1 of 29 RETIRED JUSTICE EVELYN LUNDBERG STRATTON'S VETERANS' CRIMINAL JUSTICE & MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES NEWS “Sharing Information to Benefit All Veterans” JUNE 18, 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 5,000 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 22 OPPORTUNITIES 2 GENERAL NEWS 26 GOVERNMENT 4 "VETERANS IN JUSTICE" LINKEDIN GROUP 27 OHIO 5 OTHER LINKEDIN GROUPS 27 STEPPING UP INITIATIVE 10 VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG 28 VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 16 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 28 PTS/TBI/MST 19 HOW TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER 28 SUICIDE 20 FEATURED STORIES Conference to help troubled veterans and the criminal justice system set for Birmingham, AL on June 23 rd http://bit.ly/2rCsqH7 The U.S. Attorney's Office, Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, and the University of Alabama's School of Social Work will present a conference aimed at helping veterans in the court system later this month. The June 23 conference at Cumberland School of Law on Samford's campus, will address "issues of military veterans who either have been incarcerated or faced diversionary courts," Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey announced earlier this week. The daylong meeting, called "Justice Involved Veterans: From Arrest to Successful Reentry" will look at veterans following their discharge from the military to help determine what stages they are the most vulnerable to committing a crime. The conference also will explore how to improve the chances that a veteran will successfully integrate back into society if they are jailed, and will examine veterans' alternatives to prison.
29
Embed
Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Retired Veterans in the ......Jun 18, 2017 · “Sharing Information to Benefit All Veterans” ... Melissa Knopp provide support for this project.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
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
5,000 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 22
OPPORTUNITIES 2 GENERAL NEWS 26
GOVERNMENT 4 "VETERANS IN JUSTICE" LINKEDIN GROUP 27
OHIO 5 OTHER LINKEDIN GROUPS 27
STEPPING UP INITIATIVE 10 VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG 28
VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 16 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 28
PTS/TBI/MST 19 HOW TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER 28
SUICIDE 20
FEATURED STORIES
Conference to help troubled veterans and the criminal justice system set for Birmingham, AL on June 23rd http://bit.ly/2rCsqH7
The U.S. Attorney's Office, Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, and the
University of Alabama's School of Social Work will present a conference aimed at helping
veterans in the court system later this month.
The June 23 conference at Cumberland School of Law on Samford's campus, will address
"issues of military veterans who either have been incarcerated or faced diversionary courts,"
Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey announced earlier this week.
The daylong meeting, called "Justice Involved Veterans: From Arrest to Successful Reentry"
will look at veterans following their discharge from the military to help determine what
stages they are the most vulnerable to committing a crime.
The conference also will explore how to improve the chances that a veteran will successfully
integrate back into society if they are jailed, and will examine veterans' alternatives to
Melissa Knopp provide support for this project. Thank you.
The VTC Photography & Video Project is a partnership between the Department of Sociology
and Anthropology (DAS) and the School of Visual Communications (Vis Com) at Ohio
University.
Ursula Castellano began Volume 01 / June 2017 a pilot photography study on VTCs by
giving cameras to court participants and asking them to document their lives. Her original
study has since evolved into a multi-media project on veterans and the courts.
OUR GOALS:
Give veterans a voice to tell who they are and what they experienced. Raise awareness that justice-involved veterans face unique challenges after discharge Promote Veterans Treatment Courts.
OPPORTUNITIES Research Study Participants Needed: Military, Wounded Warriors, To Study Whether Nature Truly Has A Healing Effect http://cbsloc.al/2rszoOA
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is recruiting participants for a
clinical trial at Naval Support Activity Bethesda to investigate whether exposure to nature
benefits health.
The trial is part of the Green Road Project, which has been underway at six sites in the US,
and is recruiting service members as well as their families and caregivers.
Veterans Entrepreneurial Jumpstart program is now enrolling http://bit.ly/2seihxl Cohort III of the Veterans Entrepreneurial Jumpstart (VEJ) program is now scheduled
for October 14-22, 2017. It will be held on the Saint Joseph’s University campus in
Philadelphia, PA.
VEJ is designed to provide our Veterans with the training, skills and services necessary to
start their own small business.
This program is provided at No Charge to all Honorably Discharged Veterans,
regardless of disability status. We accept veterans from all over the country.
Also eligible are Active Duty personnel, as well as members of the National Guard and
Reserves.
Seeking Test Sites: [zerosuicide] Suicide Prevention Clinical Quality Measure Pilot Testing
Thank you to everyone who has shown interest in partnering with SAMHSA and Battelle to
pilot test a clinical quality measure within your clinic. We are still looking for
additional pilot sites.
