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RETIRED JUSTICE EVELYN LUNDBERG STRATTON'S VETERANS'

CRIMINAL JUSTICE & MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES NEWS

12 APRIL 2015

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Retired Veterans in the Courts Initiative

Evelyn Lundberg Stratton retired from the Ohio Supreme Court at the end of 2012 so as to pursue more fully criminal justice reforms with a particular emphasis on veterans who become involved with the justice system. She established the Veterans in the Courts Initiative in 2009. Video http://bit.ly/1glCXZ0

Total Number of Direct Professional Readers: 2,019

VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG (Beta) estrattonconsulting.wordpress.com

Editor's Note: To refocus this newsletter on veterans-related criminal justice and mental illness issues and to shorten it to a more manageable size, we have moved our tables & lists of reference materials and other longer term information to retired Justice Stratton's blog. Please follow the links below.

Operation Legal Help Ohio

http://bit.ly/1Gg0HbK

National Legal Assistance

http://bit.ly/19DC5zu

VA Town Halls & Events

http://bit.ly/1Gg1DN6

Jobs & Hiring Fairs Listings

http://bit.ly/19Dz2ay

Events: Conferences,

Webinars, etc.

http://bit.ly/1Gg1nOi

Additional Resources

http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH

Current Newsletter

http://bit.ly/19ovER5

2015 Newsletters

http://bit.ly/1FKASAC

Ohio Resources For Veterans

http://bit.ly/19ouWn0

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

FEATURED STORIES

The VA's 2015 Veteran Economic Opportunity Report http://1.usa.gov/1DwPDsi

VA was asked to evaluate economic competitiveness of Veterans versus non-Veterans to inform policy, guide improvement strategies, and effectively communicate national priorities. This initial report focuses on baseline data and information that clarifies the landscape of

current economic outcomes of Veterans and Transitioning Servicemembers. To understand the success of ongoing initiatives and identify possible barriers to Veterans economic competitiveness, this report focuses on Veterans of the 9/11 era in comparison with Veterans of all other eras as well as the non-Veteran population.

Among this report’s key findings: • Approximately one out of two (53%) separating Post-9/11 Veterans will face a period of unemployment. While national unemployment rates have declined, the on-theground reality is that half of our Veterans enter a period of unemployment upon transition.

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• Veterans want to work and are not relying on the full term of their unemployment benefits. 95% of Veterans will connect to employment before using the full 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. However, the average duration of unemployment is on the rise from 18 weeks in the last 6 years to 22 weeks in 2013. • Post-9/11 Era Veterans are doing better than their non-Veteran peers in earnings. Post-9/11 Veterans attain 11% higher median earnings than non-Veterans with similar demographic characteristics. However, Veterans of all eras attain 3% lower median earnings than non-Veterans with similar demographic characteristics. • The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is a key strategy to improve Veterans’ and their family’s economic opportunity. Veterans under 25 constitute 58% of the Post-9/11 GI Bill® beneficiaries, while 8% of all Veterans transferred it to a family member who used the benefit. Department of Veterans Affairs ii| 2015 Veteran Economic Opportunity Report • Female Veterans are doing well compared to their non-Veteran female and Veteran male peers in both career earnings and education. Female Veterans attain 14% higher median earnings than the non-Veteran female population with similar demographic characteristics. Female Veterans participating in the GI Bill® had a 10% higher completion rate compared to male Veterans for all ages combined, an 8% higher completion rate across all individual age groups, and a 5% higher completion rate when compared to female students in the general population cohort. Lastly, this report shows the interrelated nature of Veteran economic competitiveness issues and the vital need to collaborate with interagency stakeholders to monitor and improve program delivery.

A HEAD FOR THE FUTURE INITIATIVE (DVBIC) http://bit.ly/1Dx2rPl

MOST TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES (TBIs) IN THE MILITARY ARE DIAGNOSED IN A NONDEPLOYED SETTING.

MILITARY READINESS CAN MAKE YOU PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY STRONG, BUT AN EXTREME APPROACH TO WORK AND PLAY PUTS YOU AT GREATER RISK OF GETTING A CONCUSSION.

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) created the A Head for the Future initiative to raise awareness and lower the risk of concussion.

How? By spreading the word about signs, symptoms and treatment of brain injuries and educating service members and veterans about how to prevent them. We’re talking to you – military families, line leaders, health care providers and caregivers.

VA making some progress on health care appointment times (AP) http://1.usa.gov/1ye5tHz

The Associated Press recently reported on VA health care appointment times across the U.S.

based on the public data VA began posting in June 2014. VA has provided this access-to-care information to Veterans and the public in a way private medical facilities do not, knowing that transparency and accountability would help improve care for Veterans.

While VA still has its challenges to overcome at a number of facilities and some Veterans still wait too long for appointments, the report also highlights the fact that in many parts of the country, VA provides health care that is “as fast, or even faster, than the Veterans could

receive in the private sector.”

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Up to $ 21.6 Million Available for the Offender Reentry Program This program aims to expand and/or enhance substance use disorder treatment and related recovery and reentry services to substance-using adult offenders/ex-offenders who are

returning to their families and community from incarceration in state and local facilities such as prisons, jails, or detention centers.

Rosalyn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism—Apply Now http://bit.ly/1Oikv3d

The Carter Center is now accepting applications from U.S. residents for six 1-year journalism fellowships with the Carter Center's Mental Health Program.These fellowships aim to enhance

public understanding of mental health issues and reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses through balanced and accurate reporting. The 2015–2016 fellowship year begins in September 2015.

Learn More About the Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism Submit an Application The deadline to apply is April 17, 2015. For questions, please call 404-420-5165 or emailsuribe@emory.edu

SAMHSA Statewide Peer Networks for Recovery and Resiliency http://1.usa.gov/1ydPU2D

Application Due Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2015, Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $100,000. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is

accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2015 Statewide Peer Networks for Recovery and Resiliency (Short Title: Statewide Peer Networks for R&R) grants. The purpose of this grant program is to create and/or enhance statewide networks that represent mental health and

addictions recovery communities to improve access to and the quality of behavioral health systems, services, treatment and recovery supports statewide.

Eight Million Dollars in Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces, Department of Veterans Affairs National Veterans Sports Programs http://1.usa.gov/1DwVuO2

The Adaptive Sports Grant (ASG) Program’s purpose is to provide grants to eligible adaptive sports entities to plan, develop, manage, and implement programs to provide adaptive

sports activities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.

VA/DoD

VA update on data and wait times (Calculation methods) http://1.usa.gov/1IWKjyQ We realize appointment wait-time data, and how it gets calculated in a system that

schedules over 80 million encounters a year, can be complicated and hard to understand—so we want to take this opportunity to explain our methods. We are working in good faith to be as transparent and open as possible with our data, and the way it’s calculated.

