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

“Sharing Information to Benefit All Veterans”

December 17, 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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPIC PAGE TOPIC PAGE

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 1 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES 14

OPPORTUNITIES 3 GENERAL NEWS 15

GOVERNMENT 3 "VETERANS IN JUSTICE" LINKEDIN GROUP 16

OHIO 4 OTHER LINKEDIN GROUPS 16

STEPPING UP INITIATIVE 5 VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG 16

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 17

PTS/TBI/MST 9 HOW TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER 17

SUICIDE 13

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

BIG CHANGES COMING TO THIS NEWSLETTER

Dear Veteran Advocates and Newsletter Readers, It is bittersweet for me to make this announcement. Pete and Donna Miller have decided to “sort of" retire for the umpteenth time. They have reached the point in their lives where they wish to

spend more time with kids and grandkids and to do some travelling. For almost six years, Pete, who actually created the veterans newsletter in the first place and put my name all over it, has spent countless hours reviewing articles and editing it. What started with just a few pages, has grown into 20-30 pages with 20-30 hours each week to put together. Again, he gives me credit but he really does all the work. I would need three or more volunteers to replace him, and don't have that, so we began searching for a home for the newsletter. Interestingly, we found one through the newsletter itself. Last year I spoke at a Veterans Court Conference held at Stanford Law School in San Francisco. Two people attended who read about it in my newsletter. They were from the American University, and I subsequently did some work with them, such as our Veterans Justice Outreach webinar.

Fortunately, American University has the staff, experience and passion to take over this project.

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Beginning next month, this newsletter will originate from the Justice Programs Office (JPO), a center in the School of Public Affairs at American University in Washington, DC. The JPO newsletter will be published monthly, because publishing weekly is a herculean job. The format may change some, but the content will still deal with veterans court issues. We will transfer our email list to JPO, but you will have an opportunity to opt out if you no longer wish to continue. Pete will still maintain my Veterans in the Courts Initiative blog and we will link the blog to the JPO newsletters. So this will be our last full issue. I, and we all, owe a great debt of gratitude to Pete and Donna for

their countless hours reading, researching, summarizing, editing and putting out a great resource. We will miss their edition very much but are excited for new opportunities with American University's version. I will continue to work hard on veterans issues and will remain connected with American University in some capacity. Please feel free to send Pete & Donna your note of thanks also. Their email address is cruzzen@gmail.com

You see, it takes a whole University to replace Pete and Donna. Happy holidays to all, and a special thanks to our military, our veterans, and the families who support them. Evelyn Lundberg Stratton

EStratton Consulting, LLC

Starting in January 2018, this newsletter will be published by JPO,

home of the National Drug Court Resource Center at American University. The Justice Programs Office (JPO), a center in the School of Public Affairs at American University, has provided expertise to the justice community for almost 30 years. JPO is unique in the justice policy space as veterans’ issues are priority for the Interim Dean of School of Public Affairs and the center itself. The center’s Research Director, Julie Marie Baldwin, Ph.D. will be spearheading the development of the monthly newsletter. Dr. Baldwin is a leading expert on veterans treatment courts (VTCs) with extensive experience

conducting multi-site evaluations and national surveys, fostering strong researcher-practitioner partnerships, and working with VTCs, legislatures, researchers, and agencies. She is currently a Principal Investigator on a multisite evaluation of VTCs funded by the National Institute of Justice and the co-founder and co-president of the Veterans Treatment Court Research Consortium.

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OPPORTUNITIES

NY: Opportunities for New York City area veterans http://bit.ly/2k98WE3 Marco A. Bongioanni, LMHC, Readjustment Counseling Therapist, U.S. Army Veteran, at the Bronx, NY Vet Center has sent us flyers on many opportunities for veterans in the NYC area.

We are honored to be able to share these activities and events with you. Please share them with your networks. For ease of sharing, we have combined all the flyers into one ZIP file at the link above. Download and extract zipped files on your PC. Files will not open until extracted.

2018 Funding: PA: Veterans groups urged to apply for share of $800K in Pennsylvania funding http://bit.ly/2AEKBMG

An $800,000 pot of state money will be divvied up next year among nonprofit groups and Veterans Affairs county directors statewide who submit winning proposals for improving the lives of Pennsylvania's veterans, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday. The state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is accepting applications through mid-January for its Veterans' Trust Fund grant program , which has been distributing grants

since 2013.

