Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1 of 17
RETIRED JUSTICE EVELYN LUNDBERG STRATTON'S VETERANS' CRIMINAL JUSTICE & MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES NEWS
“Sharing Information to Benefit All Veterans”
September 10, 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
5,192 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 14
GOVERNMENT 3 "VETERANS IN JUSTICE" LINKEDIN GROUP 15
OHIO 5 OTHER LINKEDIN GROUPS 15
STEPPING UP INITIATIVE 7 VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG 15
VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 16
PTS/TBI/MST 10 HOW TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER 16
SUICIDE 12
FEATURED STORIES
IN A FIRST, ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY HONORS SERVICE MEMBERS LOST BY SUICIDE http://on.wusa9.com/2vO3dHT
For the first time, service members who have died by suicide were officially honored at
Arlington National Cemetery on Friday. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
requested the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor all
victims of suicide.
The gesture was enormously fulfilling to several family members of suicide victims watching
and taking part in the ceremony.
Pioneering mental health court judge prioritizes suicide - Reflections From (the first) Zero Suicide Initiative Court http://bit.ly/2vOnbC1
Editor’s Note: Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren pioneered America's first mental health court
dedicated to the decriminalization of people with mental illness. Now, she has created the
2 of 17
first Zero Suicide Initiative Court. Judge Lerner-Wren is a regular contributor to this
newsletter.
Last year was a wake-up call for me, as I read the New York Times. The rate of suicide in
the U.S. has surged to a 30-Year High.
As a member of the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide
Prevention I realized the responsibility I had (as a Mental Health Court Judge) to break the
silence surrounding suicide.
In declaring Broward’s Mental Health Court, a Zero Suicide Initiative Court, I integrated
suicide prevention into the court process as a core fidelity.
As stated by CEO and President of RI International, David W. Covington, “How big is your
dream?”
In this regard, the vision of Zero Suicide is aspirational. The goal aligns with the mission of
a therapeutic problem-solving court dedicated to the decriminalization of people with mental
illness and co-occurring disorders. I
n this regard, I understand my potential as a judge to influence and educate court
participants and the community on the importance of seeking mental health care, the
promotion of well-being and public safety.
The decision to prioritize suicide prevention in Broward’s Mental Health Court has altered
the culture of the courtroom in many ways.
First, I continually message and boldly broadcast the fact this is a “Zero Suicide Court.”
The once taboo and stigmatized conversation about suicide, has been replaced with a clear
recognition that everyone needs to know the facts about suicide prevention.
Discussions about suicide are not easy. Yet, as with other difficult topics, I have found a
way to discuss this matter (through clinical staff) with respect and sensitivity based upon
the data.
The Court’s goal of suicide prevention has become a key part of recovery and a mental
health promotion narrative.
OPPORTUNITIES
SPRC Job Opening: Digital Content Specialist http://bit.ly/2vNEpQd EDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) in the Injury, Violence, and Suicide
Prevention Portfolio has an opening for a Digital Content Specialist.
The Specialist will be responsible for maintaining SPRC‘s website; assisting with other digital
content such as social media, email clients, and apps; and answering inquiries sent to
general email boxes.
The position requires a wide range of editorial, information technology/technical, and
project management skills and experience, as well as deep knowledge of content
management systems, Web technology, and digital trends.
The position will be based in Washington, D.C., Waltham, Mass., or a remote home office.
For more information and to apply, click here.
.
3 of 17
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
DoD Suicide Prevention: Each of us has an important role to play
Suicide Prevention Resources: Read Them, Share Them
Suicide Prevention: Your Actions Could Save a Life
Chaplains and Confidentiality of Suicide-related Communication: Are There Limits?