VA began publicly posting patient access data online in June 2014. You can find that data here. Back in October, VA made clear that, as directed by Congress, it was establishing new

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wait-time standards that more accurately reflect whether or not a veteran has been waiting too long for an appointment. VA has done just that, and has been fully transparent about it

all along. We began reporting average appointment wait times in two categories: completed and pending. Both of these measures are determined based on the Veteran’s preferred date. The preferred date method is based on a clinician’s specified date for the patient to be seen, or in the absence of a clinical recommendation, the date a patient wants to be seen.

We report this completed appointment average wait time data monthly. VA also regularly advises and updates Veterans service organizations and congressional stakeholders on our patient access data and wait time methods.

VA considers completed appointment data to be the best indicator of the Veteran’s actual wait time experience.

Veteran says 'Motivation for Change' program at Phoenix VA hospital saved his life http://bit.ly/1z6lRFi

A life-changing program has been shut down after a Phoenix VA whistleblower broke his silence about the scandal plaguing the hospital for a year now. The hospital denies retaliation, but whatever the reason, Valley veterans are pleading with the Phoenix VA to bring the program back. 'Motivation for Change' was started in 2012 by Director Brandon

Coleman. Since its start, the substance abuse program has helped 51 veterans.

DoD: Women, Diversity Are Military Mission Critical, Author Says http://1.usa.gov/1ye5NWM

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2015 – The military can take the lead in breaking down the biases against women and people of diverse backgrounds, to create a stronger force and set the path for the nation, said Sheryl Sandberg, best-selling author of "Lean In: Women, Work,

and the Will to Lead," who spoke April 9 to a standing-room audience at the Pentagon.

VA Women Veterans Health Care http://1.usa.gov/1DwW7Hn Calling all women who served in the United States Military. Do you know your Veteran status? Do you have a Veteran ID card? Do you receive any benefits from the VA, like the GI Bill? Do you receive health care benefits from VA? If you do not know the answers to

these questions Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a call center just for you. The Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) answers questions and responds to concerns from women Veterans, their families, and caregivers across the nation about VA services and

resources. The call is free, and you can call as often as you like until you have the answers to your questions. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.

Female veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may not be getting the help they need, according to federal investigators. http://bit.ly/1CL6YbY

Although the VA is trying to catch up to the problem, investigators say the agency has a ways to go. Regional offices aren't consistently evaluating veteran's claims. While some offices approve 88 percent of claims, others approve only 14 percent.

Investigators also say the VA's national outreach is lacking. In one case, it was just two group meetings with veterans' service organizations. The VA told investigators that "competing priorities" are to blame. Villarreal says most veterans learn about support groups through word of mouth. Link: Military Veteran Peer Network

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Congress: Not a dime more until someone at VA takes responsibility for hospital cost overruns http://bit.ly/1CLfZ4O

DENVER — Construction at the Veteran Affairs Medical Complex in Aurora could come to a halt next month as funding will soon run out. Adding to the problems, Congressional leaders

are now threatening to withhold any additional tax dollars until someone at the VA takes responsibility for the cost overruns and delays created by mismanagement of the project. VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson last week told FOX31 Denver’s Tak Landrock that he

could not hold people accountable because of Federal regulation. “I can’t take any disciplinary action, against any employee, without evidence that will withstand appeal.” Gibson’s answer drew criticism from Congressional leaders who said he knew about the

failures after being briefed monthly about the problems at the Aurora facility. Representative Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued a

scathing letter directed at the VA leaders Tuesday after our report. He wrote, “Congress will not authorize another dime for the Denver project until VA takes it seriously – something the department has failed to do from the beginning.”

The VA medical center will now cost taxpayers $1.7 billion, more than two times the original estimated cost. Congress needs to approve an additional $830 million to keep the project going or it will shut down again, like it did last December, putting workers out of jobs and raising the cost to complete it even higher.

VA OIG Reports

• Combined Assessment Program Review of the Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio • Combined Assessment Program Review of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle,

Washington

Additional resources from my blog

• LIST OF VA TOWN HALL MEETINGS NATIONWIDE: http://bit.ly/1Gg1DN6

OHIO

VA Secretary Visits Columbus Clinic, Talks Improving Care http://bit.ly/1z6n0wE COLUMBUS, Ohio - Secretary Robert McDonald walked the halls of the Columbus VA Clinic.

Cameras were not allowed inside the closed door meetings he had with clinic staff through Tuesday afternoon. 10 Investigates opened some doors while revealing a federal investigation highlighting

treatment problems with the Columbus prosthetics department. But veterans continue to tell 10 Investigates they face several month delays in getting their

claims answered for service related injuries. We have had a backlog of disability claims for some time. That backlog has been at record levels,” said Secretary McDonald. "Our commitment is to get that down to zero by the end of the year."

Zanesville VA wait times better than national average http://ohne.ws/1OikP1O

ZANESVILLE – Zanesville's Veterans Affairs medical facility performed better than the

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national average in how many of its patients waited more than a month for care.

Zanesville's VA clinic had the 12th lowest percent in Ohio of appointments delayed past the VA's goal of seeing patients within 30 days. About 102 appointments — 1.35 percent of all appointments between September and February — were delayed. That was lower than the national average of 2.8 percent of appointments delayed past 30 days and the state average

of 2.3 percent delayed. The percentages have fluctuated from 1.86 percent of appointments delayed in September to 0.72 percent delayed in February.

How delayed is VA care in Ohio? (Look up Table) http://ohne.ws/1OikP1O

Nationally, a review of appointments completed from August through February shows nearly 894,000 appointments failed to meet that goal even after Congress pumped $16.3 billion into the system to help fix the problem after a scandal over delays. Ohio fared a little better.

Check out how local facilities did. Among Ohio's medical centers, Cleveland and Dayton had the lowest percent of appointments delayed at least 31 days at about 1.5 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

Wait times for VA care barely better in central Ohio http://bit.ly/1OimcxF But in many Ohio clinics, including those in central Ohio, the percentage of veterans with long waits for treatment has stayed the same or improved only slightly since then. In some, the situation got worse.

To see how things have changed since the influx of federal money and the spotlight on veterans’ care, the Associated Press compiled VA data showing how many appointments each

clinic completed monthly from September, which was after new federal rules about waiting times took effect, through February. It also looked at how many of those veterans waited longer than 30 days to be seen.