As you may recall from the Data-Driven Quality Improvement in Zero Suicide webinar,
SAMHSA has partnered with Battelle to develop a suicide prevention clinical quality
measure. Our research has shown that clinical quality measures could play a large role in
SAMHSA Grant Opportunity: Office of Minority Health Accepting Applications for Up to $5 Million in Grants To Reduce Health Disparities http://bit.ly/2rFY6ev
The Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement for the Empowered Communities for a
Healthier Nation Initiative.
This program seeks to reduce the impact of significant health disparities among racial and
ethnic minorities and/or disadvantaged populations by implementing evidence-based
strategies.
The program aims to serve residents in communities disproportionately impacted by the
opioid epidemic, childhood/adolescent obesity, and serious mental health disorders.
Additional SAMHSA Grants http://bit.ly/2sq5B6x Over $70 Million Available in Grants To Address the Opioid Crisis
Over $70 million is available in grants over multiple years to help communities and health
care providers prevent opioid overdose deaths and provide treatment for opioid use
disorder.
Administered through SAMHSA, these funds will be made available through the following
three grants:
• Medication-Assisted Treatment and Prescription Drugs—Opioid Addiction: Up to $28
million to five grantees to increase access of medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
for opioid use disorder. MAT combines behavioral therapy and U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)-approved medication.
• First Responders: Up to $41.7 million over 4 years to approximately 30 grantees to
train and provide resources for first responders and members of other key
community sectors on carrying and administering an FDA-approved product for
emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose.
• Improving Access to Overdose Treatment: Up to $1 million over 5 years to one
grantee to expand availability to overdose reversal medications in health care
settings and to establish protocols to connect patients who have experienced a drug
overdose with appropriate treatment.
Applications Available for Up to $39.5 Million in Grants To Prevent Suicide
The purpose of these cooperative agreements is to implement suicide prevention and
intervention programs for individuals who are age 25 or older, that are designed to raise
awareness of suicide, establish referral processes, and improve care and outcomes for such
individuals who are at risk for suicide.
Ohio: Nominations Solicited for Statewide Pro Bono Award http://bit.ly/2sfha0f
Each year, the Ohio State Bar Association presents the John and Ginny Elam Pro Bono
Award at its annual meeting.
The award recognizes a lawyer’s exceptional pro bono legal work in Ohio, which may consist
of “pro bono representation necessary to make the system of justice available to all, support
to organizations that provide pro bono representation to indigent clients, or time and skills
donated to community, governmental, and other activities that promote the common good.”
In addition to the public announcement at the meeting in August, the recipient will receive
media recognition and be able to designate a 501(c)(3) organization to receive a $5,000
grant from the Columbus Bar Foundation award fund.
To nominate an individual, send a letter to the Award Selection Committee Chair, Honorable
Jeffrey E. Froelich, Second District Court of Appeals of Ohio, 41 N. Perry St., P.O. Box 972,
Dayton, Ohio 45422-2170 or an email to [email protected]. Nominations are due July 21
and should include a brief description of the nominee’s qualifications and contact
information for the nominee and nominator.
SPRC Job Opening: Training and Technical Assistance Specialist II http://bit.ly/2rCSMJ4 SPRC has an opening for a full-time Prevention Specialist (Training and Technical Assistance
Specialist II), located within the Center for the Study and Prevention of Injury, Violence and
Suicide at EDC.
The Prevention Specialist will work collaboratively as part of the 10-person Grantee and
State Initiatives Team that provides capacity-building technical assistance to Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)-funded Garrett Lee Smith and
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention grantees, and state suicide prevention
coordinators.
The position will be based in Waltham, Mass., or Washington, D.C. For more information,
please see the job posting.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Congress
House Sends VA Accountability Bill to President Trump
Secretary of Veterans Affairs David J. Shulkin statement on passage of accountability bill
The Society of Federal Health Professionals (AMSUS) http://bit.ly/2rsHkiW House allocates $65M for VA EHR system, but with conditions
Melissa Knopp provide support for this project. Thank you.
The VTC Photography & Video Project is a partnership between the Department of Sociology
and Anthropology (DAS) and the School of Visual Communications (Vis Com) at Ohio
University.
Ursula Castellano began Volume 01 / June 2017 a pilot photography study on VTCs by
giving cameras to court participants and asking them to document their lives. Her original
study has since evolved into a multi-media project on veterans and the courts.
OUR GOALS:
Give veterans a voice to tell who they are and what they experienced. Raise awareness that justice-involved veterans face unique challenges after discharge Promote Veterans Treatment Courts.
Ohio-based Non-Profit: The Overwatch Partnership http://bit.ly/2rF1NB9
Editor’s Note. Please watch their introductory video on the home page. Thank you.
Mission: The Overwatch Partnership is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides
mentoring and career development support to the veteran community, while supporting
local veteran hiring advocacy efforts.
We support the transition to civilian employment for veterans by providing a network of
mentors and human resource professionals to enable an improved career transition, while
enhancing veteran hiring efforts for organizations in the community and creating a social
network of veterans and non-veterans alike.
