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

“Sharing Information to Benefit All Veterans”

August 27, 2017

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 http://bit.ly/1DZ3esD

5,150 providers of veterans’ services just like you, nationwide & internationally, receive this free

newsletter every week. Another 18,000+ can see it on 5 social media sites. Over 5,900 people in 61 countries have viewed my blog over 11,000 times. Thank you for sharing!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPIC PAGE TOPIC PAGE

FEATURED STORIES 1 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES 13

OPPORTUNITIES 2 GENERAL NEWS 15

GOVERNMENT 3 "VETERANS IN JUSTICE" LINKEDIN GROUP 17

OHIO 5 OTHER LINKEDIN GROUPS 18

STEPPING UP INITIATIVE 6 VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG 18

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 18

PTS/TBI/MST 8 HOW TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER 19

SUICIDE 12

FEATURED STORIES VA is looking for medical center directors to honor America’s Veterans in these critical positions http://bit.ly/2xzo4z9

The recent “Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act

of 2017,” dramatically speeds up hiring of Medical Center and Network Director positions.

Thanks to the new law, VA now has the flexibility to hire qualified health care executives

expeditiously to lead its key health care organizations without going through a previously

cumbersome and time-consuming hiring process.

Some locations currently available for Medical Center Director openings:

• Buffalo, NY

• Albany, NY

• Syracuse, NY

• Asheville, NC

• Salisbury, NC

• Durham, NC

• Augusta, GA

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• Ann Arbor, MI

• Biloxi, MS

• Shreveport, LA

• Dallas, TX

• Spokane, WA

THANK YOU & FAREWELL FROM ARMY ONESOURCE OUTREACH http://bit.ly/2wKvB1J

Today, we say farewell to the Army OneSource (AOS) Outreach Initiative.

Over the last ten years, we have worked with community partners across the country who

selflessly dedicated their time and expertise to serving our Service members, Families and

Veterans, and our diligent efforts will have long-lasting effects.

Women take helm of two major veterans organizations http://bit.ly/2wJYISv

RENO, Nev. – Hundreds of veterans paraded through a large convention hall to Sister

Sledge’s “We are Family,” arms wrapped around one another Thursday when the American

Legion, a 99-year-old organization representing 2 million veterans, elected its first female

national commander at the conclusion of its annual convention.

Denise Rohan, an Army veteran living in Wisconsin, now leads what President Donald Trump

just called “a very powerful organization.” She will represent the Legion for one year,

traveling the country to visit posts and testifying before Congress.

. . . Disabled American Veterans elected its first female commander, Army veteran Delphine

Metcalf-Foster, on Aug. 1.

Before this month, the first – and last -- female commander of a major national veterans

organization was Mary Stout, who led Vietnam Veterans of America in 1987 when the

organization had about 30,000 members.

OPPORTUNITIES

VA is looking for medical center directors to honor America’s Veterans in these critical positions http://bit.ly/2xzo4z9

The recent “Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act

of 2017,” dramatically speeds up hiring of Medical Center and Network Director positions.

Thanks to the new law, VA now has the flexibility to hire qualified health care executives

expeditiously to lead its key health care organizations without going through a previously

cumbersome and time-consuming hiring process.

Some locations currently available for Medical Center Director openings:

• Buffalo, NY

• Albany, NY

• Syracuse, NY

• Asheville, NC

• Salisbury, NC

• Durham, NC

• Augusta, GA

• Ann Arbor, MI

• Biloxi, MS

• Shreveport, LA

• Dallas, TX

• Spokane, WA

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Funding Announcement: Indian Health Service Zero Suicide Initiative Funding Announcement. Application Deadline October 12th http://bit.ly/2xA9cQL

The Indian Health Service (IHS) has released a funding announcement for a Zero Suicide

Initiative.

Its purpose is to improve the system of care for those at risk of suicide by implementing a

comprehensive, culturally informed, multi-setting approach to suicide prevention in Indian

health systems.

Eligible applicants include tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and IHS

federal facilities.

Applications are due by October 12. A technical assistance webinar will be held on

September 12 for interested applicants.

Call for Papers: American Association of Suicidology Call for Papers by October 31st http://bit.ly/2xA9183

The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) has issued a call for papers for its 51st

annual conference. The conference will be held in Washington D.C., from April 18 to 21,

2018.

The conference theme is "Integrating Science, Experience and Political Will: Informed Action

to Prevent Suicide." Submissions are due by October 31.

Education: University at Buffalo Offers a FREE 20 Week Medical Billing + Coding Program http://bit.ly/2xEjwaL

The UBEOC offers a FREE 20 week Medical Billing and Coding program. Please see link for

more details.

Education: Mercy College offers A FULL TUITION scholarship for veterans to become math teachers Video: http://bit.ly/2xE82Uy, Flyer: http://bit.ly/2xEopQX

From our School of Education: Qualified veterans can receive FULL TUITION to get a Master

of Science in Math Education.