Dayton VAMC: Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Month http://1.usa.gov/1a5uj0S

The Dayton VA is proud to Honor Veteran’s voices to help Military Sexual Trauma survivors to

heal. We will be hosting a Clothesline Project display on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 to help break the silence about MST. Join us all day at the entrance to the main hospital to view the display or come out and

participate in the Survivors and Supporters Walk at 12:20pm on Dayton VA Medical Center Campus. 4100 W. Third St., Dayton, OH 45428

For more information contact your MST Coordinator, Dr. Kristin Rodzinka at 937-268-6511 ext. 1079 or Kristin.Rodzinka@va.gov

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio 04/08/2015 08:00 PM EDT The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review to

evaluate selected health care facility operations, focusing on patient care quality and the environment of care. During the review, OIG provided crime awareness briefings to 422 employees. This review focused on nine operational activities. The facility complied with

selected standards in the coordination of care activity. The facility’s reported accomplishment was the integration of Relationship Based Care principles throughout the facility. OIG made recommendations for improvement in the following eight activities: (1) quality

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management, (2) environment of care, (3) medication management, (4) magnetic resonance imaging safety, (5) acute ischemic stroke care, (6) surgical complexity, (7) emergency

airway management, and (8) Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Progra

New MENTOR BOOT CAMP for Cleveland Veterans Courts, June 1st-2nd http://bit.ly/1CL7QNR

Cleveland Municipal Court - Veterans Treatment Specialized Docket and Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas Veterans Treatment Court present

Mentor Boot Camp Monday, June 1, 2015 - Tuesday, June 2, 2015 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Download the Mentor Boot Camp Flyer The Justice For Vets Mentor Corps Boot Camp is the only national program that trains volunteer veterans to serve as mentors in Veterans Treatment Court.

Mentors who participate in the Boot Camps learn best practices to make their VTC Veteran Mentor program the best it can be. They will learn how to effectively work with Veteran Participants in a VTC; their roles and responsibilities as Veteran Mentors; the issues facing

justice-involved veterans; and how to connect Veteran Participants to the local, state and national benefits they have earned.

Richland Correctional names Employee and Officer of the Year http://bit.ly/1CLe8Nt

MANSFIELD, Ohio - Richland Correctional Institution (RiCI) recently honored two employees: Corrections Officer Brett Collins, named Officer of the Year, and Administrative Professional

Carol Howe, named Employee of the Year. . . . A veteran himself, Collins works with the RiCI Veteran’s Committee. That committee

focuses on employee veterans and even adopts veterans from the community for holidays. Collins also plays a role in Mansfield’s Veterans Court, a diversion court specifically for veterans. “That’s something I’m really excited about,” Collins said. He attends the court twice

a month, is assigned a veteran, and he speaks with them before court “to find out how things are going in their life.” He then stands with the veteran as they appear before the judge as well as discussing the court’s decision afterward. “It’s really great. I’m lucky to be part of that,” Collins said.

Another role Collins enjoys is DRC’s Military Peer Support, a division of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). “Basically what we do is if any employee, specifically a veteran, has an

issue, perhaps not being as sociable at work or something might be going on, myself and another team member will sit down with them, find out what’s going on, and try to get them the help they need. Whether they are having financial issues, we point them in the direction, or if they are having family issues, we put them in contact with a veteran counselor.”

Home offices could benefit vets, disabled http://ohne.ws/1CLgMD3

ZANESVILLE – In Muskingum and Coshocton counties, unemployed veterans and others who face barriers to employment might soon be able to earn a living from home. The Pearl Interactive Network connects insurance companies in need of employees with

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employees who might have trouble finding work with a focus on veterans as well as people who are disabled or are geographically challenged.

Currently, PIN employs more than 440 employees in 23 states but is looking to expand to Muskingum and Coshocton counties in the next year

When that is set up, PIN is expecting to hire 30 full-time employees right off the bat, gradually increasing to 100 in southeastern Ohio by the end of the year. “My hope is that our model will crack the code in an area that has been resistant to jobs for

years,” President and CEO Merry Korn said.

ATTENTION CENTRAL OHIO EMPLOYERS INTERESTED IN HIRING VETERANS WITH IT TRAINING http://www.halcyonit.com/

Invitation to "meet & greet" our graduating Veterans on April 16th from 4PM-6PM at Halcyon's Dublin, Ohio office

I would like to invite you to our office in Dublin on Thur April 16th from 4PM to 6PM. We are

inviting a few local employers to "meet & greet" our current class of Veterans, who would be graduating on April 10th in a combination IT course of Software Testing (SQA) and Business Analysis (BA).

The first half from 4PM-5PM involves an overview about our Veterans program, without the Veterans being present. The second half from 5PM-6PM would involve the following:

1. Employer can give an overview of what their company does to Veterans. Company brochures can be given to Veterans 2. Employer to describe briefly the major benefits and policies of their company, and type of

IT jobs that are available with them 3. Testimonials from hiring managers of other local employers who have repeatedly hired our

graduated Veterans in the past, and also testimonials from Veterans Alumni who got trained and got jobs in IT with our help 4. Receive resumes from Veterans and ask questions about what they have learnt from the

SQA+BA course 5. Schedule technical interviews with selective Veterans at a later date

Halcyon's Veteran's Workforce Development Program<http://www.halcyonit.com/veterans> is non-profit in nature to help our Veterans return to civilian lives, by providing free training in IT and help them get jobs with attractive salaries and benefits. True participation from

local employers is vital for the continued success of this program, by giving them jobs. I sincerely hope that you can attend this event. Thanks.

Mohan Viddam, Chairman & CEO Retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn L. Stratton to Keynote Stark County's Annual Veterans' Breakfast. Please see flyer below: http://bit.ly/1CL3HJV

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VA to open larger clinic in Richmond, IN http://bit.ly/1z6nraa

A new larger clinic for veterans will open in Richmond, IN, on Monday, according too the Dayton VA Medical Center. The 12,000-square foot clinic, nearly double the size of the former site, will open at 1010 North J St. in Richmond, according to the VA.

The larger clinic will add staff and have a new physical therapy area, along with providing previous patient services. The VA did not release how many more staff members will be assigned to the clinic. A VA spokesman could not be reached for comment late Tuesday

afternoon. Appointments at the previous site on South A Street will be handled at the new clinic beginning April 13, according to the VA. Veterans with questions may call the Richmond

Community Outpatient Clinic at 765-973-6915. The Dayton VA has more than 1,900 employees and treated about 39,000 veterans in fiscal

year 2014. Along with the main campus in Dayton, the VA also has community outpatient clinics in Springfield, Middletown and Lima.

The Army's Fort Hood Disgrace (WSJ Opinion by U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Dr, Kathy Platoni)

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http://on.wsj.com/1ye3anY " I was there. A beloved friend, Captain John Gaffaney died at my knees. I was slated to become the shooter's direct supervisor and later learned I was at the top of his hit list."

No one who supervised the shooter has been held to account, but the victims are denied pay and benefits.