Job: The Zero Suicide Institute in the Injury, Violence, and Suicide Prevention Portfolio of EDC (U.S. Division) Senior Project Associate http://bit.ly/2Ar65fQ

. . . The Project Associate (II) provides consultation about the Zero Suicide model and comprehensive suicide safer care in health and behavioral health settings; typically assigned to multiple, diverse, complex and high-impact projects

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Congress

Congressional Support Needed for TBI Research, Doctor Says

NIH

Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit

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

VA seeks EHR interoperability with civilian systems

Military surgeons team up with civilian health care facility

GAO: VA spent over $1.1B to modernize outgoing EHR system Bill seeks to modernize VA through telemedicine, medical record sharing

U.S. Medicine Direct VA Patients More Likely to Die on Kidney Transplant Wait Lists Trials Provide Promising Results for Army-Developed Zika Vaccine VA Makes Decision on Expansion of Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions

Previous VA Research Borne Out: PCI Benefit Limited

SAMHSA Headlines http://bit.ly/2BnOCIX Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee Report to Congress Opportunity: SAMHSA To Award Three New Grants To Address the Opioid Epidemic Emergency Department Visits Involving the Accidental Ingestion of Opioid Pain Relievers by

Children Aged 1 to 5 Behavioral Health Among College Students Information and Resource Kit EVENT: Webinar: Achieving Stability and Recovery With SOAR, December 20th

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EVENT: Virtual Discussion: Recovery LIVE! Gender-Responsive Recovery Supports, December 28th

Register for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® January 22nd – 28th, 2018 New Publication: Behavioral Health Among College Students Information and Resource Kit New Publication: Rx Pain Medications, Know the Options, Get the Facts

DoD VA launches program to resolve compensation appeals sooner Coast Guard medical teams help first responders in hurricane-ravaged areas TRICARE Changes and Network Providers

VA Programs

VA CARE Act: putting Veterans at the center of all we do

Aimed at preventing suicides, VA invites seven cities to participate in ‘Mayor’s Challenge’ VA Decision Ready Claims Program expands to include more types of claims VA Suspends Applications for New ID Cards due to a Large Number of Applicants VA Center Partners With Improvement Movement VA Offers Caregiver Course A look at VA’s high-tech health care improvement center VA launches program to resolve compensation appeals sooner

VA Facilities Walla Walla VAMC Town Hall, December 20th West Palm Beach VAMC Town Hall, January 9, 2018 Helena Veteran Center will provide variety of health services

VA OIG Reports Audit of VHA's Alleged Beneficiary Travel Processing Irregularities at the VAMC in Phoenix,

Arizona Additional resources from my blog

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

OHIO

Youngstown: Longtime municipal veterans court judge, veteran, to retire http://bit.ly/2Aps0E8

He started the second veterans treatment court in Ohio, worked to increase security in the courthouse and to get the Youngstown Municipal Court a new home, now after almost

20 years on the bench Judge Robert Milich is retiring at the end of the year. “The court has come a long way since I took the bench in 1998,” said Judge Milich. “It is a lot more organized and efficient, but there is still much to be done. “I can no longer serve because of age limits, but I am confident that I am leaving the court in good hands,” said Judge Milich, 75.

Taking his place is Mahoning County Juvenile Court Magistrate Carla Baldwin, the first African American female judge to serve on the Youngstown Municipal Court. . . . He began law school at The Ohio State University, but the Vietnam War motivated him to join the U.S. Air Force shortly after he started. He served active duty as a logistic officer at Hill Air Force Base in Utah from 1967 through 1970 and in military intelligence in

Germany from 1970 to 1971.

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While at Hill Air Force Base, he obtained a master’s degree in industrial relations from the University of Utah School of Business. From 1972 to 1995, he was a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 910th Airlift Wing in Vienna, Ohio. He served as administrator to the medical squadron, doing active duty in 1991 during Desert Storm. He retired as a lieutenant colonel. Judge Milich completed his juris doctor at The University of Akron School of Law in 1978. He began working for the Youngstown Law Department in 1980 as first assistant and later deputy director of law. From 1994 to 1997, he served as law director before embarking on his second retirement. . . . To accomplish the feat, he enlisted the assistance of retired Ohio Supreme Court

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, a nationwide proponent for veterans treatment courts. “Judge Milich’s court is a shining example of what a veterans treatment court should be,” said Justice Lundberg Stratton. “Judge Milich’s program is so effective that I have sent other judges to Youngstown to

observe how he does things and get his assistance with any questions they might have.” Evelyn Ross, bailiff and veterans court coordinator, said the program has graduated 44 veterans and is scheduled to graduate three more on Dec. 27, the last treatment court session that Judge Milich will preside over. “I think everyone is going to miss Judge Milich, especially the veterans who have gone

through his program,” said Ross.

Additional resources from my blog OPERATION LEGAL HELP OHIO http://bit.ly/1Gg0HbK

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

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

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

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

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

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

STEPPING UP INITIATIVE Editor’s Note: Closely associated with Veterans Treatment Courts and other specialty docket courts dealing with mental illness is the new STEEPING UP INITIATIVE. Stepping Up is a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illness

in Jails.

