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

JULY 4, 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

3,826 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 14

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 4 GENERAL NEWS 16

OHIO 5 "VETERANS IN JUSTICE" LINKEDIN GROUP 16

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 7 OTHER LINKEDIN GROUPS 17

PTS/TBI/MST 9 VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE BLOG 17

SUICIDE 13 HOW TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER 17

***DoD publishes Development Health News every other week.

FEATURED STORIES

Retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, serves as project director of the Ohio Stepping Up Initiative http://bit.ly/29kU2Xe

. . . The Stepping Up Initiative was launched in May 2015 as a

partnership of the Council of State Governments Justice Center, the

National Association of Counties and the American Psychiatric

Association Foundation. The initiative is designed to rally national,

state and local leaders around the goal of reducing the number of

people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders in jail.

“Ohio has been a leader in establishing mental health and veterans

courts, developing crisis intervention teams in law enforcement and

other efforts to reform the criminal justice system for persons with

mental illness,” said retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn

Lundberg Stratton, who serves as project director of the Ohio Stepping

Up Initiative.

“Once again, we are proud to be a leader in a national effort. Our work through the

Stepping Up Initiative will improve public safety, break the cycle of jail for persons with

mental illness, and increase their access to treatment.”

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. . . “The number of people with mental illnesses in U.S. jails has reached a crisis level,” said

Plouck, who also serves on the CSG Justice Center’s national board of directors. “The vast

majority of these individuals who have committed minor offenses can be safely treated and,

if necessary, placed under community supervision instead of being put behind bars. We’re

excited to join this effort and look forward to working with our partners at all levels to help

counties achieve their goals.”

Since its launch, Stepping Up has garnered widespread support among criminal justice,

behavioral health and advocacy groups such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness. To

date, more than 270 counties in 41 states have passed resolutions to advance the goals of

Stepping Up.

The Huffington Post: We Can Still Achieve the Promise of Recovery: The President’s New Freedom Commission On Mental Health http://huff.to/29p3Lfe

Editor’s Note: This blog piece was written by Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren, creator of the

first U.S. mental health court to decriminalize the mentally ill and a former member of the

President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.

This summer marks the 13th anniversary of the final report to the

White House, authored by the President’s New Freedom

Commission on Mental Health.

For those unfamiliar with the New Freedom Commission on

Mental Health, it was part of The New Freedom Initiative (NFI). A

national effort launched by President George W. Bush to advance

civil rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act, Title II and

Olmstead v. L.C.

The goals of the NFI were to reduce pervasive barriers to

community living and enhance access to education, employment, housing and technical

assistance.

. . . After an extensive research review, expert testimony, public input and evaluation on

how to improve and reform mental health care in America, the commission found nothing

short of transformation of America’s mental health system would provide a necessary fix.

As stated by Commission Chair Michael F. Hogan Ph. D, “The commission finds that

recovery from mental illness is now a real possibility.”

On July, 22, 2003, the Final Report to the White House was submitted, which detailed a

transformational roadmap to achieve the promise of excellence in mental health care for all

Americans. (See also, Michael F. Hogan’s testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, 2013.)

As America waits for congress to act on pending national mental health legislation, as a

former member of the commission and mental health court Judge - I ask, “Will our nation

step up and deliver on the promise of excellence in community based mental health care in

America to advance recovery and equality - it is not too late. Houston Chronicle: This Independence Day, let's make special effort to honor women veterans http://bit.ly/29a7IR6

. . . As of 2014, Texas had the highest number of women veterans of all U.S. states - more

than 177,000 - and it has the fastest growing population of women veterans.

More than half these veterans served in one of the Gulf Wars. These women veterans

returned home with advanced leadership skills and specialized training. Unfortunately -

similar to male veterans - many also returned home with post-traumatic stress disorder

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(PTSD), often the result of military sexual trauma (MST).

. . . Because they have been trained to "tough it out" while on active duty, many women

veterans find it difficult to seek help for these mental health issues - resulting in what is

described as a "staggering" number of suicides among women veterans. Young women

veterans face the highest risk.

Women veterans also face a lack of adequate and affordable childcare, safety concerns, MST

repercussions, job-search roadblocks, homelessness and more. One woman veteran was

living in a truck with one of her children when someone referred her to the Lotus Project, a

Catholic Charities program serving only women veterans. She says the Lotus Project literally

saved her life.

. . . The Catholic Charities Lotus Project is one of the rare programs that provides housing

for women veterans - even those with children - and provides a network of support services

to help them rebuild their lives and move forward after their military service.

. . . As a city and a nation, citizens must do a better job honoring and helping the

courageous, strong, talented women veterans.

1. Americans need to truly "see" them and thank them for their service.

2. Businesses need to help women veterans translate their skills to the workplace.

3. Lawmakers and military chiefs must have zero tolerance for military sexual trauma

and sexual harassment in all military branches, and lawmakers and agency

managers must invest in the support services women veterans need to overcome the

tragic and devastating results of MST and PTSD.