Editor's Note: Dr. Kathy Platoni is a clinical psychologist and retired Army Colonel. She lives

in Centerville, OH. http://www.drplatoni.com/

Additional resources from my blog

• OPERATION LEGAL HELP OHIO http://bit.ly/1Gg0HbK • OHIO RESOURCES FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/19ouWn0 • OHIO JOBS FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/1CL3Ay0

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS Justice For Vets: Veteran Treatment Court Locations http://bit.ly/LTVyv0

An interactive map giving the location and contact information for veterans treatment courts in each state. Editor's note: Judging by the Ohio information, this map is not up-to-date, but it is a good place to start. Probably your area VA VJO's have the most current info.

AZ: Kingman considers adopting veterans court model/Repeat offenses can drop dramatically http://bit.ly/1CLaByD

KINGMAN - When Lake Havasu City Consolidated Court Judge Mitch Kalauli and Mayor Mark

Nexsen started Mohave County's first veterans court last year, neither man realized so many veterans would participate.

The success led Kingman Mayor Richard Anderson and City Manager John Dougherty to visit Kalauli's court with thoughts of establishing one here. Kalauli at Tuesday's City Council meeting explained the court for troubled veterans and Anderson and members of the Council appeared receptive to the idea.

Fl: Is this the fix the Florida mental health system needs? http://pbpo.st/1CL4lXS

Miami-Dade County Judge Steven Leifman has proven that millions can be saved when the criminal justice system’s severely mentally ill “frequent fliers” are diverted away from jails and prisons and instead to mental health court, where they can be given medication, therapy and support needed to return them to their communities.

The ghastly expensive system in place now exists only to prepare incompetent defendants for trial. It locks them up in forensic hospitals until they’re deemed competent to face a judge.

The judges often have no option but to release them back to the community. Typically, these individuals are re-arrested in short order, and the cycle begins again. This costs about $210 million a year and prepares only about 3,000 individuals for trial. It

eats up one-third of all adult mental health dollars, according to a legislative committee report. It’s ripe for reform.

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Calls for reform date back to the 2007 efforts of the Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues in the Courts, which Leifman headed.

At long last, the Florida Legislature seems to be getting the message. House Bill 7113 embraces many of those recommendations and more. * It sets up basic standards for how a mental health court system should work, and spells out

who qualifies for transfer into a mental health court. * It asks the state Department of Corrections to create a specialty class of probation officers able to work with people referred to mental health court. * It expands the use of veterans’ courts to include vets designated “general release,” often

vets who suffered traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder. * And perhaps most importantly, the bill creates a pilot forensic hospital diversion progam. * The bill plans for major changes to the state’s “managing entity” system, creating a plan to

integrate Medicaid primary care with mental health and substance abuse treatment.

NY: Rochester- Monroe County Veterans Court (Video by the court about the court) http://bit.ly/1FyITcI

For some veterans, leaving military life behind and adjusting to life as a civilian can be difficult. Sometimes, veterans find themselves in legal trouble. Veterans courts exist in several jurisdictions to help veterans get treatment they deserve instead of jail sentences.

The court in Rochester, NY is a model for other courts around the country. Here's a look at how it works.

NY: Broome County considers bus passes for veterans http://bit.ly/1CLdEaa Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Broome County Legislator Jason Garnar (D-14)

proposed a pilot program Monday that would provide bus passes to local veterans and other residents. The Veteran's Court will begin hearing cases April 18, involving defendants who served in the armed forces.

TN: Knox County veterans treatment program keeps 90 percent of graduates out of jail (News Video) http://bit.ly/1ye6ek0

KNOXVILLE (WATE) – A program that helps veterans who end up in the criminal justice system is growing and needs more mentors. Knox County Judge Chuck Cerney and Ed Junod helped start Veterans Treatment Court program in Knoxville last year, modeled after a similar program in Buffalo. The focus is on breaking addictions and coping with mental health issues

that can be unique to veterans. Veterans volunteer their time to help their peers get back on track. . . . “The results are just absolutely miracles. The published report that came out in February

said 89.5 percent of graduates never went back to jail. 89.5 percent- there is no court in the country that does that,” Junod said.

MI: Three men graduate from Recovery Court as first to complete veterans track http://bit.ly/1clpVNe

JACKSON, MI - Doug Barker had been drinking alcohol for 50 years. It began when he was 15, continued in the decades after he served in the Vietnam War and worsened in the idle hours of retirement.

In 2013, it got him into trouble. Facing a felony charge at 66, Barker begrudgingly became one of the first participants in the Veterans Treatment Track of Jackson County Recovery Court, a program aimed at helping felony offenders with drug or alcohol dependencies.

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"This is going to war," Barker thought, seeing the court officials as his adversaries - men and women who would treat him like an "old drunk." Months later, Barker, 68, is sober and

praising the program, which defied his expectations and altered his life. Jackson County Circuit Judge Susan Beebe, who presides over the court, presented the men with certificates and gold "Veterans in Recovery" coins. The many in the crowd applauded

and the men thanked the staff and treatment providers. "They treated me with respect and I didn't think they would," Barker said. The new veterans track is one of 22 veterans courts in Michigan and about 200 throughout

the country, said Melody Powers, Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator for the Veterans Administration.

She is part of a nationwide initiative to link veterans in jails or involved in courts to treatment through the VA. Most of the veterans in the Jackson County court are eligible for free or low-cost federal services that come at no cost to the county.

MI: Veterans treatment courts like Novi’s work http://bit.ly/1clqAhA Michigan Supreme Court Justice Mary Beth Kelly believes the state’s veterans’ treatment courts are doing a lot of good for those who’ve served our country.

Kelly recently addressed the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals (MATCP) at the Suburban Collection Showplace, highlighting the achievements of Michigan’s veterans’ treatment courts as “Champions for Our Healing Heroes.”

“Our veterans’ treatment courts, like our other treatment courts, offer an alternative to those persons whose underlying cause of their offense is rooted in the need for treatment,” she said.

According to Kelly, Michigan leads the nation with 22 veterans’ treatment courts, including one at the 52-1 District Court in Novi. These courts promote sobriety, recovery and stability by offering alternative consequences and specialized treatment to former and current military

service members who come into contact with Michigan’s criminal judicial system.

TX: Tarrant program helps vets who get in trouble http://bit.ly/1CLaYJD FORT WORTH — A program that helps veterans charged with crimes celebrated five years of success on Wednesday. Elected officials joined veterans and attorneys to praise the Tarrant

County Veterans Court Diversion Program.