Career Opportunities for Veterans in NE United States Registered Nurses

Certified Nursing Assistant

The Chamberlain Project - Retiring Officer Teaching Fellowships (ROTF)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Congress & Executive Trump signs ‘historic’ veterans bill at American Legion convention

DoD

THANK YOU & FAREWELL FROM ARMY ONESOURCE OUTREACH

San Francisco Fleet Week - FREE Veterans Resource Fair, 03 OCT 2017

DoD Warrior Care Policy Support That Brings Healing

Don’t Let TBI, PTSD Keep You from Academic Success

Introduction of the Behavioral Health Technician Work Group

SAMHSA

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Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Joins SAMHSA as the Assistant Secretary for Mental

Health and Substance Use

U.S. Medicine – The Voice of Federal Medicine

E-consults Drive Increased Involvement of VA Infectious Disease Specialists

VA Heart Failure Clinic Reduces Readmission Rates Nearly 85%

Not Enough Veterans Get Folic Acid With Methotrexate

AMSUS SmartBrief http://bit.ly/2xzGnEj

Survey tech helps VA assess veterans' suicide risk

Just released: AMSUS' Health 21 Magazine

VA Programs

VA secretary details new bill streamlining disability claims (News Video)

VA Secretary: Opinion - VA removes red tape to increase access to care

Leveraging data to provide insight into complex issues surrounding Veteran homelessness

Helping hands for healthy hearts for Pennsylvania Veterans

Veterans respond to Marion VA investigation

VA to proposed easier funding access for rural nursing homes

VA Wants to Make it Easier to Build Veterans Home in Rural Areas

EHR vendor CliniComp sues government over no-bid VA contract with Cerner

Rival Challenges Award of Veterans Affairs Contract to Cerner Corp

VA is looking for medical center directors to honor America’s Veterans in these critical

positions

EVENT: VA Webinar: Exploring Partnership Opportunities with Faith-based Communities,

September 11th

VA to Revise State Veteran Home Construction Regulations

Coaching Into Care

VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Open http://bit.ly/2xzA57G The Office Of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) is a newly created office

within the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated to improving the needs of Veterans

across the United States.

OAWP provides investigative internal affairs services necessary to improve health, benefits

and cemetery needs for each and every Veteran.

Headquartered in Washington DC, the office has satellite resources and programs in

additional VA facilities across the United States.

Disclosure submission e-mail address, fax & phone:

mailto:Disclosure submission address:

Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection fax: 202-495-5601

Anonymous Toll-Free Disclosure Hotline: 866-4AWONOW (866-429-6669)

VA Research VA researchers deliver better care to Veterans through science

VA Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Program helps VA learn about long-term outcomes

of #Veterans with TBI

Leveraging data to provide insight into complex issues surrounding Veteran homelessness

VA Facilities

Key West VA Town Hall, August 28th

Pocatello VA Clinic move starts today. New clinic opens August 29th

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Pittsburgh VAHCS special screening of the HBO documentary Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press

1, September 5th

West Palm Beach VA Medical Center groundbreaking ceremony, September 6th

Brookings VA Clinic Grand Opening, September 11th

South Pasadena VA Abilities Job Fair for veterans and individuals with disabilities September

12th

2017 Bronx NY VA Mental Health Summit, September 12th

Baltimore VA Veterans Job Fair, September 12th

Tucson VA Resource Fair & Town Hall, September 23rd

Minneapolis VA Town Hall, September 28th

Phoenix TBI clinic makes great strides toward improving Veteran care, decreasing wait

times

New Tele-ICU Monitoring Service Deployed at WVAMC

New cardiac catheterization suite at Wilkes-Barre VAMC

Reduction Plan at Brooklyn VA on Hold

Situation Update - Central Texas Veterans Health Care System

VA OIG Reports

Healthcare Inspection – Patient Flow, Quality of Care, and Administrative Concerns in the

Emergency Department, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, Maryland

Inspection of the VA Regional Office Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

OIG Monthly Highlights

Healthcare Inspection–Review of Opioid Prescribing Practices, Clement J. Zablocki VA

Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Related: OIG finds flaws in N.M. Human Services Dept.'s network migration

Inspection of the VA Regional Office Louisville, Kentucky Additional resources from my blog

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

OHIO

Retired Coast Guard Commander David Singer Joins Operation Legal Help Ohio Board of Directors http://bit.ly/2wKipK6

Retired Commander David Singer graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy

with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

As a career Coast Guard Aviator he was directly responsible for the saving of a multitude of

lives in various search and rescue operations throughout the Atlantic, Pacific and equatorial

regions.

He was also involved in a myriad of law enforcement and flying operations in the Persian

Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm.

David has piloted a wide range of corporate and commercial aircraft and has

circumnavigated the globe numerous times.

Most recently, he managed a corporate flight department in the Pacific Northwest for ten

years prior to moving to New Albany with his wife and two children.

He also volunteers with Fairways For Freedom and Hire Heroes helping Veterans reintegrate

and transition from military service to civilian life.

Ohio nonprofit joins forces with national organizations to enhance support for Ohio Veterans http://coprobinson.org/

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Middletown, OHIO - Combat Outpost Robinson Inc. is a new nonprofit based in Ohio that

was founded by an Ohio Gold Star Father.

Their mission is to help and support Ohio’s post 9/11 Combat Veterans suffering from Post

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)/ Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and their caregivers.