How are we different? There are hundreds of veteran nonprofit organizations providing
outstanding services to veterans across the country. We see ourselves as teammates with
these organizations, yet we provide value that is unique to the veteran nonprofit landscape,
including the following:
We are locally focused. As with other services, we think local is always better, and
face-to- face mentoring is powerful and effective for successful networking and
career development.
Community invested. Empowering veterans to a successful career is mutually
beneficial for the veteran AND the organizations within our community that can hire
veterans.
We foster social and business networking. As most careers are found and enhanced
through networking, we combine the enormous power of networking with a pool of
successful professionals to mentor veterans, while creating a social network of
veterans and non-veterans alike through various events and activities.
The Supreme Court of Ohio Specialized Dockets News Letter, June 9, 2017 http://bit.ly/2spPaHg
SAVE THE DATES! Conference Date: October 23-24, 2017, Location: The Ohio State
University, Ohio Union.
An excellent list and information about webinars, Ohio & national trainings and new
resources related to specialized dockets. ABJ Editorial: Not the worst of the worst, or why Ohio should spare from execution those with severe mental illness http://bit.ly/2s3Hqut
Evelyn Lundberg Stratton recently reminded state lawmakers about the “evolving
standards of decency” when it comes to the death penalty. The former Ohio Supreme Court
justice noted that the execution of juveniles has been barred.
The same applies to those with intellectual disabilities. She supports House Bill 81 that
would exempt from the death penalty those diagnosed with severe mental illness at the
time of the capital offense.
The measure, sponsored by state Rep. Bill Seitz, reflects the work of a task force formed by
Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. The panel of highly regarded and representative
stakeholders looked for ways to improve the conduct of capital punishment.
Three years have passed since it put forward 56 recommendations. Some have been
enacted. Too many have not.
. . . Seitz and the task force recognized the need to define carefully what qualifies as a
severe mental illness. That is especially so in view of the bill rightly following precedent and
permitting those currently on death row to seek to resentencing and life in prison without
parole.
Prosecutors warn about a flood of requests, even suggesting the effective end of the death
penalty. Actually, as Evelyn Stratton pointed out, just 10 percent to 15 percent would
qualify to make an application. The bill places the burden on the defense to show that the
defendant suffered from severe mental illness.
The worry about abuse of the exemption is curious, the hard line suggesting: Better to
execute an offender who was ill at the time than open the door to another somehow gaming
the system. The legislation isn’t about leniency. The punishment remains most tough.
Rather, the bill goes to how Ohioans define capital punishment, and what it says about our
sense of decency.
The task force examined fully the death penalty and recommended it would be improved by
the exemption for severe mental illness. Now the Ohio House should do its part and move
quickly to approve the legislation.
Summit County court program aims to help people with serious mental problems; New Day Court being held up as model http://bit.ly/2rtgJCA
. . . These are a few of the clients in Summit County Probate Court’s New Day Court, which
seeks to help people with serious mental illnesses who are hospitalized for potentially being
a danger to themselves or others. The goal is to get them stabilized, make sure they are
following their treatment regimens and return them to their lives.
“What we’re trying to tell people is: ‘Today’s a ‘new day,’ ” said Probate Judge Elinore Marsh
Stormer.
Stormer, a judge for 26 years, is no stranger to launching new court programs. She started
Akron Municipal Court’s drug court in 1995 and the same court’s docket for mentally ill
people who repeatedly face criminal charges in 2001.
Stormer, who was elected probate judge in 2012, saw a need for another program to assist
people who haven’t been charged criminally but have been pink slipped or civilly committed
for mental problems and hospitalized in a psychiatric facility — often repeatedly. She started
the New Day Court in 2016, with the aim of providing clients with additional support so they
don’t get off of their medication and end up back in the hospital.
The program has had 152 clients, 83 of whom have graduated. Of those who successfully
completed the program, seven of the graduates — or 8 percent — have been rehospitalized.
Before entering the program, some clients had four or five hospitalizations in the prior 12 to
18 months, according to probate court records.
Nominations Solicited for Statewide Pro Bono Award http://bit.ly/2sfha0f Each year, the Ohio State Bar Association presents the John and Ginny Elam Pro Bono
Award at its annual meeting.
The award recognizes a lawyer’s exceptional pro bono legal work in Ohio, which may consist
of “pro bono representation necessary to make the system of justice available to all, support
to organizations that provide pro bono representation to indigent clients, or time and skills
donated to community, governmental, and other activities that promote the common good.”
In addition to the public announcement at the meeting in August, the recipient will receive
media recognition and be able to designate a 501(c)(3) organization to receive a $5,000
grant from the Columbus Bar Foundation award fund.