CO: Guest Commentary: Criminal justice reform doesn't mean being soft on crime (The Denver Post) http://dpo.st/1CLbozN

. . . Another practical approach is the problem-solving courts we use very successfully in Colorado for drugs, mental health, family dependency/neglect and veteran trauma issues. If an offender is committed to doing the hard work to recover, let's use Drug Court and send

them to rehab rather than putting them in prison and prolonging their bad habits. Colorado funds Veterans Court using state money and federal grant money. U.S. military

veterans who are eligible for the program and who suffer from disorders like PTSD, domestic violence, mental health and substance abuse can get treatment rather than be incarcerated. Trauma Courts are an effective way to repay the obligation to our veterans with significant savings and benefits both to them and to our communities.

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NEW MI: Summit Place Kia and Auto Credit Express Host 5th Annual Charity Golf Outing to Support Veterans Courts, July 19th http://prn.to/1CLc0W6

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Place Kia of Waterford and Mt. Clemens and Auto Credit Express ofAuburn Hills are pleased to support our veterans through

a golf outing open to the public to be held on July 19, 2015. The 5th Annual LaLonde Charity Open will be at the Golf Course at Pine Knob and proceeds will go to the Friends of the Veterans Treatment Court.

In 2014, the LaLonde Charity Open and related fundraising efforts raised $90,779 to help United States veterans. For information on how to participate or contribute to this worthy cause, visit www.LaLondeCharityOpen.com.

. . . Additional resources from my blog

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

PTS/TBI/MST

Research Experts say most PTSD patients are not violent http://bit.ly/1Cfz1RD Experts believe nearly 10 percent of adults in the United States — many of them rape victims

and combat veterans — cope with post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives. Millions suffer silently and never receive professional help for their mental disorder, but very few ever resort to violence.

“The vast majority of people with PTSD, whether it’s combat-related or not, are not violent,” said Dean Kilpatrick, director of the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. “Just like the vast majority of people with mental

illness are not violent. Now, there are a subset of people who are.”

Research: VA PTSD Research Quarterly (RQ) http://1.usa.gov/1ERgP1i

Recent Issues Biomarkers for Treatment and Diagnosis (PDF) RQ Vol. 26(1), 2015, by Ann M. Rasmusson, MD and Chadi G. Abdallah, MD.

Resilience: An Update (PDF) RQ Vol. 25(4), 2014, by Steven M. Southwick, MD, Robert H. Pietrzak, PhD, MPH, Jack Tsai, PhD, John H. Krystal, MD and Dennis Charney, MD.

Impact of Mass Shootings on Individual Adjustment (PDF) RQ Vol. 25 (3), 2014, by Holly K. Orcutt, PhD, Lynsey R. Miron, MA, and Antonia V. Seligowski, MA Literature on DSM-5 and ICD-11 (PDF)

RQ Vol. 25 (2), 2014, by Matthew J. Friedman MD, PhD

Research: UC Davis Study finds characteristic pattern of protein deposits in retired NFL players' brains http://bit.ly/1FyFkmW

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — A brain-imaging technique may enable the early detection of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a study published April 6 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Research: PET Scans Reveal Brain Disease in Retired NFL Players http://bit.ly/1Ixe4cd

Now, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found a way to detect

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possible signs of this devastating condition in the brains of living people.

PET Scans Reveal Protein Pattern: For the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 14 former NFL players suspected to have CTE based on their cognitive and behavioral symptoms received positron emission tomography (PET) scans using a special chemical tracer that allowed the researchers to track how tau protein was spread throughout

their brains. The researchers administered the same PET scans to 24 people with Alzheimer’s disease and 28 healthy people. All of the former football players had similar patterns of tau deposits throughout their brains,

concentrated mainly in the subcortical region and the amygdala—areas that govern learning, memory, behavior, and emotions. This pattern appeared consistent with that of tau accumulation observed in people with an autopsy-confirmed diagnosis of CTE, the

researchers said. The brains of the Alzheimer’s patients had a different pattern of tau accumulation—one that involved areas of the cerebral cortex, which governs cognitive abilities like memory, thinking,

and attention.

Warrior Pose — One way to help veterans with PTSD? Lots of yoga. (WP) http://wapo.st/1DwOKQl

Starting Friday night and running through Sunday, Thurman and 17 yoga teachers from five states will be gathering at Yoga Heights in the Park View neighborhood of the District for yoga for PTSD and trauma training. The studio will host workshops specifically designed to

heal and help veterans suffering from both the emotional and physical wounds of war. . . . Experts say that treatment for PTSD with painkillers, antidepressants and psychotherapy

often have mixed results. The Veterans Health Administration has launched four pilot programs — including one in Richmond — offering yoga, acupuncture, Qigong, guided imagery and equine therapies, part of an effort to reduce the dependence of tens of thousands on opiate painkillers.

Traumatic Brain Injury News & Information - BrainLine.org

• College Athletes Often Become Depressed Just Days After Suffering A Concussion, Study Finds

• Undiagnosed Brain Injury Is Behind Soldier's Suicidal Thoughts • Investing in brain health

• Virtual reality and the new hope for solving the concussion crisis • Attitudes in sports around brain injuries have changed to ensure health and wellness of

athletes

VA Honoring Veterans voices, helping MST survivors heal http://1.usa.gov/1FnfOyc

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month—an annual campaign to raise public awareness

about sexual assault and to educate communities and individuals about how to prevent sexual violence. This year, VA adopted the theme of “Honoring Veterans’ Voices, Helping Military Sexual Trauma Survivors to Heal” for its outreach activities.

April is Sexual Trauma Awareness Month http://1.usa.gov/1FyEGWz

April is Sexual Trauma Awareness Month. In both civilian and military settings, service

members can experience a range of unwanted sexual behaviors that they may find distressing. These experiences happen to both women and men.

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According to Emma Metcalf, Director, military sexual trauma includes any sexual activity

where you are involved against your will. “For example, some may have been pressured into sexual activities, threatened with negative consequences for refusing to go along, or promised faster promotions or better treatment in exchange for sex,” says Metcalf. Other military sexual trauma experiences include:

o Being physically forced into sexual activities o Unwanted sexual touching or grabbing o Threatening, offensive remarks about your body or your sexual activities o Threatening and unwelcome sexual advances

o Not being able to give consent due to alcohol use o

If these experiences occurred while you were on active duty or active duty for training, they

are considered to be military sexual trauma. However, military sexual trauma is not a diagnosis or a mental health condition – rather it is an experience.

Research: UPDATE VA researchers, clinicians and policymakers partner to help women Veterans http://1.usa.gov/1Fngnbl

The VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) program has been hard at work

developing new incentives for doing partnered research. These efforts include the CREATE initiative (for “Collaborative Research to Enhance and Advance Transformation and Excellence”).