They are proud to announce that they have partnered with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation

and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to provide educational programs and

support to the Veterans and the Caregivers they service.

You can learn more about this organization by visiting www.coprobinson.org or

www.facebook.com/coprobinson/.

Additional resources from my blog

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

RESOURCES FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH

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

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

EVENTS FOR OHIO VETERANS http://bit.ly/1Tx7tix

EVENTS FOR LAWYERS & OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR OHIO VETERANS http://bit.ly/2fQHYN7

RESOURCES FOR OHIO VETERANS http://bit.ly/2fQNEql

STEPPING UP INITIATIVE Editor’s Note: Closely associated with Veterans Treatment Courts and other specialty docket courts dealing with mental illness is the new STEEPING UP INITIATIVE. Stepping Up is a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illness in Jails. Stepping Up and similar initiatives are an important evolution in the treatment of veterans and others incarcerated with mental illness. Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Evelyn Lundeberg Stratton (Retired) is the Director of Stepping Up Ohio. We have decided to create this new section of Retired Justice Stratton’s News Clips, rather than bury the stories somewhere else. We particularly wish to thank County Court Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren in The Criminal Division of the 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County of Florida, a Pioneer and Creator of America's first mental health court dedicated to the decriminalization of people with mental illness, for sending us news articles to share with you.

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How Mental-Health Training for Police Can Save Lives—and Taxpayer Dollars (The Atlantic) http://theatln.tc/2xEpyYH

. . . Yet since 2010, the two largest police agencies, the City of Miami and Miami-Dade

County police, have handled 71,628 mental health-related calls—and have made only 138

arrests.

Miami-Dade taxpayers were on the hook for millions of dollars from wrongful-death

lawsuits; today, fatal shootings are down almost 90 percent.

More than 20 percent of those in county jails had serious mental illnesses, costing many

millions to keep them there. Recently, the decline in arrests and incarcerations enabled the

county to close a jail and save taxpayers $12 million a year.

What changed? A comprehensive program to structurally transform the way the community

responded to people with mental illnesses (which Miami-Dade County Judge Steve Leifman,

one of the authors of this piece, initiated).

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A key component was the CIT training of over 5,400 police officers in Miami-Dade,

representing all 36 police departments, using a 40-hour program crafted initially in

Memphis, Tennessee, in the late 1980s.

To be sure, it was not easy. First, many police officers believe they know what they are

doing and don’t think they need additional training. Second, it was a battle to convince

police chiefs to take their cops off the beat for a week to take the course.

LA Times Feature: A Mentally Ill Inmate’s Final 46 Hours http://lat.ms/2xzhEzX

Andrew Holland’s legs and arms were shackled to a chair in a jail observation cell, where he

sat in his own filth, eating and drinking almost nothing, for nearly two days in January.

He was naked except for a helmet and mask covering his face and a blanket that slipped off

his lap. San Luis Obispo County jail officials say Holland, who had schizophrenia, was

restrained because he had been hitting himself in the head and was kept there because he

refused to not harm himself further.

Within 40 minutes of being unbound, he had stopped breathing.Holland’s death has

provoked outrage, a $5-million legal settlement and questions about the way California jails

handle a growing number of mentally ill inmates.

Ohio: Judges in Ohio County Hope IBM's 'Watson' Helps Manage Cases http://bit.ly/2xEKmiN

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — You've probably seen IBM's Watson talking on TV commercials, but

Montgomery County is part of a pilot project that would put the lightning-fast, artificial

intelligence system into the hands of judges across the country.

Judge Anthony Capizzi said juvenile court cases now are more complicated by drugs and

dysfunction within households. Getting the most out of technology is one way courts can get

ahead of the opioid epidemic and the other crises that disrupt young lives, he said.

"As a judge you get so much information from so many different groups: probation officers,

behavioral health providers, police departments, educators," Capizzi said. "I envision using

the Watson system to give me more information in a more concise way to allow me to

better treat the children and the families I serve."

The solution beats sifting through anywhere from 30 to 300 pages of paperwork in the five

to seven minutes he may have for each of 30-35 juveniles seen during a typical treatment

court docket, said Capizzi, with the court since 2004.

Montgomery County was the first to pilot the technology in a U.S. specialty juvenile court,

said Eric Fichtel, director of Care Management for Watson Health.

"We signed him up as a design partner and literally had our development and design team

sit through his court," Fichtel said. "He was basically the first client for this particular use."

Treatment Advocacy Center: RESEARCH WEEKLY: The Sorry State of Supported Employment http://bit.ly/2xzl1qn

(Aug. 22, 2017) Most individuals with serious mental illness want to work, but most of them

are not employed. The bridge between employment desire and fulfillment is supported

employment, which focuses on matching individuals with significant impairments from

psychiatric disease to the best employment fit and providing continuous support during

employment.

Strong evidence indicates that supported employment benefits participants and their

communities, yet programs are scarce, according to a new government report. In 2014,

only 2% of adults with serious mental illness had access to supported employment.

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VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS MT: Veterans Treatment Court hosts graduation ceremony http://bit.ly/2wKaufZ

(GREAT FALLS) The 8th Judicial Veterans Treatment Court held a ceremony in Great Falls on

Tuesday.