PTSD game changer? Looking at brain molecules, sleep patterns for answers
Magnets show promise in relieving depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms
Research Symposium provided forum for collaboration
Identify, Intervene: Help Your Loved One with Mental Health Issues
From the Clinic to Your Smartphone: Using Mobile Apps to Improve Care
SAMHSA
Roadmap to Behavioral Health: A Guide to Using Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services
New National Report Focuses on Behavioral Health, Including Opioid Misuse
EVENT: WEBINAR: Safe Care Transitions in a Zero Suicide Framework, September 12th
AMSUS SmartBrief http://bit.ly/2eMb4T5
42 nominations sent to Congress for approval including DoD & VA healthcare leaders
Military researchers study extremity, tissue repair
Cerner appoints advisory group for VA EHR modernization program
Lawmakers concerned about possible abuse of telehealth program
Houston's VA hospital weathers Harvey and its aftermath
VA adding services to clinics in Springfield and Joplin, Mo.
New US surgeon general sworn in
Study shows diagnostic, predictive value of transcranial ultrasound in TBI
VA Programs
Share these resources to help Veterans, service members in the wake of natural disasters
VA unveils claims submission option that promises to complete claims within 30 days
Recovery continues in Texas: VA reaching out to Veterans throughout the area
Updates from Houston: VA employees continue to deliver services following Hurricane
Harvey
A New and Improved My HealtheVet is Coming Soon
VA mobile medical unit brings health care in the neighborhood following hurricane
Job-seeking advice from a Veteran working at VA
VA partners with federal, state and local agencies to staff federal coordinating centers
New program allows VA staff to make house calls for Veterans who return home after
inpatient mental health care
Equine therapy successful in helping Veterans with chronic aphasia communicate better
VA updates rating criteria for all disabilities
VA mental health careers: a psychiatrist’s perspective
EVENT: WEBINAR: Traumatic Brain Injury and Attempted Suicide among Veterans of the
Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, September 18th
Decision Ready Claims speeds up disability claims processing with help from VSOs
VA Research Veteran receives high-tech prosthetic hand
VA Research Quarterly Report
o Quality dashboard for VA-contracted community nursing homes
o Wilmington VA Medical Center and the University of Delaware ink deal
o Surgery vs. radiotherapy to treat non-small cell lung cancer
o Fixing a failing brain through the gut
o A simple treatment for a complex neurological disease
4 of 17
o More . . .
VA Clinician’s Trauma Update. August 2017
VA Facilities
Hurricane Irma Updates – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Portland VAMC Portland Veterans Stand Down September 11th
Roseburg VA Health Care System Announces the Grand Opening of the new Brookings VA
Clinic, September 11th
Long Beach VA Free Legal Clinic for Veterans, September 12th
Cleveland VAMC Summit County Homeless Veterans Stand Down, Akron, September 12th
Baltimore VA Job Fair, September 12th
Oklahoma City VAMC Resource Fair, September 21st
West Palm Beach VAMC rescheduled from September 7th to September 26th
Salt Lake City HCS Stand Down + Project Homeless Connect, October 6th
Bloomington, IN Military & Veterans Stand Down, October 19th
Boston VA Women Veterans Town Hall, October 25th
Chillicothe VAMC - McGhee's Wall
The Secretary of Veteran Affairs Talks About Ways To Improve Veteran Care In Montana
Dr. Apostolos Georgopoulos, director of the Brain Sciences Center in the Minneapolis
Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, was presented The American Legion’s
Distinguished Service Medal.
Old Soldiers’ Homes, Left to Just Fade Away - The veterans agency has 430 vacant
buildings, including 200 that are more than 90 years old. Now it is trying to get rid of many
of them.