Stepping Up and similar initiatives are an important evolution in the treatment of veterans and others incarcerated with mental illness.

Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Evelyn Lundeberg Stratton (Retired) is the Director of Stepping Up Ohio. We have

decided to create this new section of Retired Justice Stratton’s News Clips, rather than bury the stories somewhere else.

We particularly wish to thank County Court Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren in The Criminal Division of the 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County of Florida, a Pioneer and Creator of America's first mental health court dedicated to the

decriminalization of people with mental illness, for sending us news articles to share with you.

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Judges & Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative Newsletter http://bit.ly/2AsCF13 EVENT: Register for Webinar: Supporting People with Serious Mental Illnesses and Reducing

Their Risk of Contact with the Criminal Justice System, December 20th

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CSG Justice Center Launches Online Resource on Record Clearance Opportunity: Apply Now: Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity in Family Treatment

Drug Courts Grant EVENT: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges 2018 Conference on Juvenile

Justice, March 18th – 21st, 2018

Treatment Advocacy Center Research Weekly http://bit.ly/2BpQQrq

Stanley Medical Research Institute: Thinking Outside the SMI Box

MA: Lawmakers are looking at treatment of mentally ill in courts, prison http://bit.ly/2BlJ5mp

Drug sentences and the age of criminal responsibility have dominated the debate about the criminal justice bill making its way through Beacon Hill, but the sweeping legislation also targets a largely overlooked aspect of the system: the treatment of people with mental illness in courts and prisons. Lawmakers are calling for expanded programs to divert mentally ill people from jail, stronger oversight of solitary confinement policies, and more training to help police officers deescalate confrontations with those who have mental illness.

Legislators also plan to study establishing a crisis center in Middlesex County where police officers and other first responders from that region could bring people in psychiatric or drug-induced distress.

NM: Mental Health Court Could Lower Recidivism, Cut Costs http://bit.ly/2AEHe8v

LAS CRUCES – Establishing a mental health court in Doña Ana County, officials say, would help get into treatment people who commit crimes because of underlying mental health

conditions. It could also reduce recidivism and cut incarceration costs. So-called mental health courts serve as jail-diversionary mechanisms and have been growing in popularity over the past 20 years. The number of such courts in the United States has grown from four in 1997 to more than 300 today, the Council of State Governments estimates. Five mental health courts exist in New Mexico. They’re all in the northern part of the state.

NYC: With Sisters Thrive, Chirlane McCray Is Tapping the Power of Black Women to Address the Mental Health Crisis http://bit.ly/2BqZ56J

Chirlane McCray is doing the work.

A recent write-up in the New York Times noted that McCray had redefined the role of first lady in the nation’s most populous city, with the paper calling her “likely the most influential, if not consequential” first lady in New York City’s history.00:00 00:00 McCray’s focus on mental health services in her first term as first lady is ambitious and, in some ways, radical. McCray told the Times that her job is to create systemic change—and making mental health one of New York City’s core responsibilities is how she envisions creating that change. On Monday, McCray announced the latest component to ThriveNYC, her signature mental health initiative, Sisters Thrive, which harnesses the power and service of black women to address the unmet mental health needs of the black community.

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VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 2017 MSJDN Military Spouse Attorney Survey (Link to Survey) http://bit.ly/2BvmsMn

The Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN) is frequently asked to provide data about the military spouse attorney community. This survey, open to all military spouse attorneys,

will help us tell your stories to stakeholders interested in supporting military spouse attorneys. It will also help us compare our community to the military and legal community at-large. Thank you for taking the time to be a part of our story! Instructions: 1.Please complete all the questions you can. If a question does not apply to you, skip it and move on. You must answer the questions marked with an asterisk (*) in order to progress

through the survey. 2. All responses are completely anonymous unless you decide to share your name and contact information. 3. Email info@msjdn.org if you have any questions. Mission: The Military Spouse JD Network supports military spouses in the legal profession by: (1) advocating for licensing accommodations for military spouse attorneys; (2)

educating the public about the challenges faced by career-minded military spouses and their families; (3) encouraging the hiring of military spouses; and (4) providing a network connecting military spouse attorneys with each other and their supporters.

FL: Tampa Veterans Treatment Court Mentors Honored at Community Event

On 2 and 9 December 2017, the Diversity Action Coalition (DAC) (501c3) hosted two major, annual events that highlighted the Veterans Treatment Program (VTC) Mentors, and the

military families of special needs children in Hillsborough County. The VTC event was the annual Holiday for Heroes Recognition and Dinner Event. Members of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court Judiciary, local city councilmen, university presidents and chancellors, and other dignitaries assembled for a festive night to honor our over 65 volunteer veteran mentors who give of their own time and efforts as "battle buddies" to help those veterans in trouble with the law and enrolled in the VTC. The night featured guest speaker Mike Nicholson, a combat decorated Marine, triple amputee, multi-Gold medalist winner at the recent Warrior Games and Invictus Games, and local Plant High School graduate. The evening culminated in an awards ceremony honoring special individuals in the following

categories:

VTC Legacy Award, VTC Inspiring Mentor Award, and VTC Veteran Community Advocate Award.