Two graduates were Vietnam-era veterans: Marvin Harris and Jeffery Osborne.

Judge Greg Pinski noted during the ceremony that about a quarter of a million veterans

from that era suffer from the effects of PTSD.

A majority of the mentors in the Veterans Program are Vietnam veterans, but many

veterans from that era are still struggling.

Additional resources from my blog

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

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

PTS/TBI/MST

EVENT: 5th Annual Mental Health Clay Hunt Summit for Veterans, their Caregivers and Families, Los Angeles, August 28th http://bit.ly/2wJSSAM

Theme: It Takes a Community To Care For and Support our Veterans, their Caregivers and

Families.

This Summit was developed to provide an opportunity to sustain and enhance positive

working relationships between the VA aand its community partners.

The intent and goal of the Summit is to better address the mental health care needs of our

Veterans and their family members through dialogue and collaboration between the VA and

community partners by enhancing access to mental health services in the Greater Los

Angeles area.

All LA area agencies, community organizations and programs servicing Veterans and

servicing their families are welcome.

EVENT: Final few Weeks To Register Online: 22nd International Summit on Violence, Abuse & Trauma, San Diego, September 24th – 27th http://bit.ly/2xE5ZzT

The 22nd International Summit on Violence, Abuse and Trauma is a unique forum for people

from all disciplines and philosophies to gather for in-depth exchange of current information

on all facets of violence, abuse and trauma prevention, intervention and research.

We are one of the very few summits that include researchers, practitioners, advocates,

consumer-survivors, and front-line workers from all disciplines to share information,

discuss controversial issues, and engage in difficult dialogues.

Summit Tracks:

1. Adult Survivors of Maltreatment and Trauma

2. At-Risk Youth

3. Child Maltreatment/Adverse Childhood Experiences

4. Intimate Partner Violence

5. Legal & Criminal Justice Issues

6. Offenders: Intimate Partner Violence

7. Sex & Labor Trafficking

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8. Sexual Assault/Abuse Victims & Offenders

9. Trauma in General

10. Trauma in Military Personnel, Veterans & their Families

11. Culturally Specific & Underserved Populations

EVENT: REGISTER NOW2nd Annual National Convening: The Military Caregiver Journey, Washington, DC, 13 NOV 17 http://bit.ly/2xEsyVa

Presented by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, we invite you to participate in a

critical conversation to define the military and veteran caregiver journey and the roles each

of us play in supporting their journey towards empowerment. With your help, our nation can

expand support for military caregivers.

Eastern Iowa: On the homefront: NAMI Class educates on mental illness in veterans http://bit.ly/2wK0Xp2

A new class hopes to offer support and educate family members of veterans who struggle

with mental illness in Eastern Iowa. The free six week class will be offered at the Waverly

Area Veterans Post starting late September.

The first of its kind, the class was designed specifically for family members, friends, and

caregivers of veterans. The Black Hawk County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental

Illness is sponsoring the class.

. . . The course will educate loved ones on PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and a range

of other problems veterans struggle with. There will be workshops teaching how to problem

solve, communicate, and de-escalate in times of crises.

The class is open to anyone, and everyone. Edwards hopes the room will be full with wives,

brothers, daughters, all eager to learn how to help their veteran struggling with mental

illness.

Phoenix VA TBI clinic makes great strides toward improving Veteran care, decreasing wait times http://bit.ly/2xzMpVf

The Phoenix VA Health Care System established its Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimer’s

Disease & Cognitive Disorders Clinic in 2014 in response to the growing need to treat

Veterans’ exhibiting TBI symptoms from their service in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Patricio Reyes, who began his medical career as acting chief of neurology at the Audie L.

Murphy Memorial VA Medical Hospital in San Antonio, said he accepted the challenge to

create the clinic because he wanted to reduce wait times for Veterans here following the

2014 access crisis. He was determined his goal would be to establish the premier TBI clinic

in the nation.

Reyes said that wait times to see a neurologist were a concern when he started at the

Phoenix VA. However, after two years, the wait times were decreased to less than three

weeks based on improvements the clinic made, expansion of services and partnering with

community providers through the Choice Program.

Reyes said neurologists at the Phoenix VA and throughout the country need to use a

multifaceted and interdisciplinary approach to treat Veterans with TBI. He said, for example,

neurologists need to differentiate TBI in Veterans from TBI because of sports injuries.

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Fact Sheet: Military Posttraumatic Stress Disorder http://bit.ly/2wK3zDa

What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

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PTSD is a stress-related disorder that develops after a traumatic experience.

It involves a combination of emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms that occur as a

consequence of experiencing the traumatic event and that greatly affect a person’s

everyday life.

PTSD is not uncommon in military personnel who have deployed and experienced one or

more of the many traumas that can occur in a combat zone.

Although PTSD is often thought to be a chronic, lifelong condition, it is actually a disorder

that can be effectively treated in most military service members and veterans.

Research: VA Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Program helps VA learn about long-term outcomes of #Veterans with TBI https://t.co/YY44HS6ZNc

. . . Now, the 61-year-old Vet is dedicating his time to a VA program that aims to improve

the lives of Veterans who have suffered TBI by predicting outcomes.

