency work supporting injured veterans and

their caregivers, announced Thursday that the George W. Bush Institute will team with

Invictus Games chairman Ken Fisher to hold a policy forum focusing on brain injury and

combat-related mental health conditions, with an emphasis on the role of sports and activity

in recovery.

The Invictus Games are scheduled for May 8-12 in Orlando and will feature more than 500

veterans from 15 countries participating in 10 adaptive sports, including archery, cycling,

indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, powerlifting, wheelchair

basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis. EVENT: DCoE Webinar: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center Discusses ‘Head to Head’ Study, December 10th http://dcoe.mil/MediaCenter/News

Experts will discuss which TBI tests are best to assess injured patients' neurocognitive skills

during a Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

webinar 1-2:30 p.m. Dec. 10.

With more than 300,000 service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) since

2000, several computerized tools were developed to assess patients' thinking skills before

and after injury. However, new research suggests that traditional pencil and paper tests may

be a better alternative.

Two experts from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) will discuss the

results of a new study conducted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, that looked at four digital

tests: ANAM4, CNS0Vital Signs, CogState and ImPACT.

Research Report: TRACK-TBI/TED Joint Investigators Meeting November 9-10, 2015 Napa, CA http://bit.ly/1OE3zVd

The TRACK-TBI/TED Joint Investigators Meeting brought together lead study site

investigators, senior leadership from the NINDS and Department of Defense funders, private

industry partners, philanthropy, and FDA regulatory personnel.

Conference presentations and activities included progress updates for the two initiatives,

followed by working sessions devoted to refining strategies to achieve research and

regulatory aims. Presentation slides from the talks can be downloaded by clicking here.

Sport Concussions Require New Standards, Better Methods Says Neurologist http://bit.ly/1jGtmks

(Newswire.net -- December 2, 2015) National Harbor, Maryland --Harry Kerasidis, a

neurologist specializing in sports concussion, has authored a new book available today

“Concussionology: Redefining Sports Concussion Management For All Levels,” outlining a

plan to save the game, while preserving the athletes’ health from the popularized brain

injury.

Leveraging the latest neurological intelligence and technology advances, Dr. Kerasidis says

new standards can be established on all sports levels. But that’s just the start of what he

envisions for the future of sports concussions.

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NEWS IS POSTED IN THE COLLEGES AND

UNIVERSITIES SECTION BELOW. Additional resources from my blog

RESURRECTING LIVES FOUNDATION http://bit.ly/1R9toOV

EVENTS FOR VETERANS & VETERAN SERVICE PROVIDERS http://bit.ly/1Gg1nOi

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SUICIDE

The Weekly Spark: Friday, December 4, 2015 http://is.gd/mfzIc4 Announcements

Mobile Mental Health Resources for Patient Care

Working Together with Native Communities to Support the Healing of our Service

Members, Veterans, and their Families

Nominations Open for National Council’s Awards of Excellence

Lifeline Steering and Subcommittees Now Accepting Nominations

News

National News

FSU to collaborate on suicide prevention program

State News

CALIFORNIA: Stanford creates center for youth mental health

International News

NORTHERN IRELAND: Number of suicides up 8% with disadvantaged men most at

risk

Deployment Health News 4 December 2015

Implementation of Evidence-Based Treatment for PTSD

PTSD Research Quarterly, 1 December 2015

“There is relatively little adoption of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) into routine practice.

Dissemination of EBTs or practice guidelines through traditional educational activities (e.g.,

formal continuing education programs) has limited impact on day-to-day clinical practice.

Implementation science is an emerging field that has developed as the gap between

research and practice has been identified across a variety of health care settings. The field is

concerned with the study of methods to promote the integration of research findings into

health care practice and policy.”

Finding the Balance Between Safety and Threat May Hold the Key to Success When Treating

PTSD

American Journal of Psychiatry, 1 December 2015

“Deployment stressors—most notably exposure to combat (1)—have profound effects on

mental health (2). It is estimated that approximately 20% of military veterans develop

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (3), while approximately 7%−10% develop alcohol use

disorders and 17% experience major depressive disorder (4). These mental health issues

have profound effects on social functioning and the ability to work, and they increase

utilization of health care services (5). Standardized behavioral treatments are helpful but

have limited effect size (6), and exposure-based interventions seem best suited for combat-

related PTSD (7). Yet a significant gap between treatment need and availability remains.”