CREATEs fundamentally change the equation by making partnerships with VA leaders a requirement of the research process. Partners have to not only be actively involved, but also commit to implementing research findings into new practices and policies. Researchers,

in turn, have to design clusters of projects that fit together and work synergistically to help meet high-priority challenges for Veterans and the VA healthcare system. One of 10 such CREATEs focuses on women’s health. The Women Veterans

Healthcare CREATE includes five interrelated projects: • The first CREATE project looks at factors that contribute to women leaving VA care – is

it a bad experience with a doctor? Are they not getting the services they need? Do

they not perceive VA as a safe and welcoming place? • The second project measures the comprehensiveness of care at each VA medical

center and will be able to point to the features of care that improve women’s experiences and quality of care.

• The third project tests a quality-improvement approach to tailoring VA primary care to women’s needs – helping clinicians and managers integrate gender-specific care in gender-sensitive environments.

• Now that more women Veterans than ever before get primary care in VA clinics in the

community instead of at big VA medical centers, the fourth project is testing a new way to deliver women’s health training and support to VA doctors at smaller clinics through computerized, video and telephone consults and education.

• Finally, the fifth project takes a closer look at what it’s like for women Veterans who use care in the community, evaluating how that care is coordinated and its quality. The initial focus is on breast cancer screening.

Marin military sexual trauma survivor to lobby Congress http://bayareane.ws/1DwObpN After Victoria Sanders of Novato endured a brutal rape while serving in the Army, she kept silent about it for decades. Now, Sanders is speaking out on behalf of herself and other sexual assault survivors, lobbying for legislation changing how rape is reported and

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prosecuted in the military.

Sanders and a fellow advocate, Terri Youngs, are going to Washington, D.C. to present a petition with 130,000 signatures supporting the Military Justice Improvement Act. Sanders is also bringing 130 letters from military sexual assault survivors she plans to hand deliver to members of Congress.

Proposed Bill Would Help Military Sexual Assault Victims Get Benefits http://bit.ly/1DwUQAj

WASHINGTON D.C. -A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that would ease requirements for military sexual assault victims to qualify for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Ruth Moore Act 2015 (S. 865 / H.R. 1607) was introduced by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME1) in late March.

Under this bill, a veteran can submit a diagnosis made by a mental health professional with a testimony or evidence of the incident. The doctor's opinion must say the mental health condition is related to the military sexual trauma.

SUICIDE

Recent Pittsburgh suicide brings to light issues tormenting female veterans http://bit.ly/1z6mJtz

The suicide of a Plum veteran last week in the parking lot at the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs’ H.J. Heinz facility in O’Hara was tragic because she was a young woman who seemed to have

much to look forward to. Former Army Staff Sgt. Michelle R. Langhorst, 31, served nine years in the Army, mostly as a

member of the military police, before an honorable discharge in 2012. She had graduated from Point Park University last year and recently got a job as a security supervisor at UPMC Shadyside.

“She was moving forward. She had everything going for her,” said Natalie Guiler, who taught Ms. Langhorst last year in a tutorial class at Point Park. “I am devastated about Michelle’s death.”

But Ms. Langhorst’s death stood out for two main reasons: she was female and she had been receiving behavioral health treatment at the VA for at least a couple of years.

Deployment Health News 10 April 2015

Study: No link between combat deployment and suicides Army Times, 1 April 2015 “A large study of nearly 4 million U.S. service members and veterans found that deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan is not associated with an increased risk of suicide. Appearing in JAMA Psychiatry online on Wednesday, the study by researchers at the Defense Department's National Center for Telehealth and Technology, or T2, indicates that although the suicide rate among active-duty personnel has increased since 2001, the rate for those who deployed to a combat zone was roughly the same as for those who did not.” Telemedicine Expands to Provide Care for Rural Veterans With PTSD U.S. Medicine, 31 March 2015

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“For rural veterans, the distance to a VAMC often creates a major barrier to care, particularly for treatments that require multiple trips. Telemedicine might break down those barriers, offering expanded treatment options for veterans and more hope to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than 502,000 veterans receiving care through the VA have a diagnosis of PTSD, yet relatively few rural veterans are treated for the condition.” Sleep Problems Prevalent for Military Members Post-Deployment Health Canal, 6 April 2015 “Improving the quality and quantity of U.S. military members' sleep following deployment could help reduce other health problems, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a new RAND Corporation study. However, a lack of consistent and transparent sleep-related policies may impede efforts to promote sleep health among service members, researchers say.” Army chaplains need training to help suicidal soldiers USA Today, 7 April 2015 “Chaplains who are part of the Army's first line of defense against suicide say they need more training in how to prevent soldiers from killing themselves, according to a RAND survey published online Tuesday. Nearly all the chaplains and chaplain assistants surveyed said they have dealt with suicidal soldiers, and most said they encourage troubled soldiers to get help. Because of confidentiality, roughly half said they would be reluctant to alert someone in the chain of command about the soldier, and roughly a third said they would not call a crisis hotline for the GI.” Active-duty suicides up; reserve suicides down in 2014 Military Times, 31 March 2015 “The number of suicides among active-duty military personnel increased slightly in 2014 while those among members of the reserves and National Guard dropped by nearly 25 percent, according to a Pentagon report released Tuesday. Confirmed suicides among the active component ticked upward to 268 last year, from 254 in 2013, an increase of 6 percent.” A Mobile App That Saves Lives HHS Blog, 1 April 2015 “In 2013, we lost over 41,000 Americans to suicide. That means more Americans died by suicide than from homicide, HIV/AIDS, or traffic accidents. Consider too, that almost half (45 percent) of individuals who die by suicide visited a primary care provider in the month prior to their death, and 20 percent had contact with mental health services. One out of every 10 people received services in an emergency department in the two months prior to his or her death.” Suicide Assessment and Action for Women Veterans Healio, 1 April 2015 “Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, April 2015 - Volume 53 � Issue 4: 33-42 Abstract. Many deployed women Veterans, as described in a previous article, have experienced similar combat exposure as their male counterparts in wars since 1990. Upon reintegration, many Veterans visit civilian health facilities with behavioral health issues, sometimes voicing and/or attempting suicide. Effective nursing assessment and actions are needed to specifically care for this unique population. Any suicide variables (e.g., ideation, attempts, completed) are concerning; therefore, all women Veterans from the Vietnam, Gulf I, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars should be assessed.” Is eye-movement therapy an answer for PTSD? Delaware Online, 5 April 2015 “Few subjects are of more interest to the military community around Fort Campbell than post-traumatic stress disorder and its treatment. So how is it that a treatment shown to be effective gets so little notice when it has been around a quarter of a century?” Can light therapy help the brain? Science Blog, 5 April 2015 “Following up on promising results from pilot work, researchers at the VA Boston Healthcare System are testing the effects of light therapy on brain function in veterans with Gulf War Illness. Veterans in the study wear a helmet lined with light-emitting diodes that apply red and near-infrared light to the scalp. They also have diodes placed in their nostrils, to deliver photons to the deeper parts of the brain.” For more deployment health-related information, click here to go to the DoD Deployment Health Clinical Center's PDHealth.mil website.