On 9 December, DAC with support of the VTC mentors, hosted the Annual Breakfast with Santa Event. Presiding as Santa was the 13th Judicial Circuit Court's Hon. Nick Nazaretian, who brings joy (every year) to our local military families of special needs children. We are truly blessed to have a wonderful community team in Tampa who care for the wellbeing of our military community!

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FL: Local news and TV coverage of retired US Army Colonel DJ Reyes and his role in the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) http://bit.ly/2AHPhBo

La Gaceta, the local Tampa Bay FL political publication, recently featured DJ Reyes, as one of its local citizens making a difference in the local community. DJ is the senior mentor at the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) in Tampa, Florida.

You can read the story at http://bit.ly/2AHPhBo. Reyes was also interviewed by Gayle Guyardo, morning TV anchor, WFLA (NBC) 8 during the recent 15 December 2017 VTC session as part of her “GR8 Inspirations” TV segment that highlights local Tampa Bay residents involved in activities positively impacting the local community. The TV segment is scheduled to be aired in early January 2018. As a follow up to the interview, La Gaceta asked him to share some of his more memorable moments during the holiday seasons of past. Reyes responded with this comment:

“One of the more memorable holiday moments for me involved returning home during "mid-tour Christmas break" from Iraq, December 2007. This was at the height

of the "Iraq Surge" where the US deployed an additional 50K troops to quell increasing Sunni - Shi'a violence in the region. Unless you've been there, it is very difficult to fully describe the "Journey" a servicemember must go on to get back from a live combat zone all the way back to one's home. And it is equally as difficult describing the emotional feelings experienced along the quite tedious travel. But I think I speak for many deployed servicemembers when I say that there is no pain that can overcome the actual joy of seeing your spouse and children again. For those brief moments of family reunion, all the immediate experiences of pain, angst, worry, fatigue....all fade away when you are able to embrace your spouse and children and hold them tightly in your arms, thanking God for their safety and well

being and protection while you were in a faraway land in often times inhospitable conditions, extreme environments, and experiencing the daily uncertainty of not knowing if you'll survive the combat tour and make it home safely to your loved ones.”

IL Supreme Court certifies Problem-Solving courts http://bit.ly/2AIYf1r PEORIA, Ill. - The Illinois Supreme Court has certified the Peoria County Mental Health, Veterans' and Drug Problem-Solving Courts. Members of the Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning, along with the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts (AOIC) completed a review of the applications, policies and procedures, and other supporting materials and found these three problem-solving courts to be in full compliance with the Illinois Supreme Court Problem-Solving Courts Standards.

AOIC staff completed a site visit of the Mental Health, Veterans', and Drug Problem Solving Courts that included observation of staffing and court proceedings and interviews of the members of the Problem-Solving Court teams.

IL: Kendall County readying for veterans treatment court http://bit.ly/2ApIZ9A If a veteran is charged in Kendall County with a nonviolent felony or misdemeanor and has a substance abuse issue or a mental illness, or both, they may qualify for a special veterans treatment court in the near future.

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Kendall County Judge John McAdams spoke to a panel of representatives from county courts, law enforcement, mental health and veterans agencies and organizations on Friday, Dec. 1, regarding a proposed new veterans court program at the Kendall County Courthouse in Yorkville. Legislation passed in 2016 will require every judicial circuit in Illinois to offer a veterans treatment court program, beginning Jan. 1. Kendall County is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit along with DeKalb County, and DeKalb County will have its own veterans court.

IL: Aurora man says new vet court connected him ‘with the right people’ http://bit.ly/2AEKi4v

. . . U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo presided over the graduation ceremony Dec. 4 at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, where he acknowledged the difficulties people like Morales face when navigating the federal court system. “It’s a very difficult journey,” Castillo said, “and it’s a journey with many, many obstacles.” The new veterans court was established in October 2016. It collaborates with the John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center and Clinic to let honorably discharged veterans enter a diversion agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office if charged with a misdemeanor. The veterans complete programs focused on PTSD, anger management, mental health, and drug and alcohol addiction. They also meet with U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox once a month. Prosecution is dropped for vets who successfully complete treatment and commit no new offenses.