4. Lawmakers need to invest in housing options for returning women veterans with

children that ensure no veteran ever has to sleep in a car or risk losing her children

because she faces homelessness.

Let's start a movement to support America's women veterans, to lift them up and make

their lives better. To all women veterans across Greater Houston and around the country,

thank you!

Writer Olivia Christina Bush is program director for Women Veterans Services of Catholic

Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

OPPORTUNITIES

Call for Papers: The Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health http://bit.ly/1qQsE8A The Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health aims to maximize the mental, physical

and social health and wellbeing of military personnel, Veterans and their families by

publishing world class research to a broad international and multidisciplinary readership of

researchers, clinicians, administrators, and policy makers.

JMVFH publishes original research articles and several other types of articles related to the

health and wellbeing of the populations of interest including: Emerging Practices and

Programs, Clinical Practice Reviews, Arts and Humanities articles, Perspectives, Talking

Points, and Letters.

The journal welcomes submissions in the following research theme areas:

Mental health and rehabilitation

Physical health and rehabilitation

Social health and wellbeing

Transition from military to civilian life

Family health and wellbeing

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Evolving treatment practices or programs

Occupational and environmental health

Novel health technologies related to military service

Transitions back to family life after deployment

Health care policies and programs

Military history related to health and wellbeing

The arts and military health and wellbeing, and

Gender based research related to any of the above theme areas.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Vet groups uniting to oppose privatized care, defend VA http://on.pnj.com/29dYfbl The nation’s leading veteran services organizations are rallying behind the Department of

Veterans Affairs and its beleaguered health care system, touting the experience of staff, the

breadth of services and its holistic approach to care delivery that they argue the private

sector cannot match.

The VSOs are warning of politicians and groups with agendas that constantly criticize VA

health care, refuse to acknowledge reforms and thus advance a camouflaged campaign to

dismantle VA health care. They also say it is time to better educate their own members on

actions being taken to improve to the health care system that millions of veterans rely

upon.

The rally of vet groups is taking shape informally for now. It’s no coincidence that it occurs

amid a presidential campaign, and with the congressionally chartered Commission on Care

days away from releasing its report on modernizing veterans’ health services over the next

20 years.

Guice: MHS and VA work together to help wounded warriors navigate care system http://1.usa.gov/2958Hlo

Two federal organizations are cooperating more closely than ever to ensure wounded

warriors are able to thrive. With the survival rate from battlefield injuries at record levels,

coming home with more severe injuries presents its own issues. That’s why the Military

Health System and the Department of Veterans Affairs are streamlining the system to make

sure veterans, service members and their families are well served as the population ages.

“This causes … challenges for both [the MHS and VA] on how we actually provide care for

these individuals we saved on the battlefield, but really want them to become as good as

they can be in the constellation of their injuries,” said Dr. Karen Guice, acting assistant

secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. “We’re trying to figure out how to get from today to

tomorrow.”

Guice made her remarks before the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and

Medicine Forum on Aging, Disability and Independence in Washington, D.C., June 27, 2016.

The daylong event fostered dialogue and addressed issues of mutual interest and concern to

the military and civilian organizations related to aging and disability. Army Identifies 512 Reserve Medical Officers for Promotion to Lt. Col. http://bit.ly/29biGK1

The U.S. Army on Tuesday identified over 500 officers for promotion to the rank of

lieutenant colonel in the Army Medical Department.

The service released the results of the selection boards FY16 Reserve Component,

Lieutenant Colonel, Army Medical Department (AMEDD). The boards selected 512 officers

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for promotion, including 28 officers from the Active Guard Reserve and 484 officers from the

Non-Active Guard Reserve and Army National Guard for promotion.

The three branches with the highest number of selectees were the Nurse Corps (AN) with

143 officers, Medical Service Corps (MS) with 135 officers, and Medical Corps (MC), with

111 officers. The branches with the lowest numbers of selectees were Medical Specialist

(SP) with 58 officers, Dental Corps (DC) with 53 officers, and Veterinary Corps (VC) with 12

officers.

The names, branches and competitive categories of the soldiers are as follows: . . .

Introducing a new digital application for healthcare at VA http://bit.ly/29p1Yqx . . . Today we celebrate the launch of the new digital application for healthcare at the VA.

This new digital application is simply a functional, cleaner version of the existing application — it collects the same information.

Since the existing digital application doesn’t open for a majority of the public, our priority

was to get the application up and working as quickly as we could.

While we did a lot of plain language and user experience (UX) work, the experience can still be better.