Manchester VAMC Veterans Mental Health Summit Emphasizes Community Teamwork
Charleston VAMC Trains Law Enforcement in Suicide Prevention
Vet Centers provides services in Texas after Harvey
o Despite hardship, Beaumont VA clinic marches together as a team
o Houston VAMC Mobile Pharmacy Delivers to Veterans
o Houston VAMC VA Homeless Program Makes Difference After Harvey o Related: Houston Teachers Drafted to Become Trauma Counselors
VA OIG Reports
Inspection of VA Regional Office Wilmington, Delaware
Review of Alleged Continued Misuse of VA Funds To Develop the Health Care Claims
Processing System
Inspection of Denver VA Regional Office
Justice Department Announces Closing of Ayudando Guardians Office
Healthcare Inspection – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Consult Process
Concerns, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
Healthcare Inspection – Alleged Provision of Care, Nursing Supervision, and Scheduling
Issues at Community Based Outpatient Clinics at the Amarillo VA Health Care System,
Amarillo, Texas
Healthcare Inspection—Inconsistent Transfer Procedures for Urgent Care Clinic Patients with
Stroke Symptoms, Manchester VA Medical Center, Manchester, New Hampshire
Clinical Assessment Program Review of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston,
Texas
Kansas Man Sentenced For Pretending to be Blind To Qualify for Federal Benefits
Healthcare Inspection—Review of Improper Dental Infection Control Practices and
Administrative Action, Tomah VA Medical Center, Tomah, Wisconsin Additional resources from my blog
LIST OF VA TOWN HALLS & OTHER MEETINGS NATIONWIDE: http://bit.ly/1Gg1DN6
5 of 17
OHIO
Cleveland VA Medical Center employee showcases innovative project aimed at helping Veterans – Receives 1st Place Vote at VA national event http://bit.ly/2eM8vAr
VA ingenuity, foresight, and brainpower took center stage on a sunny day in the nation's
capital earlier this month. VA innovators from across the country showcased a stream of
innovations and quality-improvement initiatives designed to enhance the Veteran
experience.
They coalesced for "VA Innovation and Demo Day," sharing highlights, progress, and
lessons learned about projects they have developed and tested to improve the lives of
Veterans. The projects touched on information technology (IT), data and informatics,
holistic initiatives, improving disease-specific interventions, mental health, and suicide
prevention, among other issues critical to former service members.
. . . Self-leveling walker for safe stair climbing— At the end of each of the eight panel
sessions, audience members voted for their favorite innovation that was discussed during
that period. Among the eight projects that finished in first place, a safe-leveling walker for
safe stair climbing placed first with 23 percent of the overall audience vote.
The walker is aimed at helping Veterans with orthopedic injuries or movement difficulties to
independently and safely climb stairs, while minimizing home adaptation costs and possibly
reducing rehabilitation training time.
Stephanie Nogan Bailey, a biomedical engineer at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical
Center, elaborated on the walker. I
t was patented in 2015 with the help of VA's Technology Transfer Program for its hydraulic
columns that allow the front to shorten and the rear to lengthen when one is climbing the
stairs. When reaching the top, the user pushes a button that levels the walker out as it
conforms to a flat surface.
"This device performs exactly like a standard walker on level surfaces, making it the only
walker the user will ever need regardless of the environment," she said.
People with hip and knee replacements and amputations, as well as stroke victims, are
among those who can benefit from the walker, she said.
Chillicothe VA Medical Center - McGhee's Wall http://bit.ly/2eLED6Y
If you walk our hallways enough, a theme begins to appear. Mid-western homes with picket
fences, military ceremonies captured in the moment, and patriotic images of America.
These are all wonderful reminders of what the men and women of our armed forces fought
for. By happenstance, I heard a story about a different type of tribute adorning our walls.
This is a special display. It is a living tapestry of history, woven from the fabric of our
Veteran’s experience and service.
One hundred percent of Ohio female juvenile offenders now receiving mental health treatment http://bit.ly/2eLaYuL
CLEVELAND - Every single female juvenile offender placed in centers through the Ohio
Department of Youth Services is receiving some type of mental health treatment, according
to the most recent data released by the state.
6 of 17
By comparison, just 47 percent of males in juvenile corrections facilities are listed on the
mental health caseload.
“That 100 percent says a lot about the background that these girls are coming from,” Erin
Davies, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Coalition told News 5.
Lorain County Veterans Treatment Court awarded $30,000 grant http://bit.ly/2vOlchf Lorain County Probate Court Judge James T. Walther announced that the Lorain County
Veterans Treatment Court has been awarded the Specialized Dockets Payroll Subsidy Award
for 2018.
The award, in the sum of $30,000, is used to fund the position of Program
Coordinator/Probation Officer of the Lorain County Veterans Treatment Court, according to a
press release.