Additional resources from my blog 1. LIST OF NATIONAL AND STATE LEGAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/19DC5zu 2. U.S. VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS LOCATIONS http://bit.ly/1Lf1VX5

PTS/TBI/MST

EVENT: Cohen Veterans Bioscience Webinar: 2017 Scientific Year in Review – A progress report on our research programs in the areas of PTSD, TBI and other brain disorders, December 21st, http://bit.ly/2AJsd5z

Join us for our 2017 Scientific Year in Review Webinar on December 21, 2017, which will cover our research progress towards developing diagnostics & personalized therapeutics for PTSD, TBI and other Brain Disorders.

Across medicine, a new understanding of the biology underlying illness is producing revolutionary treatments for cancer and other diseases that were once considered incurable. At the same time, advances in genetic analysis, imaging and computing are making the living human brain more accessible to science than ever before. These developments provide a golden opportunity to develop new diagnostics and

treatments for the constellation of trauma-related conditions that affect veterans and civilians. This webinar will review our research progress in 2017.

DoD: Congressional Support Needed for TBI Research, Doctor Says http://bit.ly/2ApuFhn

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2017 — Continued Congressional support for traumatic brain injury treatment and diagnosis will enable further research, clinical innovations and focus on military readiness, said Navy Capt. (Dr.) Michael Colston, the Defense Department’s director

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of military health policy and oversight for the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. Colston appeared before the Senate Armed Forces Committee’s panel on personnel to update members on DoD’s work in the TBI arena for service members, veterans and family members. “The department's approach to evaluation and treatment of TBI at the point of injury facilitates rapid identification and recovery, reducing the chance of another concussion before a service member's healed from a first,” he said. DoD’s mandatory screening program for TBI also promotes early identification of service members with concussion so that they can access effective treatment for physical, cognitive and emotional effects of the injury, he added.

MST: Yale University Veterans Clinic Sues Military for Sexual Assault Records http://bit.ly/2As0Ixe

On December 13, 2017, Protect Our Defenders and the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, filed suit in U.S. District Court to compel the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release records related to gender disparities within the military justice system and the military record correction boards’ handling of cases involving sexual assault and harassment. The lawsuit was filed by the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School. Discrimination against female service members is widespread: women are dramatically underrepresented within the military and experience disproportionate rates of sexual

harassment, assault, and rape (collectively known as “military sexual trauma” or “MST”), according to the clinic.

TX: Women of War http://bit.ly/2ArfOCP MCALLEN – Female veterans are three times more likely to be homeless. It’s just one of the hurdles women in the service face.

In October, during CHANNEL 5 NEWS’ Heart of the Valley, a spotlight shined on helping homeless veterans, local agencies we worked with were trying to keep awareness of the homeless message alive. They are remembering the first women of the service, the women of war who laid the foundation for female veterans. At 96 years old, Julia Pater is being honored. Pater is a veteran who just wouldn’t quit. “She enlisted three different times," Anna Baker told CHANNEL 5 NEWS. "She’s like, I’m not done yet. I want more. It’s in my heart and I want to serve.” On Tuesday, Baker, program manager for Women Veterans of the Texas Veterans Commission, honored seven women at the Alfredo Gonzales Texas State Veterans Home.

. . . Today, women are facing new obstacles. Baker told us women veterans are at higher risk of becoming homeless. "Three times higher than that of their non-veteran counterparts and male veteran counterparts," said Baker. The National Coalition of Homeless Veterans says post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma are contributing factors.

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Baker says many single mothers struggle with unequal pay once they end their military careers. "Women coming out of the military are having to learn this new skill, having to negotiate their own pay," Baker said. CHANNEL 5 NEWS reached out to Hidalgo County. It tracks homelessness each year. During their last census, 22 of the 349 people identified themselves as veterans. They do not know how many of those veterans are women. "Letting people know that there are women who served and that there are services available to them is very important," said Baker.

For Baker, part of improving the future means not only looking forward but also looking to the past. Resources are available for veterans, regardless of gender. Visit the Texas Veterans Commission website and click on Topics & Help to search for resources available for specific needs.

For more resources for veterans post-military life, click here.

Mental Health and the Holidays http://bit.ly/2BoGR5y

From the highly evidenced-based field of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, we have known for decades that the holidays in America are traditionally a time ripe for off-the-chart stressors and wide-spread emotional regression.

For those already challenged with health problems, or conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries or chronic pain, the additional stress of the holidays can quickly become overwhelming. Many of these conditions involve heightened stress vulnerability, meaning that a weakened capacity to cope with stress is already in place. What is required is an even more conscious effort to manage stress in order to remain buoyant during these festive times that invite regression on multiple levels. Caregivers and mental health professionals are also vulnerable to increased pressures this time of year, dealing with a blizzard of regressive forces from patients, relatives, co-workers, and friends.

