justice evelyn lundberg stratton, retired veterans in the ... · 7/24/2016 · evelyn lundberg...
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RETIRED JUSTICE EVELYN LUNDBERG STRATTON'S VETERANS' CRIMINAL JUSTICE & MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES NEWS
JULY 24, 2016
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
3,941 providers of veterans’ services, just like you, nationwide and in 33 countries, receive this newsletter
directly. Another 10,000+ can see it on 5 social media sites. Thank you for sharing!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC PAGE TOPIC PAGE
FEATURED STORIES 1 DEPLOYMENT HEALTH NEWS* ***
OPPORTUNITIES 3 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES 17
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 3 GENERAL NEWS 21
OHIO 5 "VETERANS IN JUSTICE" LINKEDIN GROUP 24
VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 7 OTHER LINKEDIN GROUPS 25
PTS/TBI/MST 12 VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG 25
SUICIDE 15 HOW TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER 25
***DoD publishes Development Health News every other week.
FEATURED STORIES
The American College of Trial Lawyers Challenges as Unconstitutional Long Delays in Veterans’ Appeals for Benefits http://bit.ly/2agw8g5
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lawyers, Fellows in the American College of Trial
Lawyers, today filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
seeking an order requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to eliminate
unconstitutional delays in the VA appeals system. Included within its mission, the American
College of Trial Lawyers is a leading advocate for improvements in the administration of
justice in the United States.
According to Michael W. Smith, president of the American College of Trial Lawyers, “The
College recently adopted an initiative to assist our veterans in navigating the process of
appealing denials of benefits before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Our Fellows are highly
experienced trial attorneys, and we were shocked by the obstacles and delays involved in
getting through the VA appeals system. The political branches of government have made
some attempts to address this issue, but, for a myriad of reasons, have failed to adequately
address the delay in the appeal process. The College decided that action on its part is the
only way to help our veterans get the relief they deserve from this undue burden.”
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Research: RAND Study: VA performs as well or better than other health systems http://bit.ly/2acWZcE
Even in cases where improvement is needed, researchers say none of the reports reviewed
in the study reflected consistently poor care at the VA.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Veterans Affairs health system performs as
well as, if not better than, other healthcare systems, according to a review of medical
records.
Researchers at the RAND Corporation found the VA system is comparable in safety and
efficacy to care otherwise available, despite often dealing with patients who are more sick or
have a wider range of conditions.
There were some areas without enough previous research to make a comparison, such as in
timeliness, efficiency and patient-centeredness.
There also were some areas, such as surgical complications and availability of services,
where results were less favorable, though the researchers say these reports were not
consistently bad.
"Comparing the VA to other health care settings can be difficult because the VA has a
patient population that is different from most other settings, with patients who may be
sicker," Dr. Courtney Gidengil, a physician scientist at RAND, said in a press release.
"But it's important to do more of this work in the future so we can better understand the
quality of care the VA provides."
RAND BLOG: Is America's Crisis 'System' in Crisis? http://bit.ly/2aiypqT New findings from the Veterans Affairs Department's inspector general (PDF) and the
Government Accountability Office (PDF) suggest that while the VA is making consistent
gains in providing services for veterans through its Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), other
systems that provide suicide prevention services to nonveterans are in far greater need of
attention.
The progress made by the VA could provide a blueprint for improving suicide prevention
services for all Americans.
University of Alabama Secures $8 Million Contract to Implement Integrated Substance Abuse & Mental Health Care in Alabama with a Core Component Serving Veterans. http://bit.ly/2ag7UTj
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama School of Social Work and the Alabama
Department of Mental Health have partnered on an $8 million project to expand a substance
abuse and mental health program to underserved areas of West Alabama.
The program will incorporate alcohol and drug screenings, brief interventions and referral to
treatment into primary care settings to address the need for integrated substance use
disorder prevention. The program, known as AL-SBIRT, will span five years and is funded by
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services that has helped implement similar programs in
other states.
“Alabama has the opportunity to implement this approach, which has been adopted as a
best practice in other states, to identify and serve clients with or at risk for substance use
problems and co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety, depression or trauma,” said
Dr. David L. Albright, associate professor of social work and principal investigator of the
project. “Having behavioral health care integrated within primary care settings will benefit
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thousands of Alabamians and also bolster our behavioral health workforce, which is one of
the fastest growing workforces in the country.”
UA’s School of Social Work will also partner with the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center,
Whatley Health Services and the Capstone Rural Health Center to help administer the new
integrated services program. Whatley and the Capstone Rural Health Center are both
Federally Qualified Health Centers – a designation for health-care facilities that receive
Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. ADMH -certified substance abuse and mental health
providers who provide services to the West Alabama area are also major partners.
OPPORTUNITIES
Digital Internship Opportunity with the Federal Government http://bit.ly/2acV1t4
The Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) is the largest virtual internship program in the
world! This year there are more than 900 vacancies with more than 30 federal
agencies. VSFS offers unique mentoring and recruitment possibilities.
Applications for the 2016-17 VSFS program are open between July 2 and 26 on
USAJOBS.gov. Real work is waiting for students with more than 30 federal agencies
including VA, NASA, the Smithsonian, the State Department, National Parks Service, and
others. You can see the projects offered at http://vsfs.state.gov/! To apply, students must
log on to USAJOBS, create an account, build a resume, and upload a transcript.
This program is a great opportunity for a college student to obtain on the job training in one
of a number of different fields, while making connections with people at various government
agencies; and perhaps even helping pave the way for a future in government service.
VESO's team has a few openings for digital internships as well, so feel free to check those
out.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Sharing Military Health Records Between VA and DOD Won’t Work, VA Official Says http://bit.ly/2agEPa7
(CNSNews.com) – A top IT official from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) told
Congress that the VA is currently unable to maintain military health records on one system
shared by the Department of Defense (DOD).
“The reality is there is no system that can support both DOD and the VA at the same time.
It will not scale,” LaVerne Council, the VA’s assistant secretary for information and
technology, testified at aSenate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction,
Veteran Affairs and Related Agencies hearing on the VA’s electronic health record system,
VistA.
Scalability is the ability of a computer system to handle a growing volume of data.
“There is no system that will support all the things you have to do - to do the clinical
management and the clinical operations at the same time,” Council said last week on
Capitol Hill.
But Sen. Shelley Capito (R-WV) pointed out that computer systems like Amazon’s can scale
and questioned why the VA’s electronic health system cannot.
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“At the same time. There is no system that will support all the things you have to do - to do
clinical management and clinical operations - at the same time,” Council responded.
VA Announces New Partnerships and Collaboration http://bit.ly/2agxuHE
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced partnerships
and collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, IBM and Bombas.
The three, distinct, relationships are a part of the MyVA Strategic Partnership Initiative,
which aims to work together with external organizations to improve the delivery and access
of care for Veterans.
The announcement of the three new partnerships came on the heels of the MyVA Advisory
Committee meeting held last week in Boston. MyVA is the largest transformation in the
history of VA.
VA Offers Seamless Care for Traveling Veterans or Veterans Seeking Care at an Alternate VA http://bit.ly/2agDjF8
If you are enrolled and receive your health care with VA, you will receive the same,
consistent care, whether at your local VA health care facility or an alternate VA health care
facility.
In order to help VA ensure you receive consistent care while you are traveling or if you
relocate, we ask that you notify your local VA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), preferably
4 to 6 weeks prior to departure, or as soon as you are aware.