To nominate an individual, send a letter to the Award Selection Committee Chair, Honorable
Jeffrey E. Froelich, Second District Court of Appeals of Ohio, 41 N. Perry St., P.O. Box 972,
Dayton, Ohio 45422-2170 or an email to [email protected]. Nominations are due July 21
and should include a brief description of the nominee’s qualifications and contact
potential to improve public health and, perhaps equally important, engage families more
actively in the care of individuals suffering from mental disorders and addictions.
EVENT: Ohio Women Veterans Conference, Columbus, August 12th http://bit.ly/2rCIAjx
(Columbus) – Registration is now open for the biennial Ohio Women Veterans Conference to
be held Saturday, August 12, 2017 at the Ohio Union at The Ohio State University.
With more than 50 exhibits and 20 speakers, women veterans will find information about
Ohio’s new fast track to jobs and education as well as services available locally through 88
County Veterans Services Offices. The conference is free but there is an optional fee for
lunch.
This year’s theme is Celebrating Generations of Service – 67,000 Veterans Strong. Topic
areas include managing your money military style, maximizing military skills on your civilian
resume, support and mentoring for women veterans in the workplace, challenges with
aging, statewide resources, access to benefits and more.
Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Veterans Services with support from the Ohio Women
Veterans Advisory Committee, the conference is expected to attract 750 women veterans
from throughout the state representing all branches of military service. EVENT: D-Day Conneaut – The Largest Annual D-Day Reenactment in the U.S., August 17-19, 2017 http://bit.ly/2sbnZzS
D-Day Conneaut is fast becoming America's premier living history event by being the most
realistic and educational annual reenactment of D-Day - June 6th, 1944.
Since 1999, this annual recreation of the amphibious Allied landings upon the beaches of
Normandy, France, has thrilled thousands of spectators.
The event occurs within the beautifully kept grounds of Conneaut Township Park, Conneaut,
Ohio, and assembles over 1,200 re-enactors from across the United States and Canada.
Remarkably, the 250 yard long beach and sloping adjacent terrain closely resemble Omaha
Beach in Normandy, France. 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.
EVENT: Register for Webinar: Responding to the 2017 SCA Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Grant Solicitation http://bit.ly/2rFWeCu
In this webinar, officials from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance
and the National Reentry Resource Center will review the Comprehensive Community-Based
Adult Reentry grant program and application process.
These grants will provide up to $1,000,000 for a 36-month project period to nonprofit
organizations, tribal nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments with a documented
history of administering comprehensive, evidence-based reentry services.
EVENT: Register for Webinar: Responding to the 2017 SCA Statewide Adult Recidivism Reduction Strategic Planning Program Solicitation, June 22nd http://bit.ly/2rCzOSM
In this webinar, officials from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance
and National Reentry Resource Center will explain the FY2017 Second Chance Act Statewide
Adult Recidivism Reduction Strategic Planning Program solicitation and its application
process.
State correctional agencies (state departments of corrections or community corrections) or
State Administering Agencies (SAAs) are eligible to apply for this grant, which will provide
funding for agencies to develop strategic plans that address their state’s recidivism drivers
and includes effective strategies for reducing recidivism and enhancing public safety.
EVENT: Register for Webinar: Engaging Employers–A Sectoral Approach to Employment for People with Criminal Records, June 29th http://bit.ly/2rCIkBg
Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center, with funding support from the U.S.
Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance
A sector-based employment approach brings employers from the same industry together
with educators, workforce development agencies, and others to address labor shortages and
prepare job seekers for work and career advancement. With a sector-based approach,
employers can identify the skills that are valued most in a given industry. Job training
programs can then be designed with employer input to equip students with those skills.
This webinar is for corrections, workforce development, and education agencies interested
in improving the employment outcomes of people with criminal records. In the webinar,
presenters will:
Provide an overview of a sector-based approach;
Give examples of successful sector-based partnerships; and
Discuss opportunities to create sector-based partnerships to serve people with
criminal records
Criminal Justice/Behavioral Health Newsletter, June 2017 http://bit.ly/2rCXtSZ Here's a list of funding opportunities, webinars, publications and resources from the The
Council of State Governments Justice Center. Check it out. Most funding application
deadlines are within the next 30 days.
Research: Criminal justice program researches impact of mentors in recovery http://bit.ly/2sbJdh6
The study is the first of its kind to look at the impact of peer recovery specialists in courts.
IL: Cook County Jail exits federal oversight of more than 40 years http://trib.in/2sniZIJ For the first time in more than 40 years, the Cook County Jail is no longer operating under
federal oversight after a judge last week found the massive Southwest Side complex had
met the terms of a 2010 consent decree.
But the jail's hospital — which is separately run by Cook County and has struggled with overcrowding
and staffing shortages — remains under federal oversight.
The Department of Justice in 2007 investigated allegations of abuse and unconstitutional
confinement, issuing a report a year later that found glaring deficiencies across the board,
including in medical care, detainee safety and excessive force.
A 60-page order agreed to by the county, sheriff's office, Justice Department and federal
court laid out a road map of required fixes.