Army suicide prevention takes on new, data-driven form

Federal News Radio, 30 November 2015

“The Army says it’s found a way to use data it already has to learn more about its soldiers

and the stressors that might affect their readiness and resilience. In June, the service

finished a roughly five-year project as part of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience

in Servicemembers (Army STARRS), which looked at the characteristics of suicide and other

mental and behavioral health issues.”

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Is More Than A Bad Story

Forbes, 2 December 2015

“We know life or body threatening traumatic events, like the terror attacks in Paris and

Colorado Springs or repeated combat deployments, can injure the brain. But such injuries

are not like bullets ripping through organs. When bullet meets flesh injury, even death, is

inevitable. In contrast, traumatic events yield many outcomes. Most adapt. Some thrive. But

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some are torn apart, about 20%. Some lives never recover. Many end in suicide. This

relationship between traumatic growth (resilience) and a traumatic stress disorder is

extraordinarily complex in aggregate, and, as any clinician who works with traumatized

patients will attest, even more so for any one individual. Of course, risk and reliance factors

influence outcome. But no clear answers exists for why one person thrives while someone

else suffers.”

Sesame Street Partners With Defense Department To Help Military Kids Overcome Hardship

Task & Purpose, 27 November 2015

“Military parents can now use a friendly Sesame Street website and mobile apps to make it

easier for children to understand the hardships of military life. Developed by Sesame

Street’s nonprofit, Sesame Workshop, the Sesame Street for Military Families website uses

the show’s familiar style and characters to help preschool-aged military children understand

aspects of military life such as the deployment of a parent, moving to a new home, and the

injury or even death of a parent. Sesame Workshop partnered with the Defense

Department’s National Center for Telehealth & Technology to create the materials.”

Coming Home: How Religion Can Be a Healing Balm for Veterans

Huffington Post Blog, 2 December 2015

“Ralph grew up in an abusive household, but the child with learning disabilities found a

home in the Baptist church in his rural town. He believed that ‘no matter how much his

parents beat him, and no matter how much his teachers and peers in school mocked and

mistreated him, as long as he maintained a prayerful relationship with God and did his best

to do what was right in life, in the long run everything would go well.’"

Dealing with holiday stress

AF.mil, 30 November 2015

“It's that time of year again. All things pumpkin spice become all things peppermint;

television networks start showing nostalgic, holiday-themed movies; in northwest Florida,

we complain about cold weather while the rest of the country actually deals with winter; and

I write the holiday stress mental health message. My challenge, of course, is to write

something of value not already heard or read ad nauseam. This can be a real challenge,

considering the main stressors this time of year remain relatively constant.”

Stimulant medications might make military members more susceptible to PTSD

The State, 22 November 2015

“Stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit problems and keep service members

alert during long stretches of combat might increase vulnerability to post-traumatic stress

disorder, a new study suggests. Defense Department researchers analyzing data from nearly

26,000 service members found that those with prescriptions for the stimulants were five

times more likely to have PTSD. Drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin raise concentrations of

the brain chemical norepinephrine, which has been shown to result in more vivid and

persistent memories of emotionally charged situations.”

Combat experience is factor in death penalty cases, experts say

Military Times, 22 November 2015

“Over 22 days in October 2002, John Allen Muhammad and an accomplice terrorized

residents of Washington, D.C., shooting 13 people while they shopped, dined, or stopped for

gas. Known as the “D.C. Sniper,” Muhammad was an Army veteran who had enlisted in the

National Guard at age 18, transferred to the regular Army in 1985 and served three months

as a combat engineer in the Persian Gulf War. By his ex-wife’s account, Muhammad was

once the "life of the party," and a good soldier. But he returned home from Saudi Arabia and

Kuwait a changed man, “moody, confused, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder,”

Mildred Muhammad said during a speech on domestic violence at Joint Base Myer-

Henderson Hall in 2012.”