He and his wife are on an advisory panel to the VA TBI Model System.

The initiative examines the recovery course of Veterans and active-duty military from the

point of injury to post-rehabilitation, and tries to assess outcome measurements such as

employment, supervision needs, and marital status.

From a patient and caretaker perspective, the Coulters provide feedback to researchers and

others on rehabilitation options, equipment and technologies, and the implementation of

study procedures they feel would be effective, among other pertinent information.

"Essentially, they are part of the research team conducting the study," says Dr. Risa

Nakase-Richardson, a clinical research neuropsychologist at the James A. Haley Veterans'

Hospital in Tampa and an associate professor at the University of South Florida.

"One of the ways the research community is improving the application of its findings to

clinical care is by engaging stakeholders, including patients and family members, in the

research process."

Research: Disability from posttraumatic headache is compounded by coexisting posttraumatic stress disorder http://bit.ly/2xErPmU

Results: Increased PTSD-type symptoms were significantly associated with increased

headache disability (p<0.001), as were employment status and loss of consciousness

(p=0.049 and 0.016, respectively). Age was negatively correlated with headache disability

(Spearman’s correlation rho=0.361, p=0.001).

Conclusion: Increased severity of PTSD-type symptoms is significantly associated with

increased headache disability in patients with chronic PTH. Managing PTSD symptoms in

patients with chronic PTH may facilitate headache management. Research: Metabolomics Profiling As a Diagnostic Tool in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury http://bit.ly/2wK9Yyr

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex disease with a multifaceted pathophysiology.

Impairment of energy metabolism is a key component of secondary insults.

This phenomenon is a consequence of multiple potential mechanisms including diffusion

hypoxia, mitochondrial failure, and increased energy needs due to systemic trauma

responses, seizures, or spreading depolarization.

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The degree of disturbance in brain metabolism is affected by treatment interventions and

reflected in clinical patient outcome. Hence, monitoring of these secondary events in

peripheral blood will provide a window into the pathophysiological course of severe TBI.

New methods for assessing perturbation of brain metabolism are needed in order to monitor

on-going pathophysiological processes and thus facilitate targeted interventions and predict

outcome.

Circulating metabolites in peripheral blood may serve as sensitive markers of pathological

processes in TBI. The levels of these small molecules in blood are less dependent on the

integrity of the blood–brain barrier as compared to protein biomarkers.

We have recently characterized a specific metabolic profile in serum that is associated with

both initial severity and patient outcome of TBI.

We found that two medium-chain fatty acids, octanoic and decanoic acids, as well as several

sugar derivatives are significantly associated with the severity of TBI.

The top ranking peripheral blood metabolites were also highly correlated with their levels in

cerebral microdialyzates. Based on the metabolite profile upon admission, we have been

able to develop a model that accurately predicts patient outcome.

Moreover, metabolomics profiling improved the performance of the well-established clinical

prognostication model. In this review, we discuss metabolomics profiling in patients with

severe TBI.

We present arguments in support of the need for further development and validation of

circulating biomarkers of cerebral metabolism and for their use in assessing patients with

severe TBI.

Research: Disseminated intravascular coagulation with increased fibrinolysis during the early phase of isolated traumatic brain injury http://bit.ly/2xzw2Im

Results: DIC patients showed consumption coagulopathy, lower antithrombin levels and

higher fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer levels than non-DIC

patients.

All of the DIC patients developed SIRS accompanied by organ dysfunction and required

higher blood transfusion volumes, leading to a worse outcome than non-DIC patients.

These changes were more prominent in DIC with hyperfibrinolysis. A higher FDP/D-dimer

ratio suggests that DIC belongs to the fibrinolytic phenotype and involves fibrin(ogen)olysis.

The mean blood pressures of the patients with and without DIC on arrival were identical.

Hypoperfusion and the lactate levels were not identified as independent predictors of

hyperfibrinolysis.

Conclusions: DIC, especially DIC with hyperfibrinolysis, affects the outcome of patients with

iTBI. Low blood pressure-induced tissue hypoperfusion does not contribute to

hyperfibrinolysis in this type of DIC.

Canada: B.C. fast becoming neuroscience centre of excellence for Canada http://bit.ly/2xzEW8M

. . . Our region and Canada in general, is among the global leaders studying neurological

conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease,

epilepsy, brain injury and concussion. There are also major advances being made in mental-

health conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and addiction.

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Over the past five years B.C. has fast become a global force for innovation in the area of

brain health. Our province is leading networks of excellence to improve aging through

technology, healthy brain development, mental health and addiction, and advanced brain

evaluation and imaging technologies.

With solid roots in foundational science, B.C. has quickly grown its translational and

innovation capabilities that have now attracted some of the world’s top minds and partners.

We are quickly becoming the Silicon Valley for health technology.

Additional resources from my blog

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

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

SUICIDE

HOW VA TURNS SURVEY DATA INTO BETTER VETERAN HEALTH CARE http://bit.ly/2xzL68N

A new system can flag veterans at risk of suicide based on the surveys they answer about

Veterans Affairs Department services they receive.