Frequently, when it seems the snow could not possibly get any deeper, surprise stressors erupt from unexpected administrative, legal or business vectors. ‘When it rains, it pours.’ Caregivers need to remember they cannot care optimally for others unless they first care for themselves. Our patients deserve our very best which requires us first to give ourselves the best we have to offer.

. . . For me, the cornerstone of survival is to always focus on self-care. Mediation, exercise, getting as much rest as possible, setting realistic short-term goals are my reliable, go-to coping tools. Also, orchestrating brief episodes of positive interactions with family and friends, if possible, can foster a sense of greater control and resilience.

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Additional resources from my blog

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

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

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SUICIDE

Aimed at preventing suicides, VA invites seven cities to participate in ‘Mayor’s Challenge’ http://bit.ly/2ApBIq2

VA and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the inaugural Mayor’s Challenge to prevent suicide among service members, Veterans and their families. The goal of the Mayor’s Challenge is to eliminate suicide by using a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention. “Of the 20 suicides a day that we reported last year, 14 were not under VA care,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “We are pleased to partner with SAMHSA to bring attention, education and support regarding suicide prevention to communities where our Veterans live.” VA and SAMHSA will invite seven cities to participate in a policy academy process that up until now has only been available to states and territories. The cities will be invited based on Veteran population data, suicide prevalence rates and capacity of the city to lead the way in

this first phase of the Mayor’s Challenge. The selected cities will be announced mid-December, once they have formally accepted nominations.

SPRC: The Weekly Spark

ICRC-S Research Training Institute Call for Papers

Childhood Maltreatment and Suicide Risk in the U.S. Army Saving Lives via Text Message WASHINGTON: Every Health Care Provider in WA Is Required To Be Trained in Suicide Prevention CALIFORNIA: The Plan to Get Women Vets to Use More Health Services Zero Suicide Institute Job Opening: Senior Project Associate International Association for Suicide Prevention Early Career Group Emory University Postdoctoral Residency Training Program in Health Service Psychology

Zerosuicide UK: Mercy Care NHS Foundation Trust-Wide Policy Document

Harvard University Means Matter

American Association of Suicidology Facts & National Suicide Statistics State of Washington Health Profession Mandatory Suicide Prevention Training SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions: Suicide Prevention EVENT: Injury Control Research Center for Suicide Prevention (ICRC-S) is pleased to

announce that its fourth Research Training Institute (RTI), May 7th – 11th, 2018 NIH: Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit Opportunity: The Zero Suicide Institute in the Injury, Violence, and Suicide Prevention

Portfolio of EDC (U.S. Division) has an opening for a Senior Project Associate [Project

Associate (II)], reporting to the Associate Director for Programs and serving as tribal lead for the Zero Suicide Institute.

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NEWS MAY BE POSTED IN THE

SECTIONS BELOW.

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COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

University of Minnesota: The U of M program that helps military veterans — through beekeeping http://bit.ly/2AEUZE5

. . . Entomologist Dr. Rebecca Masterman, 47, is program director of the Bee Squad, an outreach arm of the University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab, which conducts scientific research on bees. Masterman and her Bee Squad colleagues teach the public about beekeeping, native bees, and overall bee health. . . . The Bee Veterans Apiary was christened in the fall of 2015. Since then, 20 veterans have participated in free hands-on programming. Initially, Masterman and her colleagues conceived of the apiary as a veterans-only space. But they quickly learned that inviting

veterans to bring a spouse, close friend, or a significant other only made the program stronger. . . . Masterman says she’s learned to let the veterans show her what the Bee Veterans program should look like. Early on, veterans told her that they wanted the apiary to be a space where they could focus on the bees and not dwell on their military experiences. But sometimes caring for the bees can bring up difficult emotions. “I've had a wonderful beekeeper veteran, for whom a trigger is seeing the bees if they’re not alive. That's actually traumatic. And so we've had to build this program so that we're very cognizant of the fact that we want to make the experience as joyful and productive and relaxing and invigorating as possible,” Masterman says. Long-term, she’d like to see the veterans take over management of the apiary and also

involve them in some of the Bee Squad’s research activities, including data collection. Masterman is talking with the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport about selling Bee Veterans honey there.

University of Plymouth (UK) Research: Testing apps to help stroke and brain injury patients http://bit.ly/2Bm5xf7

Stroke and brain injury patients are being guided on the best choice of digital help thanks to students in the School of Health Professions at the University of Plymouth, in collaboration with a national network of healthcare professionals. Alongside organisations including Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) and Livewell Southwest, students are clinically testing apps to see if they are suitable to be part of the mytherappy website – a database of clinically recommended health apps developed

by the stroke and neuro rehab team at NDHT. The mytherappy website is an app review website that helps patients, carers and clinicians find the best apps to help with rehabilitation and recovery following a neurological disorder, such as a stroke or brain injury. Now the collaboration will see undergraduate and postgraduate students test new apps on a monthly basis. They are joining mytherappy's national network of app testers, which includes clinical specialists in stroke, neurology and head injuries, therapists, nurses, psychologists, patients and carers. Apps that have been tested by the network and meet mytherappy's robust set of testing

criteria are featured on the mytherappy website, which anyone can access.