This marks the fourth year that the Lorain County commissioners have partnered with the
Probate Court to receive the award.
The award is funded through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services,
and to qualify for the award, the program must receive certification from the Ohio Supreme
Court, according to the release.
This year, in addition to payroll, funds can be used for addiction treatment services,
medication assisted treatment medications, drug testing and recovery supports.
Stark County Honor Court: Veterans see home repairs through Rebuilding Together http://bit.ly/2vOswJI
Volunteers from area companies and the Stark County Honor Court spent Friday and
Saturday repairing the homes of two Stark County veterans.
PLAIN TOWNSHIP There’s a flag pole in veteran Paul Decker’s front yard now.
On Saturday, Decker raised the American and United States Air Force flags for the first
time, while the 20-or-so volunteers who were helping repair his house looked on. They
broke into applause as he finished.
“You had a life of service, and we appreciate that,” Paul Holm, executive director of
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio, told Decker.
Volunteers from area companies and the Stark County Honor Court spent Friday and
Saturday repairing the homes of two Stark County veterans, putting in a combined 350
hours of volunteer work and $6,000 worth of fixes.
The weekend of renovations was made possible primarily through a partnership between
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio — which, in Stark County, provides home
improvements for low-income active-duty or veteran families — and the Sears “Heroes at
Home” fundraising campaign, which is in its 10th year and has raised more than $21 million
for close to 1,700 rebuilds.
Volunteers from Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Associated Underwriters Insurance
were at Decker’s home on Werner Church Road NE on Saturday, and a smaller group, with
volunteers from Stark County Honor Court, worked at a home on Roosevelt Avenue NE.
EVENT: Cleveland VAMC Summit County Homeless Veterans Stand Down, Akron, September 12th http://summitcountystanddown.org/
Typical Services Offered
FREE Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling
FREE Dental**, Vision and Foot Exams
7 of 17
FREE Haircuts
FREE Clothing
FREE Lunch
Chaplains
FREE HIV Testing
Employment and Training Counseling
You will be given an opportunity to apply for VA Health Care
Help with courts and legal issues
Help getting official, State ID Cards
Homeless Veterans may call 2-1-1 or 330-376-6660 for more information about available
transportation, but look out for Metro Bus #18 to and from the Stand Down.
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.
*****************************
PA: TAC RESEARCH WEEKLY: READY to Stop a Revolving Door http://bit.ly/2vObf3i Everyone talks about stopping the revolving doors of poor mental illness outcomes. Now a
Pennsylvania psychiatric facility has demonstrated a winning approach to slowing one of
them: rehospitalization.
The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Harrisburg slashed its 30-day psychiatric
readmission rate in half - from 20% in 2013 to 10.4% in 2015 - with a toolkit called the
Discharge READY Program. The beneficiaries were high-risk patients with substance use risk
or other co-morbidities, 40 or more outpatient visits per year and at least one inpatient or
partial-hospitalization admissions.
Five Key Steps
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) developed a model on which the
READY program was based. The program incorporates five key steps:
A nurse introduces inpatients at high risk for 30-day readmission to the program before
being discharged.
8 of 17
After agreeing to participate in the program, each patient is scheduled for five weekly
phone calls by a nurse.
The calls begin 48 to 72 hours after the patient goes home.
During the calls, the nurse reviews discharge instructions and assesses any issues that
might require additional support.
Together, the nurse and the patient develop an action plan for each week.
Ohio: One hundred percent of Ohio female juvenile offenders now receiving mental health treatment (Stepping Up Initiative – The Ohio Project) http://bit.ly/2eLaYuL
CLEVELAND - Every single female juvenile offender placed in centers through the Ohio
Department of Youth Services is receiving some type of mental health treatment, according
to the most recent data released by the state.
By comparison, just 47 percent of males in juvenile corrections facilities are listed on the
mental health caseload.
“That 100 percent says a lot about the background that these girls are coming from,” Erin
Davies, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Coalition told News 5.