Early planning will allow time for your local PACT and the Traveling Veteran Coordinator to
coordinate your care at the alternate VA health care facility.
If you are unable to make an appointment to see your PACT or provider in person, you may
reach them by telephone or through secure messaging in MyHealtheVet
(www.myhealthevet.va.gov).
Why you need to be a part of what VHA is doing for women Veterans’ health care research - Join VA and advance women Veterans’ health care research http://bit.ly/2agHQHG
Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of VA health care users. While
research on women Veterans’ health has expanded in recent years, the focus had primarily
been on mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual
trauma.
In light of the growing needs of female Veterans, we are expanding our efforts to include
research on primary care and prevention, reproductive health, access/rural health and the
long-term care needs of older women Veterans.
Some of our new initiatives to accelerate women Veterans’ health care research include:
VA Women’s Health Research Network – An initiative to systematically transform
VA’s capacity to examine and reduce gender differences.
Women Veteran’s Healthcare CREATE – An initiative to conduct research to examine
the factors that facilitate or slow the pace, effectiveness and outcomes of delivery of
comprehensive care for women Veterans within the VA health care system.
EMPOWER Quality Enhancement Research Initiative – The Enhancing Mental and
Physical health of Women through Engagement and Retention (EMPOWER) initiative
is designed to improve women Veterans’ engagement and retention in evidence-
based care for three high-priority health conditions.
VA Local Events & News
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VA Shreveport #OBVAMC Vet Town Hall July 28th
Memphis VA Medical Center Open House and Information Fair, July 28th
Washington DC VAMC Veterans of Prince Georges County: Join us and PGCEDC for a Jobs &
Resource Fair, Aug 1
VA New Orleans Town Hall, Aug 9th
Tomah VAMC hosts a Mental Health and Homeless Summit and the first year for the Vet
Benefit and Job Fair, Aug. 16th & 17th
Atlanta VA Medical Center Expanding And Adding New Clinics
OKC VA sees rise in veterans seeking help in suicide-prevention program
Hawaii Veterans Affairs Office on Guam with new alternative
VA named to 2016 “Most Wired” hospitals list
Five reasons neuro nurses don’t want to leave VHA
Loma Linda VA in collaborative pilot program to reduce veteran suicides
Veteran's suicide raises concern about Iowa City VA care
Dementia Resource Fairs at VAPAHCS
Altoona VA Being Investigated for Illegally Accessing Medical Records.
Walla Walla #veterans praised VA care but lamented closure of walk-in clinic during town
hall mtg.
VA OIG Reports
OIG June 2016 Monthly Highlights
Former Acclarent, Inc. Executives Convicted of Crimes Related to the Sale of Medical
Devices
7/21/2016 - Administrative Investigation Advisory - Conflict of Interest and Violation of
Ethics Pledge, Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC
Palm Beach County Resident Found Guilty of Defrauding Federal Agencies
Additional resources from my blog
LIST OF VA TOWN HALLS & OTHER MEETINGS NATIONWIDE: http://bit.ly/1Gg1DN6
OHIO Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and VA Pittsburgh receive grants to study suicide prevention http://prn.to/2albR9h
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nation's largest suicide prevention
organization has awarded more than $4.3 million to researchers from around the world to
study suicide prevention.
. . . Over the past two years we have funded more than $8 million in new research which is
a direct result of increased public contributions and more people walking in our Out of the
Darkness Walks.
AFSP is the largest private funder of suicide prevention research. Research in the field of
suicide and mental health is absolutely vital. We need to better understand suicide and
learn which suicide prevention strategies work so we can put them into practice.
Ohio State & VA Pittsburgh Grant Programs:
Focus: Large Healthcare Providers
Grant title: Using Telehealth to Improve Outcomes in Veterans at Risk for Suicide
Researcher: John Kasckow, M.D., Ph.D.
Location: VA Pittsburgh Health Care System in Pittsburgh, PA
Summary: Many veterans require hospitalization for mental health needs, and follow-up
care is particularly important during the first three months post-discharge when patients are
at highest risk for suicide.
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This study examines a home-based telehealth intervention to be used during the three
months following hospital discharge that helps veterans monitor their symptoms, transmit
suicide risk information to clinicians, and sustain ongoing connections with their healthcare
providers.
The centers where the trial will be happening include:
The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, PA
The VA New York Harbor Health Care System in New York, NY
The James J Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, NY
Focus: Large Healthcare Providers
Grant title: Clinical Profiles and Treatment Utilization Patterns Associated with Suicide
among Youth in Medicaid
Researcher: Cynthia Fontanella, Ph.D.
Location: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, OH
Summary: Over 45 million children are on Medicaid; within that number is a greater
concentration of individuals with mental illness and suicide risk than the general population.
Available research suggests significant problems exist in access to and quality of care in
general health, mental health, and substance abuse care.
This study seeks to estimate the rates of suicide among youth in the U.S. Medicaid
program; to identify patterns that distinguish youth who died by suicide from youth with
similar risk factors who did not die by suicide; and to examine the association between care
received and the risk of suicide. New UC study will examine 'secondary injury' after traumatic brain injury http://bit.ly/2acYDLC
CINCINNATI -- The University of Cincinnati Department of Neurosurgery will begin studying
what happens after a traumatic brain injury, something called a "secondary injury" that
follows the initial blow to the head.
According to a press release from the university, the U.S. Department of Defense's
psychological health/traumatic brain injury research program granted UC $4.7 million to
study the "damaging, seizure-like waves that spread slowly through the brain following a
traumatic injury."
"The team will investigate less invasive techniques to monitor the waves of electrical
disturbance — called spreading depolarizations or 'brain tsunamis' — which are associated
with worse outcomes in patients," the press release said. Dr. Jed Hartings is the heading the
study at UC.
Annabelle's Place coming to North College Hill for women vets (Cincinnati) http://cin.ci/2agAnZ7
New permanent housing for women veterans is coming soon to North College Hill,
Volunteers of America announced in a Wednesday press release.
The $1.6 million housing development project, known as Annabelle's Place, was approved at
the North College Hill Planning Committee and City Council meeting Tuesday night,
according to the release.
Volunteers of America, a national nonprofit and faith-based organization that started in
1896, pushed for the project, keeping with their stated mission of "helping those in need
rebuild their lives and reach their full potential." Akron Municipal Mental Health Court going strong after 15 years http://bit.ly/2actqbb
It was the first of its kind in Ohio and as the Akron Municipal Mental Health Court marks its
15-year anniversary, those who help run the docket say it continues to have a positive
impact on the community.
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“Our program helps to identify and divert people who suffer with mental health issues out of
the criminal justice system and into treatment so they can go on to lead productive lives,”
said Judge Annalisa Stubbs Williams, who has presided over the mental health court since
2005.
“Unfortunately the county jails are still the largest mental health institutions in the country
and I firmly believe we must stop jailing our way out of this dilemma.”
Established in 2001 under the direction of Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, the docket is a
collaborative effort between the court and its many partners, including the Summit County
ADM (Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services) Board, Community Support
Services, Inc., the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the Akron Police Department and Oriana
House.
The mental health court is designed to assist people charged with misdemeanor offenses
who’ve been diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illnesses like schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder.