The sheriff's office, which operates the jail — one of the nation's largest — said it has
poured hundreds of millions of dollars into improvements, including increasing the number
of correctional officers by 25 percent, installing some 2,400 cameras, bolstering officer
training and building a 979-bed, $86 million processing center that includes facilities for
medical and mental health treatment.
IN: LaGrange reaffirms support for Mental Health Court program http://bit.ly/2rDkEga
On Tuesday the LaGrange City Council agreed to continue supporting the Troup County
Mental Health Court by committing up to $2,000 toward the court to match funds from a
state grant.
“This would be a match of 10 percent to help continue the operation of the program,” City
Manager Meg Kelsey. “The last time that we funded this was a few years ago with basically
start-up cash to get an organization running.”
The court aims to help those who have mental illnesses find help instead of throwing those
individuals in jail, and according to the LaGrange Police Department, the court has
successfully decreased how often people with mental illnesses break laws overall saving the
police time and the state money. GA: Mental Health Court funding boost comes with local support requirement http://bit.ly/2rC8HqW
The Bulloch County Mental Health Court will receive a 13 percent boost in its state grant, to
$163,814, with the new fiscal year starting July 1, but with an expectation that the county
or local donors also pitch in $18,202.
Two-thirds of that could come from valuing office space and services the county already
provides. For the rest, and to raise awareness, the court's first silent auction fundraising
event is slated for July 11.
Currently 14 people, all with mental health diagnoses and facing criminal charges, are in the
program, and two more could be added soon. Out of about 37 defendants who have signed
contracts since the court was launched in October 2013, the 12th graduate is expected
Monday.
Completing the program takes one year for those facing misdemeanor charges and two
years for felony offenders.
NC: Polk commissioners approve resolution in support of mental health funding http://bit.ly/2sboA4M
being integrated into traditional health care. The potential has never been greater to finally
bring psychiatry quite literally under the same roof as the rest of medicine.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where I work, offers an example of this
kind of transformation. Now celebrating its centenary, the Ohio State Harding Hospital was
founded as the Indianola Rest Home by Dr. George Harding II, younger brother of President
Warren G. Harding. It was created as an asylum that provided quiet, nutrition, and a focus
on spirituality.
Today, the hospital can address mental health issues as effectively as it treats trauma or
cardiac arrest. This shift is occurring nationally, with community-involved, comprehensive
mental health integration into hospitals in cities and rural communities alike.
Proven regimens for treating common mental disorders and addictions are aiding the “cure”
rate and boosting public acceptance that such care works. Modern practices have the
potential to improve public health and, perhaps equally important, engage families more
actively in the care of individuals suffering from mental disorders and addictions.
TN: Volunteer Behavioral Health Introduces Telehealth http://bit.ly/2rKUuDe An innovative new telecommunications program offered through Volunteer Behavioral
Health is ensuring that mental health treatment services and care coordination are more
accessible to people living on the South Cumberland Plateau.
Made possible through a federal grant, the Mountain Valley Health Connection (MVHC)
Telehealth program provides a variety of mental health services through broadband internet
access.
The program launched locally in April at the Grundy County Schools and the Grundy County
Health Department, and public demonstrations of the MVHC Telehealth equipment were
conducted at the grand opening of the new Tracy City office of Volunteer Behavioral Health.
OR/TX: Oregon county court tackles mental illness issues http://bit.ly/2rEFWdo DALLAS — Polk County Judge Norman Hill could trace his frustration about how the criminal
justice system handled mental illness to the day a man stood before him for sentencing as
his family watched.
The man, a former honors student with a college scholarship, began struggling with mental
illness in his late teens, which led to multiple run-ins with local law enforcement.
Hill already had sentenced him three times before. After he delivered his fourth sentence,
the man’s father spoke to Hill.
“What do I do?” the father asked.
Hill didn’t have an answer, but he said he wanted to find it.
TX: Sandra Bland Act signed into law to address mental health of prisoners https://atxne.ws/2rA8Yus
Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law the Sandra Bland Act which, among several
provisions, requires more training for jailers on mental health issues of prisoners.
“It is time that we make progress in criminal justice reform that will keep both law
enforcement and the public safe and prevent future tragedies like Sandra Bland’s,” said
state Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, who authored the House version of the law. “The
Sandra Bland Act will act as a building block to build upon in the future.
In 2015, Bland was found hanged in a Waller County Jail cell three days after a routine
traffic stop escalated into a confrontation with a Department of Public Safety trooper and led
to her arrest.
Under Senate Bill 1849, law enforcement will have to complete training in de-escalating
confrontations with members of the public, “including techniques for limiting the use of
force resulting in bodily injury.”
Jailers also must learn de-escalation tactics and complete eight hours of training on how to
deal with mental health issues of prisoners.