The Weekly Spark: Friday, April 10, 2015 http://bit.ly/1ye6QWY

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Announcements • SPRC college and university resources updated

• Exploring the Impact of Suicide Prevention Research in Schools • Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) releases two new

resources for AI/AN communities News

National News • The wrong way to explain Fredric Brandt’s suicide

State News • NEW YORK: New York City to teens: TXT ME with mental health worries

Research: New Facts On Military And Veteran Suicide http://bit.ly/1ye7eEX So, now that research has been released showing the opposite—that combat is but a small factor—where are the headlined articles? I stumbled upon the story in an op-ed published

without fanfare in last Friday’s USA Today. In the op-ed, James Robbins reveals the findings of a study published in JAMA Psychiatry (see op-ed here), notably highlighting these startling facts:

• Of the 5,041 military suicides between Oct 2001 and Dec 2009, 23% were service

members who had deployed, and 77% were those who had not. • Whether the individuals had deployed or not, the majority of the suicides had been

from individuals who had separated from the service, and;

• In particular, suicide was more common among those with less than four years of service or who did not receive an honorable discharge, as;

• Those who left with an honorable discharge had half the suicide rate as those whose discharge was not honorable, and;

• The suicide rate of those with less than one year of service was over four times that of those who left the service with 20 or more years.

Research: Exposure To Death Correlates With Suicide Risk In Deployed Military http://bit.ly/1ye7LXb

Researchers at the University of Utah found that exposure to killing and death while deployed

is connected to suicide risk. Previous studies that looked solely at the relationship between deployment and suicide risk without assessing for exposure to killing and death have shown inconsistent results.

"Many people assume that deployment equals exposure to specific forms of combat trauma, but the two are not equivalent," said Craig Bryan, lead author of the study and director of the National Center for Veterans Studies. "By looking specifically at exposure to death while

deployed, it became clear that deployment itself does not increase risk for suicide because not all who are deployed are exposed to death and atrocity."

Research: Study: Former troops at high risk for suicide http://bit.ly/1z4oXtA A massive study of post-9/11 service members show that troops at the highest risk for suicide are those who serve less than a full enlistment and, in particular, those who leave

after less than a year — personnel whose discharges may be related to mental health issues but normally are ineligible for Veterans Affairs Department health care.

The study, conducted by the Defense Department's National Center for Telehealth and Technology, or T2, found that among the 3.9 million troops who served from 2001 to 2007, the suicide rate for those in the military less than 12 months was 2.5 times that of troops who completed enlistments or obligations.

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Vermont seeks greater outreach to help struggling soldiers (video) http://bit.ly/1clpt1v The Vermont House unanimously adopts a strongly-worded resolution demanding greater effort to help veterans at risk of taking their own lives.

Family Stress May Figure in Soldiers' Suicide Risk (USN&WR) http://bit.ly/1clpH8L FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Service members who have to deal with trouble at home when they're deployed may be at increased risk of suicidal thoughts, a study of U.S. veterans suggests.

In a survey of more than 1,000 Iraq and Afghanistan vets, researchers found that about 14 percent said they'd had suicidal thoughts in recent months. And the odds were greater for those who'd dealt with family stress or felt unsupported by family members during their

deployment. The findings, reported recently in the journal Anxiety, Stress & Coping, show only a

correlation. They don't necessarily mean that family problems caused service members to contemplate suicide, said lead researcher Jaimie Gradus, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston

University School of Medicine. "This is just one study, and it surveyed veterans at one point in time," Gradus said. "I think we need further research -- and, in particular, longitudinal studies," she added, referring to

studies that follow people over time. That way, researchers could see whether service members' family problems actually come before any symptoms of depression or thoughts of suicide.

GENERAL NEWS Paralyzed Veterans of America and UnitedHealth Group Partner to Promote Veteran Hiring in Health Sector http://bit.ly/1D8fjdc

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paralyzed Veterans of America and UnitedHealth Group recently collaborated to put together recommendations that promote the hiring of veterans in the health sector. These recommendations are contained in a new joint policy paper titled

"Converging Lines: Veterans, Health Care, and Jobs." The paper focuses on resolving veterans and caregiver unemployment by promoting increased hiring in health sector occupations, clinical and nonclinical.

AT EASE: UW-GREEN BAY DEDICATES NEW VETERAN SERVICE LOUNGE http://bit.ly/1clnElb

UW-Green Bay’s student veterans and military service members now have their own space to

be “at ease,” thanks to a new dedicated space bearing the military-inspired moniker. The At Ease Veteran & Service Member Student Lounge was dedicated Friday, Feb. 14 before

a standing room-only crowd on the lower concourse of Mary Ann Cofrin Hall. UW-Green Bay Vets 4 Vets student club President Ken Corry, who led the efforts to establish the new center, told attendees he was elated with the space.

Starting April 15: SAMHSA National Advisory Council Meetings

CMHS National Advisory Council Meeting

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern Time Discussions will include:

• Expanding access to evidence-based treatment for serious mental illness • Effective practices of engaging people with serious mental illness into treatment and

recovery • SAMHSA's role in influencing the provision of treatment for mental and substance use

disorders • The Health Integration Workgroup White Paper Draft Report

For call-in information, and to sign into the meeting using Adobe Connect, please follow the link provided below.

Register Online

CSAP National Advisory Council Meeting

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 | 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time Discussions will include:

• Prescription drug abuse • SAMHSA's Leading Change 2.0

• SAMHSA/CSAP updates • SAMHSA's role in influencing the provision of treatment for behavioral health disorders • For call-in information, and to sign into the meeting using Adobe Connect, please

follow the link provided below. Register Online

CSAT National Advisory Council Meeting

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 | 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern Time Closed session from 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m. The open session discussions will include:

• The Director's report • SAMHSA's role regarding treatment of mental illness and substance use disorders

• SAMHSA/CSAT budget update • A Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Medication-Assisted Treatment panel

discussion

• A recovery presentation • For call-in information, and to sign into the meeting using Adobe Connect, please

follow the link provided below. Register Online

Advisory Committee for Women’s Services (ACWS) National Advisory Council Meeting Wednesday, April 15, 2015 | 9:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m. Eastern Time Discussions will include women's behavioral health issues of interest to SAMHSA, including:

• Concerns of high-risk and high-need girls and young women • Support of women in co-ed settings • Mental health and personal challenges for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women

• The Pregnant and Postpartum Women grant program For call-in information, and to sign into the meeting using Adobe Connect, please follow the link provided below. Register Online

Joint Meeting of SAMHSA Advisory Councils Thursday, April 16, 2015 | 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m. Eastern Time

Discussions will include: • SAMHSA's role in influencing the provision of treatment for mental and substance use

disorders • A presentation and discussion regarding the science of changing social norms

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For call-in information, and to sign into the meeting using Adobe Connect, please follow the link provided below.