Medicaid expansion covers nearly 500,000 Ohioans for mental health, drug treatment http://bit.ly/2agJ71p
Nearly 500,000 low-income Ohio adults, most of them uninsured, received mental health
and addiction services under the state’s hard-fought Medicaid expansion.
About 100,000 of the new beneficiaries have severe mental illnesses, including psychosis,
schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
And many of the rest are battling drug addiction.
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
VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS
AZ: Council being asked to sustain veterans court http://bit.ly/2akXiT4 Lawyers for a program to help Lake Havasu City veterans through the court system are
asking for a $25,000 vote of confidence.
The Kingman-based law firm Whitney & Whitney is asking Lake Havasu City Council
members to keep its veterans court contract from decreasing in the coming budget year.
The contract for indigent defense services was scheduled to adjust down from $125,000 to
$100,000 for fiscal year 2016-17. The lawyers are also asking the city to extend the
contract by two more years.
Lake Havasu City’s veterans court was established in 2014 and has since become a model
for similar programs elsewhere, including in Kingman and La Paz County.
CA: Expand Fresno’s veterans’ courts to all of California http://bit.ly/2akX925
Highlights:
- In the Valley, Fresno, Tulare and Kern have terrific veterans’ treatment courts
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- But sadly half of California’s 58 counties lack this program to help troubled
veterans
- Assembly Bill 1672 would study the effectiveness of veterans courts, opening the
door to expansion
IL: Illinois Supreme Court has issued a mandate for certification of all specialty courts http://bit.ly/2agyH1x
. . . the Illinois Supreme Court has issued a mandate for certification of all specialty courts,
including our Domestic Violence Court, Drug Court, and Veterans Court.
. . . Since he is more personally involved with Veterans Court, it is their intention, sooner
rather than later, to submit a certification application and see where it goes. Veterans Court
gives a list of crimes that are, by statute, ineligible for participation in Veterans Court.
The new certification process actually wants them to not have a court unless they include
many of those crimes.
IL: Special court in Madison County helps veterans avoid jail since 2009 http://bit.ly/2ainTAe
A special court in Madison County has been helping veterans avoid jail since 2009.
Circuit Judge Charles Romani Jr., an Army sergeant during the Vietnam War, began the
Madison County veterans court in 2009, the Belleville News-Democrat
(http://bit.ly/2a2BZ8D ) reports.
Its goal is to help veterans who face charges because of alcohol and drug problems related
to their military service get back on track through intensive Department of Veterans Affairs
counseling and aftercare programs. Other forms of assistance can include helping the
veteran find a place to live or a job.
"These gentlemen have served," said Madison County Circuit Judge Richard Tognarelli.
"They offered to give their lives in defending our country. So I think they deserve that extra
bit of care and treatment."
It costs about $6,500 to get a veteran through the program, versus $25,000 to $30,000 per
year to lock them in prison, Tognarelli said."This is a significant savings to the taxpayer," he
said.
. . . A recent poll by the Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Paul Simon Public Policy
Institute shows that 54 percent of registered voters in Illinois support a bill that could
dramatically expand the scope of veterans treatment courts across the state. In effect, it
would require chief judges in each judicial court to establish veterans court programs in
their circuit.
There are more than 351 veterans courts in at least 32 states, according to the VA. Nearly
80 such courts were launched in 2014 alone. Madison County's Veterans Court was the first
such court in the state, and the third in the country.
Editorial: More vets deserve chance to heal
MI: Program to help veterans complete treatment court gets $11,500 donation http://bit.ly/2aiArrm
ANN ARBOR, MI - Veterans who find themselves in Washtenaw's treatment-court program
will soon have a resource to help them regain a productive role in civilian life thanks to a
recent donation to a veterans support group.
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Washtenaw County's chapter of the 100+ Women Who Care chose the Friends of the
Washtenaw County Veterans Treatment Court as the recipient of its most recent semi-
annual donation. 100+ Women Who Care raised $11,500 for the nonprofit that addresses
the unmet needs of veterans going through the treatment court.
MI: Kalamazoo County to roll out new veterans treatment court program (News Video) http://bit.ly/2agDP5G
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Kalamazoo County is rolling out a new
program aimed at helping veterans in need.
The veterans treatment court will provide some extra help and structure to our servicemen
and women who have found themselves in trouble.
Newschannel 3 spoke to a recent graduate of a veterans court in Van Buren County, who
told us how it changed his life.
MI: Court helps vets struggling with return to civilian life - 23 veterans treatment courts across Michigan (News Video) http://bit.ly/2aiAyTF
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — Veterans treatment courts are among Michigan’s network of
specialty courts that treat people who are mentally ill, battling addiction or homeless. In
addition to adjudicating their crimes, the courts aim to get them the help they need.
The newest of those 23 veterans’ courts is at Wyoming District Court, where it typically
operates twice a month. It deals with those who have served and then find themselves in
trouble with misdemeanors and low-level felonies — mostly related to drugs, alcohol or
assaultive crimes short of attempted murder.
. . . “This court is a very strong reminder that the rules of engagement at home are not the
same as elsewhere,” said Terry Hall, a 47-year-old veteran who says he spent 21 years in
the U.S. Army. PA: Assistance Program in use in Pike County Court http://bit.ly/2aljcpg
MILFORD - A Matamoras man who served in the U.S. Armed Forces was sentenced June
27th for a DUI in Pike County Court under a recently enacted program for veterans.
Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin said that there were at least two other cases
before this, who qualified under the Pike County Veteran’s Assistance Program.
The program is designed to connect veterans, who have committed non-violent sentences
and who may be struggling with addiction or mental health issues, with services offered by
the Veterans Administration (VA). By agreeing to enter into the program, the veteran can
avoid a mandatory jail sentence for charges of Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
“The ultimate goal is to assist the veteran with regaining control of their life,” Tonkin said.
“Most veterans are law abiding citizens that have served our country with honor, but we
want to connect those veterans who are struggling with addiction to the services provided
by the VA if they do run afoul of the law.”
The person must be a veteran that is eligible for services through the VA. The veteran must
complete a short application and provide documentation of their military service. Once their
veteran status is confirmed and they agree to obtain services from the VA, the case can be
handled through this program.
The program was set up through D.A. Tonkin’s efforts in coordination between the probation
office and the District Attorney's Office.
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PA: Clinton County adds Veterans Court http://bit.ly/2aiBGGW Lock Haven, Clinton County (WBRE/WYOU) Many veterans are face with mental health
issues after they return home from combat and some end up in trouble with the law.
But Clinton County may have at least a partial solution. It recently added 'veterans
treatment court' to its judicial system.
"We need a program like this to help mentor them along, get them back into society," said
William Bechdel, Director of Clinton County's Veterans Affairs.
The Clinton County 'Veterans Treatment Court' is a collaboration between the County's
veterans affairs office and the District Attorney. What started in January is now a reality.
"It was important and that it was a missed opportunity if we didn't take advantage of it,"
said District Attorney, David Strouse.
Strouse says 3,600 veterans are in the County and a good fraction of them suffer from
P.T.S.D and other issues. Whether it's a DUI, drugs, theft or even domestic abuse, veterans
can apply through the County's Veterans Affairs Office for the court. Their goal is to keep
those who served out of jail and get them help. PA: Update: EDITORIAL: Judge excels in service to local community, world http://bit.ly/2agyZ8K
Thumbs up: To the accomplishments of York County Common Pleas Judge Craig T.
Trebilcock.