County jails also will have to provide prisoners with access to mental health professionals, in
person or through electronic means, and a medical professional would have to review “as
soon as possible” any prescription medication that a prisoner was taking when placed in
custody.
Under the bill, police would have to make a “good faith effort” to divert those arrested for
nonviolent misdemeanors to needed mental health or substance abuse treatment.
TX: Legislature prioritizes mental health care over incarceration http://bit.ly/2rCl5Y7 The Crossroads will compete for a portion of about $18.8 million the state recently allocated
for mental health care during the next two years.
Friday, State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst announced she and State Rep. Geanie Morrison had a
hand in Senate Bill 292, which requires the Health and Human Services Commission to dole
out that amount specifically for projects that reduce the arrests and rearrests of people with
mental illness.
"I think this is a start," Gulf Bend Center Executive Director Jeff Tunnell said. "As we get
more information from the state and our legislators, we can provide more details of how
(such a project) will look down the road."
Last year, Tunnell impaneled a group called the Gulf Bend Community Collaborative. The
group comprises representatives from the law enforcement, medical and nonprofit
community, and it conceived in October an about $10 million, four-year plan to divert
people with mental illness from jails in the seven-county region.
Victoria County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Roy Boyd said he knew convincing the
legislature to give the Gulf Bend Community Collaborative about $10 million was ambitious,
but he thinks it was that ambition that led to the passage of SB 292.
He, Tunnell and Victoria County Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor visited the Capitol countless
times to stress the need to divert people with mental illness from jail to care.
SB 292 states that collaboratives serving a population of less than 250,000 - like the Gulf
Bend Community Collaborative - will have to come up with a 50-percent match of whatever
grant amount is awarded.
VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS
AL: Conference to help troubled veterans and the criminal justice system set for Birmingham, AL on June 23rd http://bit.ly/2rCsqH7
The U.S. Attorney's Office, Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, and the
University of Alabama's School of Social Work will present a conference aimed at helping
The June 23 conference at Cumberland School of Law on Samford's campus, will address
"issues of military veterans who either have been incarcerated or faced diversionary courts,"
Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey announced earlier this week.
The daylong meeting, called "Justice Involved Veterans: From Arrest to Successful Reentry"
will look at veterans following their discharge from the military to help determine what
stages they are the most vulnerable to committing a crime.
The conference also will explore how to improve the chances that a veteran will successfully
integrate back into society if they are jailed, and will examine veterans' alternatives to
prison.
AL: Nine graduate from drug/veteran court http://bit.ly/2rCie13 . . . Ray was one of nine local people, including he and another veteran, who were
graduates Friday of the Walker County Drug/Veterans Court in a ceremony that was held at
the Hope House Church in Jasper.
Walker County District Judge Henry Allred presided over the ceremony, marking the fact
that the participants have been drug and alcohol free for at least 18 months.
He said 159 have graduated from the program from 2009 through 2016, and 85 percent
who have been through the program have not been arrested again. In comparison,
statewide, about 83 percent of those who go to prison usually get arrested again within four
months.
Allred said the nine participants have had to undergo drug testing 4,000 times. They are
also tracked for three more years after graduate, alerting Community Corrections if they
violate more laws or buy any prescription drugs.
They can volunteer to sign up and continue to be tested for three more years. If still clean,
they can be refunded half their fees after 24 months — and all their fees if they make it for
three years, Allred said.
Taxpayers do not pay any cost for the program, while the nine graduating defendants have
paid $41,000 in restitution and court costs to taxpayers, he said. They have also had 4,200
hours of counseling by a state certified counselor.
AZ: Veterans court gets grant for blood alcohol level monitoring http://bit.ly/2rD2DyA The Lake Havasu City Veterans Court last week received a $20,000 grant toward its use of
“Tell Me What the Reality Looks Like”: Trying to Stop Suicides as Social Media Explodes
ALASKA: School District Expands Crisis Response Team
Policies Supporting Temporary Storage of Firearms
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Suicide Prevention Fellowship
Behavioral Health Services for Sexual and Gender Minority Adults: Where Data and Practice
Intersect
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NEWS IS POSTED IN THE SECTIONS BELOW.
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
University of Alabama/ Samford University: Conference to help troubled veterans and the criminal justice system set for Birmingham, AL on June 23rd http://bit.ly/2rCsqH7
The U.S. Attorney's Office, Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, and the
University of Alabama's School of Social Work will present a conference aimed at helping
veterans in the court system later this month.
The June 23 conference at Cumberland School of Law on Samford's campus, will address
"issues of military veterans who either have been incarcerated or faced diversionary courts,"
Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey announced earlier this week.
The daylong meeting, called "Justice Involved Veterans: From Arrest to Successful Reentry"
will look at veterans following their discharge from the military to help determine what
stages they are the most vulnerable to committing a crime.
The conference also will explore how to improve the chances that a veteran will successfully
integrate back into society if they are jailed, and will examine veterans' alternatives to
prison.