Younger generations of those in the military more vulnerable to suicide

Medical Xpress, 22 November 2015

“In the last 10 years, the U.S. military has experienced an unprecedented increase in

suicides among personnel. While many researchers have largely focused on risk factors

among individual soldiers, in a new study, researchers contend that the increase in suicide

may also indicate increased vulnerability among more recent generations of young adults.

Evidence supporting this perspective is out today in Armed Services and Society.”

A Second Traumatic Experience Could Make PTSD More Likely

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BrainDecoder, 3 December 2015

“A single traumatic experience is enough to rattle people hard, but it rarely takes them

down. In the face of subsequent ordeals, however, we become more vulnerable: a new

study suggests that a second trauma has a critical role in leading to posttraumatic stress

disorder, a condition that can include flashbacks, nightmares and intense anxiety, enough to

disrupt a person's life.”

Practicing Mindfulness Meditation to Cope with Stress

DCoE Blog, 25 November 2015

“Mindfulness meditation is a popular form of meditation that can help you cope with

psychological concerns. It can be combined with clinical care and aid in keeping a healthy

lifestyle and staying mentally fit. Meditation can help you learn to better control your

emotions and even memories of traumatic events. It can also help you become more aware

and accepting of negative thoughts. You learn not to be judgmental about your thoughts and

instead think of those thoughts and feelings as momentary impulses that will pass.”

For more deployment health-related information, click here to go to the DoD Deployment

Health Clinical Center's PDHealth.mil website.

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

Editor’s Note: Retired Justice Stratton invites all educational organizations to share their veterans-

related activities and news with our readers. Thank you for your support of our veterans and

military personnel.

Twenty-two major universities support the TBI Endpoints Development (TED) Initiative at UCSF http://bit.ly/1OE4jd8 (List of universities)

TRACK-TBI/TED Joint Investigators Meeting November 9-10, 2015 Napa, CA

The TRACK-TBI/TED Joint Investigators Meeting brought together lead study site

investigators, senior leadership from the NINDS and Department of Defense funders, private

industry partners, philanthropy, and FDA regulatory personnel.

Conference presentations and activities included progress updates for the two initiatives,

followed by working sessions devoted to refining strategies to achieve research and

regulatory aims.

Presentation slides from the talks can be downloaded by clicking here.

Florida State University/University of Maryland, Baltimore: FSU and UMB to collaborate on suicide intervention program (Not veteran specific) http://is.gd/G0QNPq

With a $1.28 million, four-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control, the Florida State

University College of Social Work and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) School of

Social Work will evaluate new online suicide screening and prevention tools aimed at

decreasing suicide rates among middle-age men.

Led by researchers at UMB, the project will examine an online screening tool developed by

Screening for Mental Health and an online therapeutic program called Man Therapy. Both

interventions target men ages 35-64, who are at higher risk for suicide.

University of Louisiana at Monroe: ULM students to honor veterans on #GivingTuesday http://tnsne.ws/1LOggIC

. . . #ULMGivingTuesday is all about students giving back through service to our veterans

throughout the year and donors contributing to student scholarships in honor of these

heroes. Students will be writing holiday cards, signing up to volunteer at the NELA War

Veterans Home in 2016, and helping raise funds. All donations made this Tuesday will go

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into the ULM General Scholarship Fund in the name of the residents of the NELA War

Veterans Home.

On Tuesday, students will be stopping by (at their convenience) to sign holiday cards for the

residents of the NELA War Veterans Home. There will also be a sign-up sheet for those who

would like to commit to volunteering at the home in 2016. At noon, a large group of

students will be signing holiday cards in the back of the SUB Ballroom on the second floor.

Lynda.com: Honoring Our Service Members & Veterans With One Year Free Learning on Lynda.com http://bit.ly/1jGsQ6b

When Secretary of Defense Ash Carter visited LinkedIn a few months ago, he challenged us

and other Silicon Valley companies to play a more active role in supporting service members

and veterans. As Veteran Program Manager at LinkedIn and a proud veteran myself, I’m

honored to report this Veterans Day that we are answering that call to duty by renewing and

expanding our commitment to the military and veteran communities.