He was sent to Afghanistan last November on a yearlong mission as a NATO adviser to the
country's Major Crimes Task Force, which is helping to restructure Afghanistan's law-
enforcement system. The task force is battling widespread corruption and human-rights
violations.
The 28-year member of the Army and Army Reserve holds the rank of colonel in the Judge
Advocate General's (JAG) Corps.
. . . When he is back in York County, he will return to preside over York County's veterans
court, a program designed to divert offenders from jail and address the causes of criminal
behavior.
He said he should return home "November-ish."
"I miss everybody in the courthouse. I miss being on the bench," he said. "I'm looking
forward to getting back, and looking forward to getting back to (overseeing) veterans court,
as well."
We look forward to his return. TX: Jefferson Co. vets could get help, not jail cell http://bit.ly/2alkCji
Honorably discharged veterans who ran afoul of the law because of trauma they might have
suffered in service can now qualify for a new treatment program in Jefferson County that
could divert them from the criminal justice system.
On Monday, Commissioners Court established a "veterans treatment court" that will be
supervised by 58th District Court Judge Kent Walston with assistance from Court at-Law
No. 3 Judge Clint Woods.
Records show that 159 veterans from January through June cycled in or out of the Jefferson
County jail.
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Mark Norris, an advocate for veterans' treatment at the Michael DeBakey Medical
Center in Houston, said the criteria for eligibility include an honorable discharge from the
armed services with a diagnosis of psychological or psychiatric trauma, such as post-
traumatic stress disorder, that is connected to military service and contributed to the
offense in some way.
The district attorney will determine whether the veteran is eligible depending on the
severity of the offense and whether the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has confirmed
a diagnosis. WI: Court: Judges Can Consider Predictive Algorithms in Sentencing http://on.wsj.com/2ad0bFw
Sentencing judges may take into account algorithms that score offenders based on their risk
of committing future crimes, Wisconsin’s high court ruled on Wednesday.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a unanimous ruling, upheld a six-year prison sentence
for 34-year-old Eric Loomis, who was deemed a high risk of re-offending by a popular tool
known as COMPAS, a 137-question test that covers criminal and parole history, age,
employment status, social life, education level, community ties, drug use and beliefs.
SAMHSA: Turning Point: Criminal Justice to Behavioral Health http://bit.ly/2alfKLb For individuals entering the criminal justice system, the experience of incarceration can lead
to disconnection from supportive relationships, weakened self-esteem, and additional
trauma and violence.
Those with behavioral health conditions have a particularly difficult time in jail and prison –
not only do these environments impede recovery, they can make life even more challenging
after release.
Many justice systems, including police, corrections, and courts work closely with behavioral
health agencies to screen for mental or substance use disorders and refer individuals who
need help to treatment and support.
SAMHSA has been supporting jail diversion programs – criminal justice system-based
screening, assessment, referral to treatment, and diversion efforts – for individuals,
including veterans, who enter the system, in part, because of mental or substance use
conditions. Jail diversion programs are set up to be a “positive pipeline” to connect the
person with behavioral health supports, while offering the chance to reduce or avoid jail
time in exchange for a commitment to pursue wellness and recovery.
While some communities have a well-established court-to-provider diversion system, others
are just starting to explore what might be established in their community. SAMHSA has two
new resources that can help. Center for American Progress Feature Story: Disabled Behind Bars - The Mass Incarceration of People with Disabilities in America’s Jails and Prisons http://ampr.gs/2alfI5U
. . . The past six decades have seen widespread closure of state mental hospitals and other
institutional facilities that serve people with disabilities—a shift often referred to as
deinstitutionalization.
The number of Americans residing in such institutions dropped sharply from nearly 560,000
in 1955 to only about 70,000 in 1994.
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While widely regarded as a positive development, deinstitutionalization was not
accompanied by the public investment necessary to ensure that community-based
alternatives were made available.
As a result, while people with disabilities—and particularly those with mental health
conditions—were no longer living in large numbers in institutions, many began to be swept
up into the criminal justice system, often due to minor infractions such as sleeping on the
sidewalk.
Indeed, federal and state jails and prisons are now home to three times as many people
with mental health conditions as state mental hospitals.
People with disabilities are thus dramatically overrepresented in the nation’s prisons and
jails today. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, people behind bars in state and
federal prisons are nearly three times as likely to report having a disability as the
nonincarcerated population, while those in jails are more than four times as likely.
Cognitive disabilities—such as Down syndrome, autism, dementia, intellectual disabilities,
and learning disorders—are among the most commonly reported: Prison inmates are four
times as likely and jail inmates more than six times as likely to report a cognitive disability
than the general population.
People with mental health conditions comprise a large proportion of those behind bars, as
well. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that fully 1 in 5 prison inmates have a serious
mental illness.
Additional resources from my blog
LIST OF NATIONAL AND STATE LEGAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/19DC5zu
U.S. VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS LOCATIONS http://bit.ly/1Lf1VX5
PTS/TBI/MST
American Counseling Association: The Challenges of Veteran Mental Health: Beyond PTSD and TBI http://bit.ly/2aljj3S
. . . The problem is, PTSD and TBI aren’t the whole story when it comes to veteran mental
health.
The challenges that veterans face are not just limited to the conditioned fear response
generated by PTSD or the cognitive impairment caused by TBI. PTSD does not explain the
sense of loss and shame that many veterans feel when they return from combat. TBI
doesn’t explain the depression that results from a lack of a sense of purpose or alienation
from a society that doesn’t fully understand what a veteran experienced in the military, let
alone in combat. For those of us who work with veterans, it is critically important to
understand the other challenges that veterans face.
Luckily enough, we have decades of psychological theory and research to guide us in
examining the issues that go beyond PTSD and TBI. This is absolutely not an attempt at
establishing a Grand Unification Theory of Veteran Mental Health, but instead a signpost on
the path that may lead to greater understanding of, and therefore better care for, those
veterans that we work with.
Senators Want to Help Troops with PTSD Appeal Bad Discharges http://bit.ly/2agIRiK
A bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday sought to revive a proposal to make it easier for
veterans to upgrade "bad paper" discharges wrongly handed down for behavior resulting
from PTSD or sexual trauma.
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The group of eight lawmakers led by Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat and former
lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve, urged inclusion of the proposal before the
House-Senate conference committee that is struggling to pass the National Defense
Authorization Act for the Defense Department's 2017 budget. Health.mil: National Intrepid Center zeroes in on traumatic brain injury http://bit.ly/2acrT59
The National Intrepid Center of Excellence, a directorate of the Walter Reed National Military
Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., helps active duty, reserve, and National Guard members
and their families manage their traumatic brain injuries and accompanying psychological
health conditions through diagnostic evaluation, treatment planning, outpatient clinical care,
and TBI research.
. . . Service members are referred from their home station’s primary care physician or
mental health professional to the NICoE’s range of treatment options.
These include the four-week intensive outpatient care treatment program, the one-week
assessment track, ongoing outpatient care services, inpatient consultation, and a range of
individual, non-packaged diagnostic and evaluative options.
The benefit of coming to NICoE is that service members will have access to any one of these
treatment options, depending on the need, with a streamlined evaluative pathway where
many of the providers and services are located together.
Research, Technology Aid Effort to Help TBI Patients
5 Things We’ve Learned About PTSD Since 9/11 http://bit.ly/2agzdww
New research shows post-traumatic stress treatments are advancing, and there is hope for
those suffering its effects.