University of Central Florida (UCF): UCF clinic for veterans with PTSD gets $3 million in federal funding http://bit.ly/2rCNjC5 A University of Central Florida clinic will receive $3 million in federal funds, allowing the
clinic to continue treating those who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, including veterans, active duty military personnel, first responders and survivors of the Pulse
nightclub shooting. The RESTORES Clinic uses virtual reality to treat PTSD patients free of charge. Thanks to
the federal infusion, coupled with $2.5 million from the the state’s budget, the program should have enough funding for the next two years, said Deborah Beidel, the clinic’s
director. “Without this money, we would have had to scale back the services that we could
provide,” said Beidel, a Pegasus Professor of Psychology and Medical Education and trustee chair.
She said the clinic already uses combat scenes from Iraq and Afghanistan to treat veterans with PTSD and will use the funding to develop new scenes, including depictions
of other military conflicts and sexual assault. They also plan to train therapists to treat military personnel, first responders and sexual assault victims who suffer from PTSD and
Colorado State University/Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Research: Study zeroes in on sex-dependent differences in TBI response http://bit.ly/2rsIif4
Hormonal differences as well as differences in brain circuitry cause men to respond
differently than women to traumatic brain injury, with women more likely to develop
anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study scheduled for
presentation at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting.
Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences teamed up with
colleagues at Colorado State University and found TBI can disrupt the hypothalamic-
pituitary-adrenal axis and change stress hormones in a sex-dependent manner.
Florida State University (FSU): Veterans learn how to be successful entrepreneurs through FSU program http://bit.ly/2rt7z8Z
TALLAHASSEE Fla. (WCTV) --Florida State University is teaching veterans with disabilities
how to run their own business.
This year, the Jim Moran Institute of Global Entrepreneurship welcomed 20 veterans from
across the country to their annual entrepreneurship boot camp. The program consists of 3
weeks of online training and a one week residency on FSU’s campus.
The course gives vets the necessary tools to start up or advance their own companies.
"All the information as far as the marketing, negotiating, contracting, sales. So much
information that I can use and implement right into my business,” said Army Veteran Anisa
Palmer.
The program concluded Tuesday, June 13th.
Ohio University: The Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) Photography & Video Project http://bit.ly/2rEZKNu
Melissa Knopp provide support for this project. Thank you.
The VTC Photography & Video Project is a partnership between the Department of Sociology
and Anthropology (DAS) and the School of Visual Communications (Vis Com) at Ohio
University.
Ursula Castellano began Volume 01 / June 2017 a pilot photography study on VTCs by
giving cameras to court participants and asking them to document their lives. Her original
study has since evolved into a multi-media project on veterans and the courts.
OUR GOALS:
Give veterans a voice to tell who they are and what they experienced. Raise awareness that justice-involved veterans face unique challenges after discharge Promote Veterans Treatment Courts.
Oregon Health & Science University/VA Portland Health Care System Research: Review: No definitive standard for identifying and treating veterans at risk for suicide http://bit.ly/2seLQ1V
A systematic review of basic and clinical science research has revealed no definitive
standard for detecting military veterans at risk of suicidal behavior, nor is there a clear
standard of treatment to prevent suicide among U.S. veterans.
The review, conducted by researchers at OHSU and the VA Portland Health Care System in
Portland, Oregon, to be published June 15 in the journal Psychiatric Services, comes at a
Dallas breaks ground on first Women Veterans’ Enterprise Center http://bit.ly/2rCaFrw . . . The Women Veterans’ Enterprise Center is a pilot initiative for a national model.
Each center will provide their CEO Suites of Services, which includes co-working space,
enrichment activities and opportunities for expansion and advancement.
The center will engage a broad range of women Veteran business owners and is designed to
create a measureable socio-economic impact by promoting entrepreneurship and economic
development focused on increased revenue generation, employment opportunities and
community connections.
The center is a model that demonstrates how nonprofit organizations can work together to
achieve a common goal.
The Homeless Veteran Services of Dallas is the host organization providing access to the
2,700 square foot facility, being fully remodeled by the property owners to support the
center, which includes co-working space for approximately 15 business owners, conference
center and café lounge.
“This is just the first of many Women Veterans’ Enterprise Centers projected for the Dallas-
Fort Worth area and our nation, each with a commitment to help women Veteran businesses
scale for success,” said Women Veterans’ Enterprise Center director V.R. Small.
The center’s slogan “Connecting you is what we do,” rings true as the center also announces
its satellite location open in Irving, Texas.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation Landmark Caregiver Research http://bit.ly/2rD92d0 When Senator Bob Dole was recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Senator
Elizabeth Dole experienced firsthand the tremendous challenges facing the loved ones
caring for our military veterans.
In response, she established the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and as a first step,
commissioned the RAND Corporation to develop the first comprehensive, evidence-based
national study of military and veteran caregivers. This two-year study examined the needs
of these caregivers, as well as gaps in services and recommendations for filling those gaps.