To that end, I’m excited to share that we have expanded our veterans program to include

online learning with Lynda.com — the gold standard for on-demand learning with more than

4,000 expert-led courses teaching business, creative and technical skills. Lynda.com offers a

range of courses to suit the needs of active duty service members, transitioning veterans

and those veterans already in the private sector. This is a tool to empower you as a

professional to connect with opportunity and build your future! University of Maryland School of Medicine: Why evacuating wounded troops (with TBI) by air might do more harm than good http://wapo.st/1PZwp5x

Over the last 15 years, the United States has flown its wounded troops out of combat zones

to hospitals around the globe. The logic: get those hurt in places where medical supplies are

limited to places where they are not. The fastest way to do this? By air.

Yet according to a new, first-of-its-kind study conducted by the University of Maryland

School of Medicine, rapid air evacuation has the potential to cause more damage to

those patients suffering from an extremely prevalent battlefield affliction–traumatic brain

injury.

The Ohio State University: Ohio Means Internships and Co-Ops here for a program known as LIFT go.osu.edu/omic.

There is info below on a group from The Ohio State University who work with Ohio Means

Internships and Co-Ops here for a program known as LIFT—which is an effort in Lightweight

Manufacturing Technologies.

The program has internships available for students at select 2 and 4 year schools and we

are working to get some of our Veteran Students interested and involved.

The LIFT program also has a big program for those just looking to go to work in the

manufacturing sector and as such has a very large Veterans component.

T

his might be appealing to many organizations to get Veterans to work in high tech industries

where they can have more of a career in advanced manufacturing than just a job.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education Ohio Means Internships and Co-ops program

funds co-located and regular student internships in advanced manufacturing.

The Columbus Region LIFT OMIC program offers 30 co-located and 50 regular internships for

university, Ohio Technical Center and community college students to work closely with

industries on real-world manufacturing projects.

In return, students receive a scholarship and an hourly salary. More information is available

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at go.osu.edu/omic.

The Ohio State University/Columbus State Community College: Student-veteran outreach to mobilize enrollment in veterans affairs http://bit.ly/1R3gByT

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is making its services more available to student

military veterans by bringing a portable outreach unit to the Ohio State campus.

Resembling a bloodmobile, the mobile unit is staffed with nurses, nurse practitioners and

volunteers to provide services ranging from medical care and flu shots to mental health

screenings.

VA is a government-run system that administers benefits and services, such as health care,

to assist service members, veterans and their dependents or survivors.

“Some soldiers can be in some pretty dire situations of mental health, so the VA has

different things set up to help,” said Yannis Hadjiyannis, a current member of the Army

Reserve and a fifth-year in molecular genetics. “The VA providing medical assistance to

veterans is one of the best things that they can do.”

The mobile-outreach unit makes many stops each month and has eight planned in central

Ohio for the month of December.

The stops include OSU and Columbus State Community College, as well as hospitals in

Columbus.

. . . According to the Office of Military and Veterans Services’ website, OSU currently has

more than 1,800 undergraduate and graduate students who are veterans, dependents,

National Guard, active duty and Army Reserve members.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recruiting veterans for security position http://bit.ly/1IF1NP5

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has requested that their job posting for a

security officer be sent out to veterans networks. Syracuse University participates in national campaign to help transitioning veterans http://bit.ly/1SHdivd

Americans can show their support for veterans by simply changing a single light bulb in their

homes or on their porches to green through the “Greenlight A Vet” campaign, which

Syracuse University is a part of.

The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at SU recently paired with Walmart and

several other organizations in the launch of the 18-month campaign, which “aims to shine a

light on the impact transitioning veterans make in and out of uniform in communities across

the country,” according to an SU News release.