There’s no need to reiterate the common platitudes about post-traumatic stress disorder
that we’ve all heard before, focusing on demystifying the “invisible wounds of war.”
The conversation has moved beyond that now, and post-traumatic stress is no longer being
looked at as a “disorder” but as a normal reaction to abnormally stressful circumstances.
Experts have learned that it’s not necessarily a life sentence, but rather a treatable
condition that can be attacked from a number of different angles.
Still, while it’s an extremely positive thing that we’re collectively making an effort to move
beyond outdated and damaging stereotypes, PTSD remains an undeniable challenge that
creates real suffering — as anyone who has ever gone through it, or walked through it with
a loved one, can attest.
After the start of the post-9/11 conflicts, the study of post-traumatic stress grew rapidly to
meet the needs of returning veterans. Ph.D. and former Army Lt. Col. Glenn R. Schiraldi
detailed many of these changes in a recently revised edition of “The Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery, and Growth,” which includes detailed
information on what has been learned since the beginning of the 21st century. Among these
new insights are five main takeaways.
1. What constitutes an official diagnosis of “PTSD” has been expanded.
2. Therapy isn’t just sitting in a chair and talking.
3. Some people are actually at a greater risk for experiencing post-traumatic stress
disorder than others.
4. Unconventional therapies may be worth exploring.
5. There is hope.
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VA PTSD Monthly Update - Living with someone with PTSD, July 2016 http://bit.ly/2alaEyE
When someone you care about is diagnosed with PTSD, it can leave you feeling
overwhelmed. You might be worried about the changes in your loved one, or you might feel
hurt by your loved one's distance or moods.
It's important to know that you are not alone or helpless. Your support can make all the
difference in your partner, friend, or family member's recovery.
You also need to take care of yourself. Changes in family life are stressful, and taking care
of yourself will make it easier to cope.
How can I help?
You may feel helpless, but there are many things you can do. Nobody expects you to have
all the answers. Here are ways you can help: . . .
VA PTSD Clinician’s Trauma Update, June 2016 http://bit.ly/2agBQ1v Veterans say trauma-focused treatments are challenging but beneficial
People with PTSD want an active role in treatment decisions
Group format linked with retention in therapy for Veterans with PTSD
More similarity than difference in long-term outcomes of PTSD prevention
Examining three different approaches to PTSD screening
Biomarkers offer clues about who will respond to PTSD treatment
Austin-based Samaritan Center receives 400,000 state grant to fund its Hope for Heroes program http://bit.ly/2agCpIp
Austin-based Samaritan Center will use a $400,000 state grant to fund its Hope for
Heroes program that offers mental and other health care services to veterans, active-duty
service members and their families.
The funding comes from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance, and
TVC announced the award earlier in July.
The Hope for Heroes program launched in 2007 to help service members and their families
deal with emotional trauma from serving in the war, including treating post-traumatic stress
disorder and traumatic brain injury, or TBIs.
Program staff are chosen for their military experience and clinical expertise in treating PTSD
and TBI, according to a news release.
“We are so appreciative of the opportunity to help us serve veterans, military members and
their families in Central Texas,” Samaritan Center CEO Carlos Rivera said. “There is a great
need to provide therapeutic support to our veterans returning with PTSD and TBI.
The Samaritan Center is unique in our approach to healing. We focus on the mind, body and
spirit.”
DoD: Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Paint, Sculpt Way to Recovery http://bit.ly/2agJ9WK
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2016 — As the brushes touch the canvas, the service members pour
their thoughts and emotions onto the page, expressing what they haven’t been able to talk
about through art.
Like the elements of a painting, doctors from each specialty at the National Intrepid Center
of Excellence, a directorate of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda,
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Maryland, come together to help service members with traumatic brain injuries in an
intensive four-week therapy program.
Specialties such as neurology use art to assist with sleep and migraines. family care
physicians can use it to assist with physical ailments. Psychiatrists and nutritionists can
assist with medications and vitamins, and art therapists can provide emotional support.
Additional resources from my blog
RESURRECTING LIVES FOUNDATION http://bit.ly/1R9toOV
EVENTS FOR VETERANS & VETERAN SERVICE PROVIDERS http://bit.ly/1Gg1nOi ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NEWS IS POSTED IN THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SECTION BELOW
SUICIDE
Nation's Largest Suicide Prevention Organization Awards Over $4.35 Million in Research Grants http://prn.to/2albR9h
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nation's largest suicide prevention
organization has awarded more than $4.3 million to researchers from around the world to
study suicide prevention.
. . . Over the past two years we have funded more than $8 million in new research which is
a direct result of increased public contributions and more people walking in our Out of the
Darkness Walks. AFSP is the largest private funder of suicide prevention research.
Research in the field of suicide and mental health is absolutely vital. We need to better
understand suicide and learn which suicide prevention strategies work so we can put them
into practice.
. . . Veterans Suicide Grant
Focus: Large Healthcare Providers
Grant title: Using Telehealth to Improve Outcomes in Veterans at Risk for Suicide
Researcher: John Kasckow, M.D., Ph.D.
Location: VA Pittsburgh Health Care System in Pittsburgh, PA
Summary: Many veterans require hospitalization for mental health needs, and follow-up
care is particularly important during the first three months post-discharge when patients are
at highest risk for suicide.
This study examines a home-based telehealth intervention to be used during the three
months following hospital discharge that helps veterans monitor their symptoms, transmit
suicide risk information to clinicians, and sustain ongoing connections with their healthcare
providers.
The centers where the trial will be happening include:
The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, PA
The VA New York Harbor Health Care System in New York, NY
The James J Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, NY
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VA: Reduce suicide by improving access to mental health http://on.sctimes.com/2agFzMn
At a community mental health summit on Tuesday sponsored by the St. Cloud VA Health
Care System, officials outlined how the VA is working to get veterans care they need as
promptly as possible.
But some advocates complained that too many veterans still face obstacles, from not
meeting eligibility requirements to being saddled with medical bills from local hospitals.
The St. Cloud VA provides mental health care in a variety of ways, from residential
treatment for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, substance abuse and other
disorders, to outpatient visits.
The St. Cloud VA has treated 9,500 individual mental health patients so far this fiscal
year and might hit 10,000, said Dr. Sherrie Herendeen, director of mental health.
The St. Cloud VA is one of the best in the nation at providing residential mental health
treatment, and is expanding its 148-bed residential unit by 20 beds. The average wait for a
non-urgent mental health appointment is 3.6 days, less than the 4.6-day national average.
However, there also are some "missed opportunities," said Atlas Anagnos, the St. Cloud
VA's group practice manager, a new position being added at VAs across the country to help
improve veterans' access to care.
One he cited: St. Cloud has a higher percentage of no-show mental health and substance
abuse appointments than the national average.
A new federal initiative called "My VA Access" aims to guarantee that veterans receive
same-day access to primary health care by the end of 2016. One of the key aims is to
provide immediate care for any veteran who is suicidal or has an urgent mental health
need.
Alaska Organizations Receive Money for Teen Suicide Prevention http://bit.ly/2aljtZ6
Almost $57,000 in grant money was given to Alaska organizations to help with Teen Suicide
Prevention programs across the state.
"Alaska has one of the highest rates of suicide per capita in the nation, and specifically out
in Rural Alaska," Trevor Storrs who is the Executive Director of the Alaska Children's Trust
said.