TX: Houston County mental health court cutting down on days spent in jail http://on.wmaz.com/2vNTfGp
. . . The Mental Health Accountability Court received a new state grant this year. The grant
increases funding to $190,000 from the state.
Houston County matched funds with another $21,000. Lumsden says that allows them to
keep 45 to 50 people in the program at a time.
VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS
FL: Problem-solving court sees 55 percent graduate - Veterans Court program seeing the best results http://bit.ly/2vNZuKp
There are 252 people currently enrolled in the Drug Court, Mental Health Court and
Veterans Court alternative-to-prosecution programs in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties.
If the trend over the past two years is sustained, slightly more than half will complete the
programs.
. . . It’s the Veterans Court program that’s getting the best results.
Over the past two years, 85 of the 89 people who were admitted to the program for active
duty and former military personnel — 96 percent — met the requirements and graduated.
Hamlyn said the high success rate is based on veterans, through their military training,
being more accustomed to having to be accountable, understanding structured programs
and being used to taking commands and following orders.
Also, she said, many of the veterans who have gone through the program didn’t suffer from
substance abuse issues, but may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or medical
issues, such as traumatic head injury.
MI: Veterans Court ‘better than expected’ http://bit.ly/2vOl7tL
. . . In Monroe County there is an alternative to jail for those servicemen and women who
commit crimes. And for the past three years the Veterans Treatment Court has helped turn
9 of 17
the lives around for more than a dozen men and women who have served their country only
to find themselves in dire situations.
“This is payback to them for putting their lives on the line,” said First District Judge
Terrence P. Bronson, a retired Navy captain who created Veterans Court three years ago.
“We emphasize to everyone that we are here to help you. The whole purpose is to help you
as a veteran.“
The court consists of seven professionals who represent various law enforcement and
veteran agencies. Those who get into trouble and enter the program face up to two years of
intense counseling, treatment and supervision.
Dennis Monday, a 69-year-old Vietnam veteran from Monroe, is a graduate of the program
and now serves as a mentor to others who are struggling.
MI: Couple married in Veterans Treatment Court http://bcene.ws/2vOanvo
The two dozen wedding guests were former military members with criminal records and all
were like family.
Peter Moore and Sherry Roney were married Thursday after a session of Calhoun County
Veterans Treatment Court.
District Judge Frank Line, who presided over a regular session of the court, then married the
couple before the room broke into applause.
MN: Up & Coming: Ryan Else http://bit.ly/2vOtt4C
Editor’s Note: The Brockton Hunter P.A. is one of the leading veterans-related law firms in
the U.S. Retired Justice Stratton (This Newsletter) contributed a chapter to the Hunter &
Else book: “The Attorney’s Guide to Defending Veterans in Criminal Court.”
Ryan Else, a combat veteran himself, is passionate about defending veterans in criminal
cases, helping them to “hit reset” and get back on their feet while dealing with underlying
physical, mental and adjustment problems of returning to civilian life.
One way of doing that is getting them into veterans treatment courts, where they have to
keep up with demanding regimens that may lead to dismissal of their charges or avoidance
of jail time, Else says.
“I want to see that [veterans] get honor and respect even when they’re not in their finest
hour,” he says.
He graduated from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in 2011 and went to work
with the Brockton D. Hunter P.A. law firm. He and Hunter co-edited an 800-page
resource book, “The Attorney’s Guide to Defending Veterans in Criminal Court,”
and speak nationally on the topic.
Else is executive director of the nonprofit Veterans Defense Project, which recently received
a two-year Minnesota state grant totaling $500,000 to print more copies of the resource
book and to increase the number of veterans treatment courts from seven currently.
Hunter, also a veteran, says, “Ryan has a warrior’s heart, a razor-sharp intellect and a
caring soul. He is the ultimate legal ‘battle buddy’ and we would be lost without him.”
RI: State agencies join forces to offer post release support for jailed veterans PROVIDENCE — State agencies are working together to help incarcerated veterans who will
soon be released.
10 of 17
Director of Veterans Affairs Kasim Yarn says he’s in sync with Democratic Gov. Gina
Raimondo’s goal to give everyone a chance to make it in the state.