Register Online

SAMHSA's National Advisory Council Meeting Friday, April 17, 2015 | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Discussions will include: • Reflections on the Joint National Advisory Councils meeting • An update from the SAMHSA Administrator • A discussion on health information technology and delivery system reform

For call-in information, and to sign into the meeting using Adobe Connect, please follow the link provided below. Register Online

Learn More About the SAMHSA Advisory Councils Information and Materials About SAMHSA's Advisory Council Meetings

NEW Webinar: Learning Community To Advance Trauma-Informed Approaches in Primary Care, April 16th

Participants of this webinar will explore the degree to which the adoption of trauma-sensitive screening, assessment, and treatment practices will support primary care settings in efforts

to successfully support high-need patients.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Honoring Our Babies & Toddlers (of military families) http://bit.ly/1Fne8VJ

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers a number of excellent resources for mental health professionals who are working with military children and families. The website features information on various types of trauma, a learning collaborative for spreading best

practices, and training materials on trauma-related topics. One publication on the NCTSN website, Honoring Our Babies & Toddlers [1], provides

thought-provoking scenarios written from the perspective of a child who is faced with a military parent’s deployment, injury, or death. Tables are provided with scenarios common for young military children experiencing parental deployment, injury or death, suggest possible meaning of common behaviors, and provide ideas for ways to support children

experiencing those scenarios. Information for practitioners on stressors facing military families, as well as how to best support these families is also provided. This publication is a great resource for practitioners

working with military families who have young children.

VA: Potential Exposure at Fort McClellan http://1.usa.gov/1ydKULv

Fort McClellan was an Army installation in Alabama that opened in 1917. Some members of the U.S. Army Chemical Corp School, Army Combat Development Command

Chemical/Biological/Radiological Agency, Army Military Police School and Women's Army Corps, among others, may have been exposed to one or more of several hazardous materials, likely at low levels, during their service at Fort McClellan.

Research: Brain cells' role in navigating environment http://bit.ly/1ydLw3U

A new Dartmouth College study sheds light on the brain cells that function in establishing

one's location and direction. The findings contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying our abilities to successfully navigate our environment, which may be

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crucial to dealing with brain damage due to trauma or a stroke and the onset of diseases

such as Alzheimer's. Legal Conflicts on Medical Marijuana Ensnare Hundreds as Courts Debate a New Provision (NYT) http://nyti.ms/1Ixiakq

. . . But two years later, Mr. Lynch was convicted of multiple felonies under federal law for

selling marijuana. He is one of hundreds of defendants and prisoners caught in the stark conflict between federal law — which puts marijuana in the same class as heroin, with no exception for medical sales — and many states’ decisions to allow medical uses.

TIFTON, GA — A local group is seeking to offer a program to help Tifton families in need http://bit.ly/1ye4OpR

Dave Hetzel, a member of the Homeless Coalition, said a subcommittee of the organization has been working to address the issue of homelessness, particularly women. He explained in Tift County, there was no program to address homelessness, so they started

the coalition, and Greg Millette, former executive director of the local United Way of South Central Georgia Inc., orchestrated that effort. They met on a monthly basis and in the fall of 2013, they also held a resource fair. They held another resource fair the following year, attracting more people.

Hetzel said as they kicked around ideas, they had representation from the Veterans Administration at the state level and the Department of Community Affairs at the state level.

He said they recognize that local organization Brother Charlie’s Rescue Center is a good program for homeless men and that for battered women and their children, there is a local shelter. However, there is no local shelter for homeless women who haven't been battered. Those women have to travel to Albany or Valdosta.

The Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness http://1.usa.gov/1CL2y57

The Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness is a way to solidify partnerships and secure commitments to end Veteran homelessness from mayors across the country. Specifically, the call to action – announced by First Lady Michelle Obama and amplified by the

HUD Secretary, by leaders across HUD, VA, USICH, and by the National League of Cities – is for mayors to make a commitment to ending Veteran homelessness in their cities in 2015.

JPMorgan Chase – National and Targeted State Open Jobs Report as of 4 -7 – 2015 http://bit.ly/1JruZKU

Separated, Transitioning, Retiring, Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve service persons and

their Spouses who are interested in applying to the positions on the list must do so through one of two different channels, either www.chasemilitary.com or http://www.careersatchase.com/veteranresources.

Once on the Careers Page they will need to follow the Experienced Professional Opportunities portal, input the JPMC Job Number associated with the job title, become familiar with the role, if they feel they are qualified; follow the instructions to submit their application. The list is accurate as of Tuesday, April 7, 2015.

Additional resources from my blog

• Additional Resources For Providers http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH

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• Veteran Job Listings & Hiring Fairs http://bit.ly/19Dz2ay

"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. Subgroups include Veterans Treatment Courts, Mental Health, Female Veterans, and Peer & Mentoring. Access our group at http://linkd.in/1947vfS Facebook:

www.facebook.com/veteransinjustice

Join The National Discussion - 1,183 Professionals in VIJ

Active Topics

• Should Veterans With PTSD Be Exempt From the Death Penalty? • Veterans Courts trending in Arizona

• Are you vulnerable to PTSD? Your genes might say so… • Sham Investigations at Wilmington VA • New Hampshire: Military Veterans Sworn in as Police Officers

• Police: Veteran fired at Officers before fatal shooting • Retired Ohio Justice Stratton urges law students to help mentally ill • More . . .

LINKEDIN GROUPS

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

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

Cuyahoga County Ohio Veterans and Supporters (Bryan A. McGown "Gunny") http://linkd.in/Zxwx1f Veteran Employment Representatives http://linkd.in/ZxwUcc Midwest Military Outreach, Inc. http://linkd.in/1eiMTkJ Military Veteran Job Fairs & Hiring Conferences http://linkd.in/Zxx4jS Wounded Warrior Resources http://linkd.in/17TMNhJ The Value of a Veteran http://linkd.in/15vD7H4 MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES http://linkd.in/1fkQLA8

(Please email us other groups that you find and think would be informative and useful for our audience) TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

To join our newsletter, please contact Editor Pete Miller at cruzzen@gmail.com

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

EDITOR/CONTACT

Pete Miller, cruzzen@gmail.com, @OHCircuitRider

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

Ohio Veterans Treatment Courts

Editor/Publisher - Veterans Treatment Court News Daily

Editor/Publisher - Traumatic Brain Injury News Daily