A veteran filling out a feedback form about VA care might describe symptoms of suicidal

thoughts or behaviors that put them at risk of homelessness. The system can then direct

those patients to VA task forces specializing in preventing and mitigating those issues. It

can also identify cases in which a veteran has been struggling for a long time to schedule

appointments.

That survey technology, which sends out feedback forms accessible on any device, is sold to

the VA by Silicon Valley tech company Medallia. It could be part of a broader effort to

process customer feedback about government services in real-time, allowing those who

provide government services to respond quicker, according to Brian Michael, Medallia’s vice president of federal.

SPRC: The Weekly Spark EVENT: Webinar: Safe Care Transitions in a Zero Suicide Framework, September 12th

Preventing Suicide in the Emergency Department

Inventive Help for Mental Health One College Student Would Suggest to Another

ARIZONA: Arizona High Schools Add Suicide Prevention Numbers to ID Badges

ENGLAND: Suicide Prevention Campaign Will Target People Who Live and Work in City of

London

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Wreath Laying Ceremony

American Association of Suicidology Call for Papers

EVENT: VA Webinar: Exploring Partnership Opportunities with Faith-based

Communities, September 11th

Indian Health Service Zero Suicide Initiative Funding Announcement

Effective Suicide Prevention Video

State Firearms Laws and Suicide

"13 Reasons Why" Tied to Rise in Suicide Searches Online

UTAH: Tales from Utah Valley: There Is More Hope for Youth Suicide Prevention

National Day of Prayer for Faith, Hope, & Life, September 8th – 10th

Nation’s largest suicide prevention organization to honor veterans at Arlington National Cemetery http://bit.ly/2wK3j7h

On Sept. 1, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting a wreath laying

ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Arlington National Cemetery to honor

veterans, members of the military and first responders have lost to suicide.

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This ceremony is being held in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week September

10-16.

Researchers at the Department of Veterans Affairs last year found that the risk of suicide for

veterans is 21 percent higher when compared to civilian adults. From 2001 to 2014, as the

civilian suicide rate rose about 23.3 percent, the rate of suicide among veterans jumped

more than 32 percent.

“This is an important opportunity to recognize and honor all the men and women, past and

present, who served in our military and have died by suicide,” said Robert Gebbia, AFSP

CEO.

“We are hopeful that by honoring those we’ve lost, we will shed light on the issue and

inspire others to talk about mental health and reach out when they are in need of help. This

reaching out takes courage – courage we know these men and women possess.”

This is the first time a suicide prevention organization is hosting a wreath laying ceremony

at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NEWS MAY BE POSTED IN THE SECTIONS BELOW.

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

University of Birmingham Research: Disability from posttraumatic headache is compounded by coexisting posttraumatic stress disorder http://bit.ly/2xErPmU

Results: Increased PTSD-type symptoms were significantly associated with increased

headache disability (p<0.001), as were employment status and loss of consciousness

(p=0.049 and 0.016, respectively). Age was negatively correlated with headache disability

(Spearman’s correlation rho=0.361, p=0.001).

Conclusion: Increased severity of PTSD-type symptoms is significantly associated with

increased headache disability in patients with chronic PTH. Managing PTSD symptoms in

patients with chronic PTH may facilitate headache management. University at Buffalo: FREE 20 Week Medical Billing + Coding Program http://bit.ly/2xEjwaL

The UBEOC offers a FREE 20 week Medical Billing and Coding program. Please see link for

more details. Fordham University Fall Art Workshop http://bit.ly/2xEfzm4

Instructor Steve Alpert leads Art-Making Workshops at Fordham University on

Wednesday nights at 6:30pm beginning September 6. All artists make art for one basic

reason; to learn the truth about themselves.

Artists access their own life experiences in order to make their own individual unique art.

This intensive workshop is designed to support the emerging artists in learning to access the

experiences of their lives and expressing themselves through their own unique art, be it

painting, sculpture, drawing, etc.

The participants will bring the work they have made in the time between class meetings and

put on display for others in the workshop.

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The final class meeting on December 13 will be an exhibition of work selected by the artists,

representing their journey through the workshop in the previous months.

Mercy College: A FULL TUITION scholarship for veterans to become math teachers Video: http://bit.ly/2xE82Uy, Flyer: http://bit.ly/2xEopQX

From our School of Education: Qualified veterans can receive FULL TUITION to get a Master

of Science in Math Education. Stillman College: Stillman College to open veterans' center http://bit.ly/2xzwV3v

. . . “We are excited to be a part of the Tuscaloosa community and our staff is excited about

serving veterans in this area, said Marilyn Hill, the director of the Stillman College Veterans

Resource Center. “Please come out and see what we can offer veterans and their families.”

. . . The center’s programs will provide academic advice, paperwork processing and referral

services for students. The center will also have a peer tutoring program, a dedicated

meeting space for Stillman College’s student-veteran population, an expanded computer

lab, a study area and a lounge.

University of Turku (Finland) Research: Metabolomics Profiling As a Diagnostic Tool in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury http://bit.ly/2wK9Yyr

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex disease with a multifaceted pathophysiology.

Impairment of energy metabolism is a key component of secondary insults.