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Yale University Veterans Clinic Sues Military for Sexual Assault Records http://bit.ly/2As0Ixe

On December 13, 2017, Protect Our Defenders and the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, filed suit in U.S. District Court to compel the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release records related to gender disparities within the military justice system and the military record correction boards’ handling of

cases involving sexual assault and harassment. The lawsuit was filed by the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School. Discrimination against female service members is widespread: women are dramatically underrepresented within the military and experience disproportionate rates of sexual

harassment, assault, and rape (collectively known as “military sexual trauma” or “MST”), according to the clinic.

Yale University: The Latest: Veterans Affairs mum on veterans' court filing http://strib.mn/2AERJbX

HARTFORD, Conn. — The Latest on veterans seeking a class action lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs over radiation exposure they say they experienced after a

1966 accident involving hydrogen bombs in Spain (all times local): 5:15 p.m. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says it can't comment on a class action lawsuit being sought by veterans who say they responded to a 1966 accident involving U.S. hydrogen bombs in Spain and then became ill from radiation exposure. Yale Law School students in Connecticut on Monday filed a request with the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims on behalf of veterans denied VA disability benefits. A VA spokesman says the VA has not seen the filing and can't address it.

GENERAL NEWS

OK: Advocates discuss next steps in Oklahoma criminal justice reform - Forum panelists seek progress on incarceration alternatives in wake of voter-OK’d initiatives http://bit.ly/2BlRFBD

A little over five months after two criminal justice reform state questions took effect in Oklahoma, a group of legislators, attorneys, advocates and clients of pretrial and post-incarceration programs met Monday to discuss what the next steps should be to reduce the state’s prison population and encourage re-entry into the workforce. The Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa, a nonprofit that operates Tulsa County’s alternative courts program, hosted a 90-minute forum with the Tulsa Regional Chamber at its downtown office ahead of the Legislature’s second special session, which is scheduled to begin Dec. 18.

Oklahoma remains the No. 1 state in incarceration of women and is second only to Louisiana in total imprisonment statistics, but those at Monday’s forum noted that Oklahoma will soon overtake Louisiana unless the Legislature collaborates to create meaningful change. The forum outlined five priority bills that organizers want passed during the next full legislative session.

Additional resources from my blog ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH

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

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VETERANS JOB LISTINGS AND HIRING FAIRS WEBSITES http://bit.ly/19Dz2ay

NEWSLETTERS & BLOG FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/1GQzKjf

"VETERANS IN JUSTICE" LinkedIn Professional Group (VIJ)

Please join us on LinkedIn or Facebook for networking and discussions on the issues regarding veterans in the criminal justice system. This group's mission is to connect professionals and advocates who work with and for justice-involved veterans and to share ideas and practices for assisting those veterans -- from the conditions that lead to justice involvement, through initial police contact, arrest, criminal case processing, conviction, sentencing, incarceration, and release. Access our group at http://linkd.in/1947vfS Facebook: www.facebook.com/veteransinjustice

Join The National Discussion - 1,348 Professionals in VIJ Group

Active Topics New online tool helps veterans identify legal issues and take action to resolve them California bill would allow troops and vets to avoid conviction on DUI offenses Pain Management and Opioid Use with Veterans and Service Members PTSD/TBI and Discharges Sexual Assaults in Military Drop, Reporting Goes Up, Annual Report Reveals ADDRESSING THE FLOW OF VETERANS INTO PRISON

LINKEDIN GROUPS

Military and Veteran Benefit Forum

Veteran Mentor Network http://linkd.in/1fOlgOt 28,933 members Institute for Veteran Cultural Studies http://linkd.in/1cz3gq1

NAMI http://linkd.in/1cz3Gg7 BI-IFEA (Brain injury-Ideas for Education & Advocacy) http://linkd.in/1cz4e5V

Military-Civilian: Hot Jobs and Careers for Veterans and Their Families http://linkd.in/1c59DkM VETERANS IN JUSTICE GROUP http://linkd.in/12APdMS

Cuyahoga County Ohio Veterans and Supporters (Bryan A. McGown "Gunny") http://linkd.in/Zxwx1f Veteran Employment Representatives http://linkd.in/ZxwUcc

MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES

http://bit.ly/1RVPLFl Midwest Military Outreach, Inc. http://linkd.in/1eiMTkJ

Military Veteran Job Fairs & Hiring Conferences http://linkd.in/Zxx4jS

Wounded Warrior Resources http://linkd.in/17TMNhJ

The Value of a Veteran http://linkd.in/15vD7H4 MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES

http://linkd.in/1fkQLA8 (Please email us other groups that you find and think would be informative and useful for our audience)

VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG estrattonconsulting.wordpress.com

To focus this newsletter on veterans-related criminal justice and mental illness issues and to shorten it to a more

manageable size, we have moved our tables & lists of reference materials and other longer term information to retired Justice Stratton's blog. Please follow the links below for that information.