Syracuse University: Student Veterans of America Appoints Executive Vice President of Strategic Engagement From Syracuse U http://is.gd/4yxQU2

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Student Veterans of America (SVA), the nation’s premier organization

providing military veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in

higher education and beyond, has named James Schmeling as Executive Vice President of

Strategic Engagement. With this appointment, SVA is increasing the focus on research and

driving public policy to support the continued success of the veteran community.

. . . James Schmeling, J.D., co-founded the Institute for Veterans and Military Families

(IVMF) at Syracuse University, and was appointed as its first managing director.

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The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)/ Missouri State University Research: Criminal justice researchers to conduct nationwide evaluation of Veterans Treatment Courts http://bit.ly/1jGv7hw

(Dec. 3, 2015) -- Richard Hartley, an associate professor and chair with The University of

Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Department of Criminal Justice is to receive $186,157 from a

$761K grant awarded to Missouri State University, under the direction of co-

investigator Julie Baldwin. The grant is awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National

Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct the first multi-site evaluation of Veterans Treatment

Courts.

. . . Over the next three years, Hartley and Baldwin will evaluate outcomes from the VTC

programs. These outcomes include the effects of VTCs on substance abuse and addiction,

mental health and PTSD and whether, overall, there has been a reduction of criminal activity

among the VTCs’ veteran population. Wake Forest University: Wake Forest law students start clinic to help veterans http://bit.ly/1TseCSz

. . . That’s where the new Veterans Legal Clinic, associated with Wake Forest University

School of Law, comes in. The legal clinic was officially launched this fall, said Steve Virgil, a

professor at the school. Virgil is the executive director of the law school’s experiential

education programs.

The clinic serves North Carolina military personnel, including active-duty service members,

reservists, veterans and non-affiliated veterans. It deals with a number of issues, including

employment law, consumer protection and landlord/tenant issues.

Another area, said Chris Alderman, a third-year law student, is discharge upgrades.

According to Alderman and Harper, the military didn’t recognize the symptoms of post-

traumatic stress disorder during the Vietnam War, and as a result, many veterans were not

discharged honorably.

Harper cited U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics that estimate between 11 percent

to 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD. Vietnam veterans suffer PTSD at

a higher rate, he said.

Veterans who weren’t discharged honorably have problems getting jobs or benefits, he said.

The clinic helps those veterans get discharge upgrades.

Virgil said the clinic was a student-led initiative and exemplifies the values of Wake Forest’s

motto, “Pro Humanitate,” which means “For Humanity.”

Brandon Heffinger, who graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2014,

helped develop the idea for the veterans clinic, Alderman said.

John Mayhugh, a lawyer who recently graduated from Wake law school, said he is helping

the clinic verify the military service of people seeking help as well as getting the word out

about the clinic.

Wright State University: Looking For Answers About Suicide And Veterans http://is.gd/xWCaZq

The suicide rate among veterans has nearly doubled since 2005, and this has prompted the

military to conduct a series of decade-long studies to find out why.

But more information is needed since early findings have produced contradictory results.

Answers will not come easy. Today our Veterans Voice series continues with Air Force

veteran, and Wright State University student Matt Bauer of Vandalia, and Air Force veteran

George Denillo, who remember their friend, and fellow officer, Sean.

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Veterans Upward Bound Program in Los Angles http://bit.ly/1PZwFSj

The Veterans Upward Bound Program (VUB) Winter Quarter 2016 is just around the corner.

Here is an overview of the VUB Program. Our program is funded through the Department of

Education, we are located in East Los Angeles and we are one of the two VUB Programs in

the Southern California Region.

The program provides free classes, in Math, English, Computer Science, and Typing. The

VUB Program also offers the Rosetta Stone Program free of cost, as of right now we

currently have five languages including; Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and Japanese.

Our program prepares veterans achieve their academic or career goals. All of our classes

and materials are absolutely free.

The VUB program is six weeks long; each student will attend classes twice a week. Each

class is one hour long and we offer both morning and evening classes. When classes are in

session free tutoring services are available for the English and Math subjects. Upon

completion of the VUB program, veterans will receive a certificate of accomplishment. If the

veteran is interested in pursuing higher education the VUB Program provides College

Readiness Workshops that will assist veterans have a smooth transition into college.