This phenomenon is a consequence of multiple potential mechanisms including diffusion

hypoxia, mitochondrial failure, and increased energy needs due to systemic trauma

responses, seizures, or spreading depolarization.

The degree of disturbance in brain metabolism is affected by treatment interventions and

reflected in clinical patient outcome. Hence, monitoring of these secondary events in

peripheral blood will provide a window into the pathophysiological course of severe TBI.

New methods for assessing perturbation of brain metabolism are needed in order to monitor

on-going pathophysiological processes and thus facilitate targeted interventions and predict

outcome.

Circulating metabolites in peripheral blood may serve as sensitive markers of pathological

processes in TBI. The levels of these small molecules in blood are less dependent on the

integrity of the blood–brain barrier as compared to protein biomarkers.

We have recently characterized a specific metabolic profile in serum that is associated with

both initial severity and patient outcome of TBI.

We found that two medium-chain fatty acids, octanoic and decanoic acids, as well as several

sugar derivatives are significantly associated with the severity of TBI.

The top ranking peripheral blood metabolites were also highly correlated with their levels in

cerebral microdialyzates. Based on the metabolite profile upon admission, we have been

able to develop a model that accurately predicts patient outcome.

Moreover, metabolomics profiling improved the performance of the well-established clinical

prognostication model. In this review, we discuss metabolomics profiling in patients with

severe TBI.

We present arguments in support of the need for further development and validation of

circulating biomarkers of cerebral metabolism and for their use in assessing patients with

severe TBI.

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GENERAL NEWS

Brain Health: The Promise of Science & Social Change http://bit.ly/2xE7wpm The brain is an organ, just like any other. This is one of principles that guides our work at

the Flawless Foundation, and we believe it’s essential that the medical community, political

leaders, and the broader public come to embrace this view of the brain as well.

For too long, we’ve understood, talked about, and treated the brain as separate from the

rest of the body, and as a result, the health of this organ -- brain health -- has been

overlooked or neglected.

Furthermore, those with brain health disorders haven’t benefitted from the same level of

care and concern, either from a medical standpoint or culturally. All of this needs to change,

and it begins with seeing the brain for exactly what it is.

The science is already here. Every day, neuroscience is revealing more and more about the

nuances of this vital organ and about how to care for its health. Historically we’ve

intervened with treatment far too late -- as the advocacy organization Mental Health

America says, at “stage four.” Now, thanks to medical and technological breakthroughs, we

have the potential for improved practices in prevention and early diagnosis.

Huddle is a mental health app that aims to be a safe space to share with peers http://tcrn.ch/2xE6Yji

. . . That started a chain of events that ultimately led to him to create Huddle, an online

video platform where people could share their issues with one another.

Nearly 44 million American adults suffer from some form of mental problem but due to the

stigma of seeking help, an estimated 60 percent won’t get the help they need.

Huddle wants to provide a bridge for these people by making it easy to talk about your

issues with others going through the same thing — almost like a digital Alcoholics

Anonymous, but also for other topics like body image issues, depression and anxiety as

well.

Several therapy apps and platforms like Huddle have popped up in the last few years as

more of us have adopted smartphones and health practitioners started seeking new ways to

make it easy for everyone seek help. Some of these platforms, like Talkspace, allows you to

pay for digital therapy sessions. Crisis Text Hotline provides a way for teens to text with

trained volunteers about their problems.

But not many of these mental health startups have gone the open video route — and for

good reason. It takes a lot of trust to put your face up on the internet and openly talk to

strangers about something hard — be it alcohol addiction, body image issues or something

else.

That is likely a huge barrier Huddle will have to overcome when trying to onboard new

users. But Blackman didn’t want his app to go the text-based clinical path.

Bunker Labs Community App for veterans http://bit.ly/2xEDfHi

The potential for military veteran entrepreneurs to connect is significant but what you lack

is the place to connect. The Bunker Labs Community App was designed to increase

collaboration and productivity across our national network of military veteran entrepreneurs,

industry experts, and business leaders.

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No matter where you are physically located you can offer value to someone else in the

national network. With the Bunker Labs Community App you can create a profile, join in

discussions, signup for local events, and find the resources you need based on subject

matter expertise including angel investing, mobile technology, sales, and marketing.

Rebuilding America's Advanced Manufacturing Workforce, One Veteran At A Time (Forbes) http://bit.ly/2wK0ymw

On January 3, 2005, Marine Staff Sergeant John Jones was leading his platoon in a convoy

on his second combat tour in Iraq when a double-stack anti-tank mine exploded under his

vehicle. The thunderous blast blew him 25 feet into the air and when the dust settled, Jones

had been severely injured. He had lost both his legs below the knee and his career in the

Marine Corps.

He spent the next two years in rehab at Brooke Army Medical Center and the Center for the

Intrepid in San Antonio, Texas. He was medically discharged in 2007 after 12 years in the

Marine Corps. At age 30, he faced the challenge of starting a new career in a civilian world

he left right after high school.

That was 10 years ago. When I met him four years ago, I learned that he had not only

found that new career, but also was using his Marine training and the skills he had acquired

since leaving the corps to help other veterans making that same challenging transition.

Today, John is director of development at Workshops for Warriors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

organization based in San Diego, California.