Operation Legal Help Ohio

http://bit.ly/1Gg0HbK

National Legal Assistance

http://bit.ly/19DC5zu

VA Town Halls & Events

http://bit.ly/1Gg1DN6

Jobs & Hiring Fairs Listings http://bit.ly/19Dz2ay

Events: Conferences, Webinars, etc.

Additional Resources http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH

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http://bit.ly/1Gg1nOi

Current Newsletter

http://bit.ly/19ovER5

2015 Newsletters

http://bit.ly/1FKASAC

Ohio Resources For Veterans

http://bit.ly/19ouWn0

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Editor's Note: Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations that provide articles for these news clips every week. I would especially like to thank and urge you to follow:

Marco Bongioanni, MSE Readjustment Counseling Therapist, U.S. Army Veteran,Bronx Vet Center, Bronx, NY

Lily Casura, journalist, author and founder of Healing Combat Trauma - the award-winning, first website to address the issue of combat veterans and PTSD (established February 2006). Lily is also apublic policy grad

student, IWMF grantee and NASW award winner. U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Wayne Gatewood, of Quality Support Inc. Wayne disseminates a daily Veterans

News e-mail to an international audience Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee, Project Manager, Military Spouse Mental Health Pipeline, National Military Family

Association. Dr. Herrera-Yee is currently a Board Member for the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Military Spouses of Strength, Military Mental Health Project and the National Guard Suicide and

Resiliency Council among others. She has also been a special contributor to NBC News, Military Times, Air Force Times, Military Spouse Magazine and BuzzFeed. She spends her free time mentoring spouses through

eMentor and Joining Forces. Dr. Herrera-Yee received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and was a Clinical Fellow at Harvard University.

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

Justice for Vets, Justice For Vets is a professional services division of the National Association of Drug Court

professionals, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Alexandria, VA. Justice for Vets believes that no veteran or military service member should suffer from gaps in service, or the judicial system when they return

to their communities. As the stewards of the Veterans Treatment Court movement Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren, Pioneer, America's first mental health court dedicated to the decriminalization of

people with mental illness Kathy Platoni, Psy.D., DAAPM, FAIS, Clinical Psychologist, COL (RET), US Army, COL. Ohio Militia,

www.drplatoni.com, Veteran ~ Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, (Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan), Co-Author and Co-Editor, Fort Hood Massacre

Survivor, National Combat Trauma Expert

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

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

HOW TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

There are three ways to join my newsletter:

Join my Veterans In The Courts Initiative Google Group at http://bit.ly/1DZ3esD or,

Subscribe to my Veterans In The Courts Initiative Blog for immediate news and for my weekly newsletter

at http://bit.ly/1DP1TCi or,

Please contact my editor Pete Miller at cruzzen@gmail.com and request to be added.

1. Please send us a little info about yourselves as we like to introduce our new sign-ups to others for networking purposes. (See our transmittal email page for examples.) If you do NOT wish to be recognized, please let Pete know, otherwise we will

list you.

2. We provide these news clips summaries as a way to share information of a general nature and it is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation and advice in a particular matter. The opinions and interpretations expressed within

are those of the author of the individual news stories only and may not reflect those of other identified parties.

3. We do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of these news clips, nor do we endorse or make any representations about their content. We only pass them through to our readers and rely on you to check out their content.

We don't intend to make any editorial judgment about their content or politics.

4. In no event will I, EStratton Consulting, or my Editor Pete Miller, be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use of or reliance on the contents of this news clips summary. How you chose to use them is strictly up to you.

5. Please feel free to pass the news clips on to any of your networks, so that we may get the word out as far as possible.

You may also send in information similar in content to what we pass on. While we may occasionally pass on such

information, we don't intend to promote commercial or for profit products nor be a substitute for your own efforts to

promote your own entity or website. We especially welcome information about national funding or training opportunities.

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6. If you pass on our clips, please also pass on our Disclaimer.

EDITOR/CONTACT

Pete Miller, cruzzen@gmail.com, @OHCircuitRider

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

Veterans In The Courts Initiative

Editor/Publisher - Veterans Treatment Court News Daily

Editor/Publisher - Traumatic Brain Injury News Daily