So Yarn started working on ways Rhode Island could improve how it helps incarcerated
veterans transition after their release.
He brought together state agencies that offer veterans services so they could coordinate
with one another instead of agencies reaching out individually to veterans.
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 Vietnam Vets Still Battle PTSD, Brain Injury http://bit.ly/2vOcqzO
“Silver bullets only work on vampires.” That’s why there is no easy cure for patients,
including Vietnam veterans, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain
injury (TBI), according to Dr. David Cifu.
Dr. Cifu is a physiatrist--a physician who specializes in rehabilitation--at Virginia
Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine where he is Associate Dean of Innovation
and System Integration and Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation.
He is also a staff physiatrist at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Hospital and a senior
traumatic brain injury (TBI) specialist for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Kennedy Forum Publishes Consumer Guide to Drug Formularies http://bit.ly/2vOlcxv The Kennedy Forum released its latest white paper, A Consumer Guide to Drug Formularies:
Understanding the Fundamentals of Behavioral Health Medications.
The Issue Brief serves as an educational resource highlighting the powerful influence
formulary design has on prescription drug benefits and patient health outcomes – especially
those with behavioral health conditions, including substance use disorders.
The publication concludes with several key policy recommendations to improve the
management of insurance and prescription benefits, a critical issue for patients, providers,
payors, prescribers and other stakeholders.
In the nearly 10-year period since the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act became
law, the insurance industry has made incremental improvements in the way it allocates
resources for mental health services when compared to medical/surgical benefits.
However, even with health coverage, formulary design provisions often limit or deny
patients access to the life-saving medications that their doctors deem medically necessary. University of Wisconsin Research: Untangling the wires: Using MRI research to help understand the brain http://bit.ly/2vOj74J
Scientists have made incredible strides in understanding the world around us. They’ve shot
astronauts into space, explored deep beneath the ocean and created powerful computers
that fit in our pockets.
11 of 17
The cosmos might be well-mapped, but they’re still searching for a cure for cancer and just
beginning to understand the complex connections in the brain.
Research is critical to breaking through these medical frontiers and bringing life-changing
answers to millions of people around the world. MRI is a critical tool that is helping
researchers better understand the human body non-invasively but it’s still a fairly young
technology.
Now researchers and clinicians have a new tool to help them further their understanding of
disease and the complexities of the human body.
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin – Madison are using new MRI technology that can
enable them to see the brain better than ever before to conduct research that will help them
understand disease and how to treat it.
The new SIGNA Premier, GE Healthcare’s ultra-premium 3.0T MR system, is the result of a
collaboration between research institutions around the world working to design new imaging
tools, particularly to aid researchers in the detection of biomarkers for the potential
diagnosis of mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Research: TBI and dementia: Link or no link? http://bit.ly/2gOApvY
Whether or not traumatic brain injury predisposes individuals to dementia has long been
under investigation, and the results of different studies are often conflicting. But evidence is
mounting that traumatic brain injury can cause long-term damage to the brain.
. . . The immediate symptoms can range from headaches and blurry vision to slurred speech
and short-term memory problems. TBIs can also have long-term effects on health, with an
increased risk of seizures and infections sometimes following.
Research has suggested a link between TBI and several forms of progressive
neurodegeneration - such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS), and Parkinson's disease - but there is conflicting evidence.
Why is it so difficult to find conclusive evidence? And what are the long-term predictions for
TBI patients?
Last week, Medical News Today reported on a study by Finnish researchers, which was
published in the journal PLOS Medicine. Using the Finnish Care Register for Health Care, the
team compared the medical notes of working-age individuals under the age of 65 with mild
or moderate to severe TBI, all of whom had subsequently developed dementia, Parkinson's
disease, or ALS.
They found a link between moderate to severe TBI and dementia, but no links with
Parkinson's disease or ALS were discovered.
Importantly, they found that the incidence rate of dementia in moderate to severe TBI
patients was similar to that found in the general population. But dementia occurs mostly in
the elderly, highlighting that TBI shifts the risk from old age to working age.