And while Storrs says, everyone experiences traumas throughout life it's high levels of toxic
stress, which can lead to suicide.
SPRC: Suicide Prevention Resource Center: The Weekly Spark, July 22nd
Career Development and Research Dissemination: A Webinar for Early Career Suicide
Prevention Researchers and Practitioners
Substance Misuse and Suicide
Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act Signed into Law
WYOMING: Surviving Suicide in Wyoming
WASHINGTON, D.C.: D.C. Education Act First of Its Kind in U.S., Increases Focus on Suicide
Prevention
SPRC Announces Second Tribal Surveillance Success Story
Working Together for Success: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Field
Ambassadors, State Suicide Prevention Coordinators, and Garrett Lee Smith Grantees
World Health Organization Practice Manual for Establishing and Maintaining Surveillance
Systems for Suicide Attempts and Self-Harm
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COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
Editor’s Note: Retired Justice Stratton invites all educational organizations to share their veterans-
related activities and news with our readers. Thank you for your support of our veterans and
military personnel.
EVENT: Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) announces its Second Annual Cammies to College which is a major college expo and education street fair, San Diego, CA, July 30th
SAN DIEGO – Support the Enlisted Project (STEP), a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit
announces its Second Annual Cammies to College which is a major college expo and
education street fair for the benefit of active duty military, veterans and their family
members interested in gaining information regarding higher education options in Southern
California.
The event will be free to attendees and held at Liberty Station Conference Center, (2600
Lanning Road San Diego, CA 92106) on July 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We are trying to bring every possible resource together to serve those having questions
about their education options and wishing to pursue higher education.
San Diego has some of the finest colleges in the nation, and all are fully supporting this
event to help our military and veterans make informed decisions about their futures,” said
STEP president and co-founder Tony Teravainen.
University of Adelaide Research: Tiny Probe for Measuring Temperatures Inside Brain http://bit.ly/2aiyKtO
Scientists at the University of Adelaide and ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale
BioPhotonics have developed a tiny probe for measuring the temperature inside the brain.
As anyone with an extremely high fever will attest to, the brain doesn’t respond well to high
heat. Various diseases, drugs, and concussions can create swelling, inflammation, and other
temperature changes, and studying how treatment affects these can be helped with an
accurate brain thermometer. University of Alabama Secures $8 Million Contract to Implement Integrated Substance Abuse & Mental Health Care in Alabama with a Core Component Serving Veterans. http://bit.ly/2ag7UTj
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama School of Social Work and the Alabama
Department of Mental Health have partnered on an $8 million project to expand a substance
abuse and mental health program to underserved areas of West Alabama.
The program will incorporate alcohol and drug screenings, brief interventions and referral to
treatment into primary care settings to address the need for integrated substance use
disorder prevention. The program, known as AL-SBIRT, will span five years and is funded by
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services that has helped implement similar programs in
other states.
“Alabama has the opportunity to implement this approach, which has been adopted as a
best practice in other states, to identify and serve clients with or at risk for substance use
problems and co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety, depression or trauma,” said
Dr. David L. Albright, associate professor of social work and principal investigator of the
project. “Having behavioral health care integrated within primary care settings will benefit
thousands of Alabamians and also bolster our behavioral health workforce, which is one of
the fastest growing workforces in the country.”
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UA’s School of Social Work will also partner with the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center,
Whatley Health Services and the Capstone Rural Health Center to help administer the new
integrated services program. Whatley and the Capstone Rural Health Center are both
Federally Qualified Health Centers – a designation for health-care facilities that receive
Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. ADMH -certified substance abuse and mental health
providers who provide services to the West Alabama area are also major partners. University of California – Davis: UC Davis researchers temporarily turn off brain area to better understand function - Findings may aid understanding of the neural alterations associated with autism http://bit.ly/2aixZ49
Capitalizing on experimental genetic techniques, researchers at UC Davis’ California National
Primate Research Center (CNPRC) and MIND Institute have demonstrated that temporarily
turning off an area of the brain changes patterns of activity across much of the remaining
brain.
The research is published online today in Neuron, a publication of Cell.
The research, led by David Amaral, distinguished professor in the Department of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Sciences, and spearheaded by graduate student David Grayson, targeted the
amygdala – a small almond-shaped region deep within brain. The amygdala is known to be
important for emotions, especially fear.
Using a technology called Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs
(DREADDs), the team genetically modified the neurons of the amygdala to produce
molecular on-off switches, or receptors, that are triggered by a drug administered to the
animal. When the drug is injected, the receptors shut down activity in the amygdala –
effectively turning off this brain region. University of Cincinnati: New UC study will examine 'secondary injury' after traumatic brain injury http://bit.ly/2acYDLC
CINCINNATI -- The University of Cincinnati Department of Neurosurgery will begin studying
what happens after a traumatic brain injury, something called a "secondary injury" that
follows the initial blow to the head.
According to a press release from the university, the U.S. Department of Defense's
psychological health/traumatic brain injury research program granted UC $4.7 million to
study the "damaging, seizure-like waves that spread slowly through the brain following a
traumatic injury."
"The team will investigate less invasive techniques to monitor the waves of electrical
disturbance — called spreading depolarizations or 'brain tsunamis' — which are associated
with worse outcomes in patients," the press release said. Dr. Jed Hartings is the heading the
study at UC. Northern Michigan University: NMU honored for student veteran program http://bit.ly/2acWYFF
MARQUETTE (WLUC) NMU was one of 15 colleges and universities recently honored for their
commitment to helping student veterans transition from the military to college life through
the Michigan Veteran Education Initiative.
MVEI places veteran resource representatives (VRRs) on college campuses throughout the
state to help student veterans succeed as they pursue an education through a partnership
between the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and Michigan College Access Network.
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Syracuse University: Top VA official likes SU's medical school proposal http://bit.ly/2aiA1AX
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse University's idea to start a new medical school got a boost
today from VA Secretary Robert McDonald who said more medical schools are needed to
alleviate the doctor shortage at VA hospitals nationwide.
"I've been to more than 24 medical schools trying to recruit new doctors," McDonald said
during a visit to SU where he spoke to students in the Maxwell School.
SU is exploring the concept of starting a one-of-a-kind medical school on its campus to train
doctors to care for veterans at understaffed VA hospitals nationwide.
SU's proposal, first floated last August, came under fire from officials of Upstate Medical
University which operates a medical school. Upstate officials said there is not enough room
in town for two medical schools. Syracuse University: VA Secretary McDonald talks leadership and changes at the VA with SU students http://bit.ly/2aiAR0w
Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald spoke at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School to
students yesterday giving advice on leadership and sharing his experiences coming into the
VA. Some of the recent changes implemented at the VA are in response to long wait times
for medical care and are meant to improve veterans’ experiences.
McDonald shared his insights on value-based leadership with SU students. That means not
being as focused on the rules but instead on one’s principles. The Ohio State University Research: Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and VA Pittsburgh receive grants to study suicide prevention http://prn.to/2albR9h
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nation's largest suicide prevention
organization has awarded more than $4.3 million to researchers from around the world to
study suicide prevention.
The Ohio State Grant:
Focus: Large Healthcare Providers
Grant title: Clinical Profiles and Treatment Utilization Patterns Associated with Suicide
among Youth in Medicaid
Researcher: Cynthia Fontanella, Ph.D.