WFW provides veterans with accredited training, certification and job placement in well-

paying occupations in advanced manufacturing —Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC)

Milling and Turning, Machinery Repair, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided

Manufacturing (CAM) and Welding — that are in heavy demand, especially in the

aeronautics and defense industries.

If these veterans had to pay for this training, John said it would cost them over $20,000

apiece per 16-week accelerated semester.

However, thanks to donations from private businesses and individuals, WFW not only

provides the training at no cost to the veteran, but also provides a stipend for veterans in

need to cover living expenses during the training period. The training and stipend add up to

more than $30,000 paid by the organization.

Research: Denver’s new apartment building caters to homeless who have been traumatized after years on the streets http://dpo.st/2xEB7PA

Being indoors can be stressful for some of Denver’s chronic homeless, but new “trauma-

informed” building hopes to break the cycle.

Sunlight fills every corridor, the exit visible even from the opposite end of the apartment

building.

Its 60 bedrooms have no doors to shut, but, instead, window-sized wall cutouts to see

through to the living room. And the “safe courtyard,” filled with deep-pink rose bushes and

shade umbrellas, is open to the sky yet fenced off to prevent outside entry from Federal

Boulevard.

The design is unique in Colorado and rare nationally, a “trauma-informed” apartment

building that soon will house people who for years have lived on Denver’s streets, in and out

of jail, detox and emergency rooms. There are no crevices, nothing that resembles a dark

alley or shadowy stairwell.

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“These are the folks who are really resistant to treatment. They didn’t sign up for it,” said

Joann Toney, director of clinical housing services for the Mental Health Center of Denver

which will open Sanderson Apartments to its first residents next week.

Residents didn’t ask to live at Sanderson. They were chosen by researchers who pored

through Denver Police data looking for the city’s persistently homeless and frequently

arrested, men and women who are marked as “transient” and have rotated in and out of jail

mostly for so-called “homeless” crimes — such as illegal camping, trespassing or public

intoxication.

New Jersey Veterans Benefits Guide http://bit.ly/2xEdkiH Welcome to the New Jersey Veterans Benefits Guide. This guide continues a tradition of

providing relevant information to New Jersey’s Veterans community.

Keeping you informed is part of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

(NJDMAVA) continuing outreach efforts.

Through extensive research and preparation, NJDMAVA has assembled valuable material

into this edition of the Veterans Benefits Guide.

Many New Jersey Veterans are unaware of the numerous federal and state program

benefits, entitlements and services they have earned in defense of this great nation.

Our website at www.nj.gov/military/veterans acts as a portal to assist New Jersey’s

Veterans in obtaining information they need to access benefits and services more efficiently

and effectively.

Additional resources from my blog

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

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

VETERANS JOB LISTINGS AND HIRING FAIRS WEBSITES http://bit.ly/19Dz2ay 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 - 1,348 Professionals in VIJ Group

Active Topics

New online tool helps veterans identify legal issues and take action to resolve them

California bill would allow troops and vets to avoid conviction on DUI offenses

Pain Management and Opioid Use with Veterans and Service Members

PTSD/TBI and Discharges

Sexual Assaults in Military Drop, Reporting Goes Up, Annual Report Reveals

ADDRESSING THE FLOW OF VETERANS INTO PRISON

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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 Cuyahoga County Ohio Veterans and Supporters (Bryan A. McGown "Gunny") http://linkd.in/Zxwx1f Veteran Employment Representatives http://linkd.in/ZxwUcc MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES http://bit.ly/1RVPLFl 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)

VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG estrattonconsulting.wordpress.com

To focus 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 for that information.

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 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:

Marco Bongioanni, MSE Readjustment Counseling Therapist, U.S. Army Veteran,Bronx Vet Center, Bronx, NY 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). Lily is also apublic policy grad student, IWMF grantee and NASW award winner.

U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Wayne Gatewood, of Quality Support Inc. Wayne disseminates a daily Veterans News e-mail to an international audience

Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee, Project Manager, Military Spouse Mental Health Pipeline, National Military Family Association. 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.

U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) James Hutton, Dep Assistant Secretary (Acting), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Col. US Army (Ret) - Iraq War Veteran.

Justice for Vets, Justice For Vets is a professional services division of the National Association of Drug Court professionals, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Alexandria, VA. Justice for Vets believes that no veteran or military service member should suffer from gaps in service, or the judicial system when they return to their communities. As the stewards of the Veterans Treatment Court movement

Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren, Pioneer, America's first mental health court dedicated to the decriminalization of people with mental illness

Kathy Platoni, Psy.D., DAAPM, FAIS, Clinical Psychologist, COL (RET), US Army, COL. Ohio Militia, www.drplatoni.com, Veteran ~ Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, (Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan), Co-Author and Co-Editor, Fort Hood Massacre Survivor, National Combat Trauma Expert

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Mary Ellen Salzano, founder facilitator of the CA Statewide Collaborative for our Military and Families Patrick W. Welch, PhD, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret), Veterans Advocate & Educator, Buffalo Veterans Treatment

Court - Senior Mentor, Higher Ground New York - Director of Military Programs

HOW 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 feel 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

Editor/Publisher - Traumatic Brain Injury News Daily