Research: CTE FAQ: How Repeated Head Blows Affect the Brain http://bit.ly/2vNSr4i Researchers are tackling fresh questions about a degenerative brain disease now that it has
been detected in the brains of nearly 200 football players after death. The suspected cause
is repeated head blows, an almost unavoidable part of contact sports.
As a new NFL season gets underway, here's a look at what's known — and what still needs
to be learned — about the condition:
12 of 17
Additional resources from my blog
RESURRECTING LIVES FOUNDATION http://bit.ly/1R9toOV
EVENTS FOR VETERANS & VETERAN SERVICE PROVIDERS http://bit.ly/1Gg1nOi
SUICIDE
The Suicide Contagion: How The Effort To Combat Veterans’ Suicide May Be Making It Worse (Task & Purpose) http://bit.ly/2vOiecA
. . . Psychologists have long understood that suicidal behavior is infectious — that the urge
to kill oneself can pass from one person to another — and a recent study published in the
journal JAMA Psychiatry was the first to conclude that military units are not immune to this
phenomenon (known as “suicide contagion”).
“The odds of suicide attempt among soldiers in a unit with 5 or more past-year attempts
was more than twice that of soldiers in a unit with no previous attempts,” the study’s
authors wrote, adding that contagion can occur with varying degrees of impact in any type
of military unit, regardless of its size.
In other words, a soldier’s suicide might trigger a sort of domino effect, which could
potentially ripple well beyond his circle of friends and colleagues. And this dynamic is not
exclusive to units that serve on the front lines.
EVENT: WEBINAR: Traumatic Brain Injury and Attempted Suicide among Veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, September 18th
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research and Development
Service (HSR&D) is hosting a webinar on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and attempted suicide
among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It will present results from a recent study that evaluated the association between TBI and
attempted suicide and examined whether psychiatric conditions mediated this association in
a large sample of veterans. The webinar will be held on September 18 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET.
SPRC: The Weekly Spark How Emergency Departments Can Help Prevent Suicide among At-Risk Patients: Five
Brief Interventions
Faith, Hope, & Life
Here’s How to Talk to Your Boss about Mental Health
ALASKA: The Doctor Will Analyze You Now
CALIFORNIA: Under State Mandate, Glendale Unified Adopts Policy on Suicide Prevention
SPRC Job Opening: Digital Content Specialist
Traumatic Brain Injury and Attempted Suicide among Veterans of the Wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan
World Suicide Prevention Day
National Suicide Prevention Week
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NEWS MAY BE POSTED IN THE SECTIONS BELOW.
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
EVENT: SVA LAUNCHES REGISTRATION FOR #NATCON2018, SAN ANTONIO, TX, JANUARY 4TH – 6TH http://bit.ly/2xPKhtm
13 of 17
Student Veterans of America (SVA) launched registration for their 10th Annual National
Conference. #NatCon2018 will take place January 4 - 6, 2018 at the JW Marriott San
Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas.
SVA's Annual National Conference is the nation's largest gathering of post-9/11 veterans
designed to empower tomorrow's leaders. Next year student veterans will decide how
they're going to shape the future of America and celebrate a decade of SVA impacting
higher education! That's why next year's theme is...Defining Our Future.
“As we look ahead to our 10th Annual National Conference, and celebrating 10 years of
SVA, I’m excited about the opportunity to speak to the amazing success student veterans
have shown in the academic arena for the past decade,” said Jared Lyon, SVA’s President
and CEO. “I look forward to kicking off 2018 with SVA chapter leaders, alumni, and
supporters who empower tomorrow’s leaders, and define the future for student veterans
and our nation.”
To learn more about #NatCon2018 and how student veterans can fund their travel,
visit conference.studentveterans.org.
University of Delaware Research: Wilmington VA Medical Center and University of Delaware ink deal http://bit.ly/2eM1PC9
On June 9, 2017, the Wilmington VA Medical Center and the University of Delaware in
Newark signed an affiliation agreement to formalize collaboration between the two
institutions. While UD has been involved in research efforts with the Department of Defense
for many years, the Wilmington VAMC has not been active in biomedical research, until
now.