Location: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, OH
Summary: Over 45 million children are on Medicaid; within that number is a greater
concentration of individuals with mental illness and suicide risk than the general population.
Available research suggests significant problems exist in access to and quality of care in
general health, mental health, and substance abuse care.
This study seeks to estimate the rates of suicide among youth in the U.S. Medicaid
program; to identify patterns that distinguish youth who died by suicide from youth with
similar risk factors who did not die by suicide; and to examine the association between care
received and the risk of suicide. University of Southern California Institute of Creative Technologies: Treating PTSD with Virtual Reality Therapy: A Way to Heal Trauma (Video) http://abcn.ws/2alkkcn
. . . While Merkle was a patient at the VA, he heard of a clinical psychologist named Skip
Rizzo at the University of Southern California Institute of Creative Technologies. Merkle was
trying traditional one-on-one therapy and said that at the time, “it wasn’t really taking that
well.”
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He was looking for an alternative and heard about Skip’s research that used a new and
unexpected way to treat post-traumatic stress disorder -- with virtual reality.
. . . “My mission is to drag psychology kicking and screaming into the 21st century,” Rizzo
said, noting that virtual reality offers a unique opportunity for clinicians and clients alike: to
be immersed in the environment that evokes the original trauma, rather than relying on the
patient’s imagination.
Rizzo has created 14 virtual “worlds” for patients, and clinicians can add custom elements,
including helicopters, clouds, small-arms fire and missiles.
“The first thing to keep in mind is that we are never going to replicate an exact simulation
of what the patient went through,” Rizzo said. “But we really don’t need to.”
Merkle explained how the virtual reality experience works. “Your brain assumes, 'OK, this
must be where we’re at,' and it fills in the blanks. And as you’re talking through it, you feel
like you’re physically there.”
Each session lasts for about an hour and a half, and the patient speaks about their
experience with a clinician as they go through the virtual simulation.
For Merkle, virtual reality allowed him to start unlocking memories and work through his
trauma. Yale University Research: New Radioactive Tracer Lights Up Brain’s Connections to Study Disorders http://bit.ly/2aiz0Jk
Various brain disorders change the physical nature of synapses in the brain, but this fact
has been useless in clinical practice because evaluating these changes could only be done
once the patient passes away.
Now researchers at Yale University have developed a technique, published in
journal Science Translational Medicine, that relies on PET (positron emission tomography)
and a novel tracer to image billions of synapses at the same time.
. . . “This is the first time we have synaptic density measurement in live human beings,”
said Yale’s Richard Carson, who is senior author on the study, in a statement. “Up to now
any measurement of synaptic density was postmortem.”
Study in Science Translational Medicine: Imaging synaptic density in the living human
brain…
Yale University Research: Researchers identify brain circuits that help people cope with stress http://bit.ly/2alhiVA
Research supported by the National Institutes of Health has identified brain patterns in
humans that appear to underlie “resilient coping,” the healthy emotional and behavioral
responses to stress that help some people handle stressful situations better than others.
People encounter stressful situations and stimuli everywhere, every day, and studies have
shown that long-term stress can contribute to a broad array of health problems.
However, some people cope with stress better than others, and scientists have long
wondered why.
The new study, by a team of researchers at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, is now
online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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“This important finding points to specific brain adaptations that predict resilient responses to
stress,” said George F. Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of NIH and a supporter of the study.
“The findings also indicate that we might be able to predict maladaptive stress responses
that contribute to excessive drinking, anger, and other unhealthy reactions to stress.”
GENERAL NEWS
NIH-Funded Research: Connectome map more than doubles human cortex’s known regions - Software automatically detects each area’s “fingerprint” in scans http://bit.ly/2agIRPE
Researchers have mapped 180 distinct areas in our brain’s outer mantle, or cortex – more
than twice the number previously known.
They have also developed software that automatically detects the “fingerprint” of each of
these areas in an individual’s brain scans.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health through its Human Connectome Project (HCP),
this software correctly mapped the areas by incorporating data from multiple non-invasive
brain imaging measures that corroborated each other.
“These new insights and tools should help to explain how our cortex evolved and the roles
of its specialized areas in health and disease, and could eventually hold promise for
unprecedented precision in brain surgery and clinical work-ups,” said Bruce Cuthbert, Ph.D.,
acting director of NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which co-funded the
research as part of the HCP.
The new study identified – with a nearly 97 percent detection rate – 97 new cortex areas
per hemisphere, in addition to confirming 83 that were previously known.
NIMH grantees David Van Essen, Ph.D.,(link is external) and Matthew Glasser(link is
external), Ph.D., of Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues at six other
researcher centers, report on their discoveries July 20, 2016 in the journal Nature. NPR: Frustrated You Can't Find A Therapist? They're Frustrated, Too http://n.pr/2acSSh7
There are a lot of people suffering from a mental health condition who need therapy. And
there are a lot of therapists who want to help them. But both sides believe the insurance
companies that are supposed to bring them together are actually keeping them apart.
Insurance companies, for their part, say there's a shortage of therapists.
But it's not that simple. Especially in urban areas, there are lots of therapists. They just
don't want to work with the insurance companies.
Resource: ACP's Nationwide Mentoring Program http://bit.ly/2akVv0j ACP’s Mentoring Programs connect veteran Protégés with corporate Mentors for yearlong
mentorships. Paired based on their career objectives and professional experience, Mentors
and Protégés define the goals of their mentorship together. ACP is not a formal hiring
program – instead, ACP is focused on preparing a veteran for a fulfilling new career in the
private sector. Typical mentorship topics range from résumé review and interview
techniques to career exploration and small business development.
About ACP Protégés
Protégés have served since September 11, 2001 and come from diverse military
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backgrounds, representing various ages, education levels, ranks and branches of the
military, and all 50 states. Veterans may still be serving on active duty orders and planning
for an upcoming transition or military retirement, may be recently separated and in the
midst of their transition, or may have already separated several years ago but feel stagnant
in their career. Some Protégés are in school or are considering further education, others are
job searching to begin their first civilian career, and many already have a job, but are
exploring different career options.
About ACP Mentors
Mentors are professionals employed by one of ACP's Participating Institutions and
individuals who have been invited to apply by ACP. They represent a wide variety of ages,
education levels, geographies, and professional expertise. They come from diverse fields
such as defense, education, finance, healthcare, insurance, information technology,
logistics, manufacturing, marketing and project management. Approximately one-third of
ACP Mentors are former military themselves.
ACP 's Women's Veteran Mentoring Program
Launched in the Spring of 2016, the ACP Women’s Veteran Mentoring Program is a new
initiative focused on connecting female veterans with entrepreneurs and female business
leaders for one-on-one yearlong mentorships. As part of the Women’s Veteran Mentoring
Program, veterans will have access to exclusive networking events and career development
workshops. Read more about the program here. Important for those who work with military kids and families: Pay attention when your child shows signs of anxiety, depression http://hrld.us/2afYDuf
1. Identify depression and anxiety as early as possible
2. Possible signs include sadness, feelings of hopelessness, drop in grades and difficulty
sleeping for more than two weeks
3. Talk therapy and medication are best treatments, therapists say
Don’t Confuse Veterans and Violence (NYT Opinion) http://nyti.ms/2acSvmF
IT was clear the shooter had some training.
When the news was breaking from Dallas, before we knew who he was, or even that there
was only one shooter and not three or four, military veterans watched the horror unfolding
on our computer screens along with the rest of America. And to our disgust, we recognized
a few things.