Some of the College Readiness Workshops that are offered include; study skills, major

exploration, FAFSA/ Financial Aid, VA educational benefits, and money management.

Throughout the six weeks the VUB Program assists veterans on a one on one basis with the

admission and financial aid process. Veterans are more than welcome to re-enrolled in a

future quarter and advance to the next level.

GENERAL NEWS

The Top 100 Military Friendly Employers http://onforb.es/1O4QeT6

. . . The thirteenth annual list of The Top 100 Military Friendly Employers, released by

Victory Media on MilitaryFriendly.com, highlights these organizations who have made

focused efforts to hire from among the “nearly 400,000 active duty, National Guard, and

Armed Forces Reserve service members” that Victory Media says will bring their skills to

employers and educational institutions this year. Upcoming Military and Veteran Job Fairs http://mil-com.me/1PZw1UT

Upcoming job fairs by state

The Agent Orange ship list has been updated https://t.co/gezeRJ0kcj VA maintains a list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships associated with military service in

Vietnam and possible exposure to Agent Orange based on military records.

This evolving list helps Veterans who served aboard ships, including "Blue Water Veterans,"

find out if they may qualify for presumption of herbicide exposure.

Psychiatric nurse practitioner takes counseling outside with Trail Talk http://bit.ly/1SHd7Qs

Pediatric and family psychiatric nurse practitioner Allison Page, MS, APRN, is the founder of

Trail Talk, a method of counseling modeled after Therapylite, which sheds light on and tries

to wipe out the stigma of shame active and functional people feel when they seek emotional

care.

Instead of sitting in an office, Page and her clients host sessions outdoors while walking on

trails. She also conducts sessions in a mobile van, parked near scenic wetlands or at the foot

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of mountains.

"I craft their therapies around some outdoor recreation, so they get to recreate as they

recreate themselves," Page said during an interview with The Park Record. "The van also

brings the office anywhere you want it. We literally change the backdrops.

Non-Profit Trains Shelter Dogs To Be Service Canines For Veterans http://bit.ly/1OIkoAl Operation Delta Dog selects unwanted dogs from animal shelters, matches them to a

veteran in need and provides extensive and invaluable training for the duo.

First Oklahoma Veterans Graduate From Therapeutic Riding Program http://bit.ly/1Q9frSx

DRUMRIGHT, Oklahoma - There are therapeutic riding programs to help with all sorts of

mental and physical disabilities, so one was created specifically for veterans.

Tuesday was graduation day for the first class of the Hooves on the Ground program at the

Right Path Riding Academy in Drumright.

The eight veterans in the class are dealing with something - PTSD or a physical disability -

and each one has a veteran mentor. The program is designed to get them back on the right

path.

Brian Davis said it starts with the basics. "You don't just hop on a horse, you’ve got to build

a relationship," he said. Davis is a veteran of the first Gulf War, Desert Shield, and Desert

Storm. He's been fighting his demons since he came home in 1991. This program, he said,

has given him his life back. Additional resources from my blog

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH

VETERANS JOB LISTINGS AND HIRING FAIRS WEBSITES http://bit.ly/19Dz2ay

EVENTS FOR VETERANS & VETERANS SERVICE PROVIDERS http://bit.ly/1Gg1nOi

NATIONWIDE LIST OF CONFERENCES & STAND-DOWNS RELATED TO HOMELESS VETERANS http://bit.ly/1LahaTK

NEWSLETTERS & BLOG FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/1GQzKjf

"Veterans in Justice" -- LinkedIn Professional Group (VIJ)

Please join us on LinkedIn or Facebook for networking and discussions on the issues regarding

veterans in the criminal justice system. This group's mission is to connect professionals and

advocates who work with and for justice-involved veterans and to share ideas and practices for

assisting those veterans -- from the conditions that lead to justice involvement, through initial

police contact, arrest, criminal case processing, conviction, sentencing, incarceration, and

release. Access our group at http://linkd.in/1947vfS Facebook:

www.facebook.com/veteransinjustice

Join The National Discussion - 1,25 Professionals in VIJ

Active Topics

Supporting the Uniformed Services and Justice Advocacy Group (USJAG)

Toby Keith

Haven’s Military Services Division Provides Education on Treating Military Sexual Trauma

(MST).