UD and affiliate institutions like the Bader Consortium—which advances research in
orthopedic rehabilitation for wounded warriors—conduct research in many areas that will
dovetail with the needs of Veterans, such as traumatic brain injury, rehabilitative medicine,
orthotics and prosthetics, and neuroscience.
The UD Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus is home to the Health
Sciences Complex, which houses classrooms, research laboratories, and health care clinics.
STAR Health offers primary care, physical therapy, speech therapy, mental health services,
and wellness services to the citizens in surrounding Delaware and southern New Jersey.
University of Wisconsin Research: Untangling the wires: Using MRI research to help understand the brain http://bit.ly/2vOj74J
Scientists have made incredible strides in understanding the world around us. They’ve shot
astronauts into space, explored deep beneath the ocean and created powerful computers
that fit in our pockets.
The cosmos might be well-mapped, but they’re still searching for a cure for cancer and just
beginning to understand the complex connections in the brain.
Research is critical to breaking through these medical frontiers and bringing life-changing
answers to millions of people around the world. MRI is a critical tool that is helping
researchers better understand the human body non-invasively but it’s still a fairly young
technology.
Now researchers and clinicians have a new tool to help them further their understanding of
disease and the complexities of the human body.
14 of 17
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin – Madison are using new MRI technology that can
enable them to see the brain better than ever before to conduct research that will help them
understand disease and how to treat it.
The new SIGNA Premier, GE Healthcare’s ultra-premium 3.0T MR system, is the result of a
collaboration between research institutions around the world working to design new imaging
tools, particularly to aid researchers in the detection of biomarkers for the potential
diagnosis of mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
GENERAL NEWS Iowa Nonprofit to Construct $6M Behavioral Health Campus http://bit.ly/2vOkccZ
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An organization that offers mental health services for children has
announced plans for a new $6 million behavioral health campus in western Iowa.
The plans were announced Thursday by officials with the Boys and Girls Home and Family
Services. The organization said the new site in Sioux City will be completed in three phases
over the next four years.
The nonprofit has struggled to maintain and upgrade aging infrastructure on its main Sioux
City campus, where some portions were built in 1913, the Sioux City Journal reported . The
board of directors wanted a new location that would be more cost effective and offer a more
"campus-like" setting, said Art Silva, the organization's executive director and CEO.
The organization offers treatment for children and adults with emotional, behavioral or
psychiatric issues that are caused by physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, mental health
issues or severe family dysfunction.
The project will begin with the construction of a large school that will provide individual
education to children ages 5 to 18. The building will have 10 classrooms, a recreation and
conference center, library, media center and auditorium.
The second phase will involve renovating a two-story building into a family services center,
which will provide outpatient counseling. The organization could move into the building as
early as January 2019, Silva said.
A residential treatment center will be built during the final phase of construction. It will have
living quarters for children ages 7 to 18, a recreation area and residential staff offices.
How Starbucks is changing civilians’ perspectives of the military (Task & Purpose) http://bit.ly/2vO5wKN
Because Americans know fewer veterans than ever before, there are a lot of misconceptions
about military life. Many vets are asked questions that make assumptions about their
service — rather than ones that invite them to share their stories, skills, and experiences.
At Starbucks, veterans, military spouses, and civilians work side by side every day. Since
2013 they’ve hired over 10,000 veterans and military spouses — and they’re committed to
hiring 15,000 more by 2025. They aspire to create a culture that recognizes the unique
experiences and talents of the military community.
Starbucks is expanding its commitment to these men and women with a national campaign
encouraging the 99% of Americans who haven’t served to start a new conversation with
veterans and military spouses. Through traditional and social media channels, this multi-
faceted campaign will challenge citizens to “ask better questions.”
15 of 17
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 - 1,349 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
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
16 of 17
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
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 [email protected] 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.
17 of 17
6. If you pass on our clips, please also pass on our Disclaimer.
EDITOR/CONTACT
Pete Miller, [email protected], @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