Veterans on Twitter noted his use of cover and concealment, that he was “slicing the pie,”
that in one assault captured on camera he followed standard tactics for a close ambush,
which are, as the Washington Post reporter and Marine veteran Thomas Gibbons-Neff noted,
to “establish fire superiority and assault through the objective.” Other vets chimed in: This
guy knew something about how to use his weapon. And we were all left with a sickening
feeling: He could be one of ours.
. . . Even riskier, though, is using the actions of a few deranged men to represent an entire
community, whether it’s the activist community, whose nationwide protests have been
overwhelmingly peaceful, or whether it’s the veteran community, which represents more
than 20 percent of all adult males in the country. And though, yes, veterans will all have
some training in violence, the percentage of veterans among state and federal prisoners has
steadily declined over the past three decades.
A truer image of the American veteran is seen not in these killers, but in their victims.
Matthew Gerald, whom a friend called “made to serve the people,” served three tours in
Iraq, was a father of two and had been on the job only a short while before his murder in
Baton Rouge. Patrick Zamarripa, a Navy veteran who had also deployed three times to Iraq,
loved his job, was known to family and friends as a peacemaker, and died in Dallas. As Gen.
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John R. Allen recently told me of American military men and women, “the Republic doesn’t
hire them to kill, the Republic hires them to be prepared to die for something greater than
themselves.” And that’s exactly what those men did.
GM, Detroit Tigers hosted Hiring Our Heroes career expo http://bit.ly/2acWhwo General Motors partnered with the Detroit Tigers, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA),
U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more than 100 local employers to host a Hiring Our Heroes
job fair and career training workshop for U.S. military veterans and military spouses on July
15, 2016 at Comerica Park.
KY: Home for women Veterans opens its doors in Kentucky http://bit.ly/2aiBXts Kentucky’s first home for women Veterans opened its doors in Lexington on July 1 in hopes
of providing women Veterans with the support they need in a safe and productive
environment.
The Thurman-Abbott Home for Lady Veterans will operate as part of a 12-month program
designed to aid women Veterans in need of support and independence. Four spaces will be
available to homeless women Veterans in various combinations that may include the
Veterans and their children.
The women Veterans who are accepted to live in the home have access to mental health
services, financial literacy classes, and internship and job placement programs MI: Community Wellness: The 'Right Door' for veterans is Ionia County Veterans Services Office http://bit.ly/2aixrLh
The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness has partnered with the Ionia County Board
of Commissioners and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency to establish an office at The
Right Door that is designated solely to serving veterans and their families. It's called the
Ionia County Veterans Services Office.
. . . This initiative was begun by Ionia County Administrator Stephanie Fox and U.S. Army
Colonel (Retired) Tim Loney, who is the West Michigan Regional Coordinator in Region 4 for
the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
Loney has more than 28 years on active duty, served 11 years in Europe and Asia and was
deployed overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The purpose of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is to: n Advocate for and on behalf of
veterans and their families; n Create a “no wrong door” customer service culture (thus the
Right Door is a natural partner); n Provide the advice and assistance veterans need.
The Ionia County Veterans Services Office is going to be a site for multiple veteran services
programs. The Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars
have already assigned staff to the Ionia County office.
SAMHSA Headlines July 18, 2016 http://bit.ly/2allK6E
State Estimates of Major Depressive Episode Among Adolescents: 2013 and 2014 One-Third of Young Adults With Any Mental Illness Received Mental Health Services in
the Past Year Alcohol's Effects on the Brain (AlcoholFX) Webinar: The Unintended Consequences of Domestic Violence Arrest Policies on Girls 2016 Voice Awards
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Military Times: The plan to keep military combat docs ready for America's next war http://bit.ly/2algf8h
About 100 mortally wounded troops a year could have been saved in a decade of fighting
in Iraq and Afghanistan if more military doctors had been more skilled in trauma care, a top
medical organization reports.
A proposal under consideration on Capitol Hill is directed at ensuring that military doctors
gain and maintain proficiency in those skills by working with civilian trauma centers.
The proposal calls for grants for civilian trauma centers to hire military doctors and staff.
The idea would be to use military medical professionals in the civilian trauma system so
both sides could share information about treating patients in life-or-death situations.
. . . The House proposal, which has not been formally introduced, seeks to authorize grants
of up to $20 million per year to civilian trauma centers — as much as $1 million each for as
many as 20 centers — so they can incorporate full-time military trauma teams.
In a recent report, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine suggested
the White House lead an effort to integrate military and civilian trauma systems in a bid to
decrease deaths by severe injuries — such as gunshot wounds or car accidents — on both
sides.
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 - 1,328 Professionals in VIJ Group
Active Topics
The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims vacated and remanded a case in
which the Board of Veterans Appeals denied a claim for service connection due to exposure
to herbicide.
Webcentric Marketing and Public Relations for the Common Good
Webinar: Female Veterans in the Criminal Justice System (Jul 26, 2016)
Webinar: Intimate Partner Violence and the Veterans Health Administration (July 28,
2016)
SAMHSA News: Mental Illness in the Workplace - Accommodations
A Veteran Spent Last Night in Jail
Law & Order Generation: The Injustice of Indifference
VA Benefits and discharge types
Addiction treatment connected to jail?
More . . .
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LINKEDIN GROUPS
Military and Veteran Benefit Forum Veteran Mentor Network http://linkd.in/1fOlgOt 28,933 members Institute for Veteran Cultural Studies http://linkd.in/1cz3gq1 NAMI http://linkd.in/1cz3Gg7 BI-IFEA (Brain injury-Ideas for Education & Advocacy) http://linkd.in/1cz4e5V Military-Civilian: Hot Jobs and Careers for Veterans and Their Families http://linkd.in/1c59DkM VETERANS IN JUSTICE GROUP http://linkd.in/12APdMS
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 MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES http://bit.ly/1RVPLFl Midwest Military Outreach, Inc. http://linkd.in/1eiMTkJ Military Veteran Job Fairs & Hiring Conferences http://linkd.in/Zxx4jS Wounded Warrior Resources http://linkd.in/17TMNhJ The Value of a Veteran http://linkd.in/15vD7H4 MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES http://linkd.in/1fkQLA8 (Please email us other groups that you find and think would be informative and useful for our audience)
VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG estrattonconsulting.wordpress.com
Editor's Note: 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.
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
Editor's Note: Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations that provide articles for these news clips
every week. I would especially like to thank and urge you to follow: Mary Ellen Salzano, founder facilitator of the CA Statewide Collaborative for our Military and Families, Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee, project manager for the military spouse mental health professional network at the 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. Lily Casura, journalist, author and founder of Healing Combat Trauma - the award-winning, first website to address the issue of combat veterans and PTSD (established February 2006), and USMC 1stLt Andrew T. Bolla, PIO at the USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment, publisher of WWR In the News, DoD Morning News of Note and USA Colonel (Ret.) Wayne Gatewood, of Quality Support Inc. Wayne disseminates a daily Veterans News e-mail to an international audience Jr James Hutton, Director of Media
Relations at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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,
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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 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, [email protected], @OHCircuitRider
Ohio Attorney General's Task Force on Criminal Justice & Mental Illness
Veterans In The Courts Initiative
Editor/Publisher - Veterans Treatment Court News Daily
Editor/Publisher - Traumatic Brain Injury Nes Daily