The study revealed a societal crisis requiring a national response.
The Foundation has recently released a follow-up study to provide a military caregiver
research blueprint. This blueprint serves as a guide for the military caregiver support
community to use in prioritizing and facilitating future research for America’s hidden heroes.
Links to both studies are provided below.
IMPROVING SUPPORT FOR AMERICA’S HIDDEN HEROES (2017)
HIDDEN HEROES: AMERICA’S MILITARY CAREGIVERS (2014)
Resources Caregivers Should Know About http://bit.ly/2thKmDQ
The following organizations, groups and agencies offer caregivers a variety of resources,
ranging from support services and webinars to tip sheets, care guides and how-to videos. Cause celeb: Ryan Phillippe on military veterans’ family caregivers http://wapo.st/2rzBtZv
Cause: Expanding programs supporting people who act as caregivers for their family
Celeb: Actor Ryan Phillippe, best known for his role as “everyone’s 1990s crush” and
“Reese Witherspoon’s ex,” who now plays a veteran military sniper (see! he knows what
he’s talking about!) on the USA network series “Shooter.” Phillippe actually does have real-
life perspective on the issue — he comes from a military family — and he’s an ambassador
for former senator Elizabeth Dole’s foundation devoted to the issue.
Scene: A packed hearing before the Senate Special Committee on Aging in the Dirksen
Senate Office Building, where Phillippe was greeted with slightly less fanfare than his fellow
witness, Dole (hey, it’s the Senate). Capitol Hill, of course, was still reeling from the
shooting earlier in the day in which a gunman opened fire on a congressional baseball
practice, but the panel took a show-must-go-on attitude. The actor, 42, looked like a
humbled newbie staffer, with his sandy, scruffy beard and the button under his tie undone. 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 - 1,346 Professionals in VIJ Group
Active Topics
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
MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES http://linkd.in/1fkQLA8 (Please email us other groups that you find and think would be informative and useful for our audience)
VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG estrattonconsulting.wordpress.com
To focus this newsletter on veterans-related criminal justice and mental illness issues and to shorten it to a more
manageable size, we have moved our tables & lists of reference materials and other longer term information to retired Justice Stratton's blog. Please follow the links below for that information.
Operation Legal Help Ohio
http://bit.ly/1Gg0HbK
National Legal Assistance
http://bit.ly/19DC5zu
VA Town Halls & Events
http://bit.ly/1Gg1DN6
Jobs & Hiring Fairs Listings http://bit.ly/19Dz2ay
Events: Conferences, Webinars, etc.
http://bit.ly/1Gg1nOi
Additional Resources http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH
Current Newsletter http://bit.ly/19ovER5
2015 Newsletters http://bit.ly/1FKASAC
Ohio Resources For Veterans http://bit.ly/19ouWn0
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Editor's Note: Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations that provide articles for these news clips every week. I would especially like to thank and urge you to follow:
Marco Bongioanni, MSE Readjustment Counseling Therapist, U.S. Army Veteran,Bronx Vet Center, Bronx, NY Lily Casura, journalist, author and founder of Healing Combat Trauma - the award-winning, first website to
address the issue of combat veterans and PTSD (established February 2006). Lily is also apublic policy grad student, IWMF grantee and NASW award winner.
U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Wayne Gatewood, of Quality Support Inc. Wayne disseminates a daily Veterans News e-mail to an international audience
Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee, Project Manager, Military Spouse Mental Health Pipeline, National Military Family Association. Dr. Herrera-Yee is currently a Board Member for the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Military Spouses of Strength, Military Mental Health Project and the National Guard Suicide and Resiliency Council among others. She has also been a special contributor to NBC News, Military Times, Air Force Times, Military Spouse Magazine and BuzzFeed. She spends her free time mentoring spouses through eMentor and Joining Forces. Dr. Herrera-Yee received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and was a Clinical Fellow at Harvard University.
U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) James Hutton, Dep Assistant Secretary (Acting), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Col. US Army (Ret) - Iraq War Veteran.
Justice for Vets, Justice For Vets is a professional services division of the National Association of Drug Court professionals, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Alexandria, VA. Justice for Vets believes that no veteran or military service member should suffer from gaps in service, or the judicial system when they return to their communities. As the stewards of the Veterans Treatment Court movement
Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren, Pioneer, America's first mental health court dedicated to the decriminalization of people with mental illness
Kathy Platoni, Psy.D., DAAPM, FAIS, Clinical Psychologist, COL (RET), US Army, COL. Ohio Militia, www.drplatoni.com, Veteran ~ Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, (Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan), Co-Author and Co-Editor, Fort Hood Massacre Survivor, National Combat Trauma Expert
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
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. 6. If you pass on our clips, please also pass on our Disclaimer. EDITOR/CONTACT