Two Army Veterans, From Germany, seek to start Veterans Law Office, to help veterans with

benefits, Mike Tanner

Webinar: Veterans in Criminal Justice

Good, Innovative Stuff In Our Federal Courts

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Question for Veterans and/or their family members

YOUNGSTOWN JUDGE & WIFE ENDOW YSU SCHOLARSHIP FOR GRADUATE OF ANY OHIO

VETERANS TREATMENT COURT

Allan Jergesen Named Bill Brockett Pro Bono Attorney of the Year for His Service to Veterans

2016 Elizabeth Dole Fellows Program Application

Veterans' Lives Matter More . . .

LINKEDIN GROUPS

Military and Veteran Benefit Forum Veteran Mentor Network http://linkd.in/1fOlgOt 28,933 members Institute for Veteran Cultural Studies http://linkd.in/1cz3gq1 NAMI http://linkd.in/1cz3Gg7 BI-IFEA (Brain injury-Ideas for Education & Advocacy) http://linkd.in/1cz4e5V Military-Civilian: Hot Jobs and Careers for Veterans and Their Families http://linkd.in/1c59DkM VETERANS IN JUSTICE GROUP http://linkd.in/12APdMS

Four subgroups created: Veterans Treatment Courts http://linkd.in/145DdHc Mental Health http://linkd.in/12QFCjI Female Veterans http://linkd.in/145CTbn Peer Support & Mentoring http://linkd.in/145D32G

Cuyahoga County Ohio Veterans and Supporters (Bryan A. McGown "Gunny") http://linkd.in/Zxwx1f Veteran Employment Representatives http://linkd.in/ZxwUcc Midwest Military Outreach, Inc. http://linkd.in/1eiMTkJ Military Veteran Job Fairs & Hiring Conferences http://linkd.in/Zxx4jS Wounded Warrior Resources http://linkd.in/17TMNhJ The Value of a Veteran http://linkd.in/15vD7H4 MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES http://linkd.in/1fkQLA8 (Please email us other groups that you find and think would be informative and useful for our audience)

TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

There are three ways to join my newsletter:

Join my Veterans In The Courts Initiative Google Group at http://bit.ly/1DZ3esD or,

Subscribe to my Veterans In The Courts Initiative Blog for immediate news and for my weekly newsletter

at http://bit.ly/1DP1TCi or,

Please contact my editor Pete Miller at cruzzen@gmail.com and request to be added. 1. Please send us a little info about yourselves as we like to introduce our new sign-ups to others for networking purposes. (See our transmittal email page for examples.) If you do NOT wish to be recognized, please let Pete know, otherwise we will list you.

2. We provide these news clips summaries as a way to share information of a general nature and it is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation and advice in a particular matter. The opinions and interpretations expressed within are those of the author of the individual news stories only and may not reflect those of other identified parties. 3. We do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of these news clips, nor do we endorse or make any representations about their content. We only pass them through to our readers and rely on you to check out their content. We don't intend to make any editorial judgment about their content or politics. 4. In no event will I, EStratton Consulting, or my Editor Pete Miller, be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use of or reliance on the contents of this news clips summary. How you chose to use them is strictly up to you. 5. Please fell free to pass the news clips on to any of your networks, so that we may get the word out as far as possible. You may also send in information similar in content to what we pass on. While we may occasionally pass on such information, we don't intend to promote commercial or for profit products nor be a substitute for your own efforts to promote your own entity or website. We especially welcome information about national funding or training opportunities. 6. If you pass on our clips, please also pass on our Disclaimer. EDITOR/CONTACT

Pete Miller, cruzzen@gmail.com, @OHCircuitRider

Ohio Attorney General's Task Force on Criminal Justice & Mental Illness

Veterans In The Courts Initiative

Editor/Publisher - Veterans Treatment Court News Daily

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Editor/Publisher - Traumatic Brain Injury Nes Daily