VA Local Events & News

VA Butler Healthcare Town Hall, July 7th

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) Veterans town hall meeting, July 11th

VA New Orleans will live stream virtual Town Hall, July 12th

Overton-Brooks To Hold Veterans Town Hall Meeting In Longview, July 14th

McGuire VA Medical Center’s annual Veterans & Family Resource and Employment Fair is

coming Saturday, August 13

VA enlists IBM’s Watson Health technology in the war on cancer

Women Veterans Call Center Now Has a Chat Function

New Oklahoma City Veterans Healthcare System director vows positive change

Temporary Veterans Affairs Clinic opens in Sheffield, OH

Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center Offers Direct Scheduling

VA OIG Reports

Audit of Modular Ramps Purchased by the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center Gainesville,

Florida

Additional resources from my blog

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

OHIO

AP: Court wrangling continues over Ohio drug-price ballot issue http://bit.ly/295a0kx COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Legal fireworks continue over a proposal that seeks to control the

price Ohio pays for prescription drugs.

The Drug Price Relief Act aims to keep state entities from buying drugs at prices higher than

the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays.

Opponents including the Ohio Manufacturers' Association and the Pharmaceutical Research

and Manufacturers of America sued. They argue in an Ohio Supreme Court filing Wednesday

that petition circulators failed to follow Ohio law and certain signatures should be tossed.

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The issue's backers, led by the California-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, were cleared

June 4 to begin gathering signatures to take the plan to voters. That was after state

lawmakers failed to act within four months on what's called an initiated statute.

Proponents face a July 6 signature deadline for fall 2016.

Temporary Veterans Affairs Clinic opens in Sheffield, OH http://bit.ly/29a76Ld SHEFFIELD — A Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic officially opened its doors this week at a

temporary location on the village’s south side near Lorain County Community College.

For years it was rumored the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs planned to leave St.

Joseph Community Center in Lorain. Those rumors were confirmed in October when it was

announced that a building in Sheffield would serve as a temporary site for the clinic while

the VA continues to scope out a spot for a permanent facility.

The 22,000-square-foot building at 5255 N. Abbe Road across from Ruby Tuesday was

vacant for a year and previously under a lease agreement with the Cleveland Clinic.

Despite the VA Clinic’s temporary status, Army Reserve veteran Tom Ryan said the new

location and services are wonderful.

The Ohio National Guard: Demystifying Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder http://bit.ly/29dW1sA

Myth or Fact? A majority of Ohio's military veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress

Disorder (PTSD). It is a myth, as less than 10 percent of Ohio National Guard service

members suffer from significant PTSD.

The Ohio National Guard has produced the above video to encourage employers to

understand diagnosed and undiagnosed PTSD among their employees who are service

members and veterans.

“We are committed to supporting our men and women who are suffering from the effects of

a traumatic experience,” said Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general. “Many

times, because of the stigma associated with the condition, they are not seeking treatment.

By partnering with employers to dispel the myths about PTSD, we can break down the

barriers that could be preventing recovery.”

Employers, PTSD survivors and others who are concerned about this issue are encouraged

to commit their support online by participating in the dialogue with #DemystifyPTSD.

Cuyahoga County sheriff, Frank Bova named to a newly created position http://bit.ly/29dUIds

Cuyahoga County Executive, Armond Budish appointed Sheriff Frank Bova to a newly-

created position.

Frank Bova will serve as chief community safety and protection officer.

Bova will oversee the sheriff's department, the clerk of courts, the medical examiner's

office, the consumer affairs department and the department of public safety. He will report

directly to the county executive in this new role. 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

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

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS

CA: California May Take Closer Look at Treatment Courts for Veterans http://bit.ly/29578nN

Of California’s 58 counties, 25 operate courts for veterans, including six in the Bay Area.

They allow vets with substance abuse issues or mental health problems to be placed in

treatment rather than prison or jail.

The state Senate Veterans Affairs Committee today approved a bill that would require an

evaluation of those courts, with an eye toward possibly expanding them.

Businessman Wayne Hughes Jr. is sponsoring the bill and has pledged to pay for half of the

study. It is expected to cost about $200,000.

Hughes, who runs a program for veterans at his cattle ranch in San Miguel (San Luis

Obispo County), says many vets have trouble adjusting when they get home.

MI: (Kalamazoo County) Vets' court could be in place in late summer http://bit.ly/295aWp4

KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) -- Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller says the county may

have an operating veterans' court in place by the end of summer.

Fuller, who was originally hoping for an October roll-out, was in New York this week

wrapping up training. He said the court will primarily focus on veterans facing

misdemeanors.

"They're put with a mentor to help walk them through the court process," Fuller said. "It

could be somebody that's probably from the same branch of military that they're from, or

someone who may or may not have had similar issues throughout their life."

The model is similar to the county's successful drug court.

"Kalamazoo County is blessed with so many courts that we're able to keep our jail

population down at a fraction of the cost," Fuller said.

It would be the 23rd court of its kind in the state.

MN: (Vet Court Co-Founder) Gary Evenson honored as tireless advocate for Blue Earth County vets http://bit.ly/295bJq3

. . . Gary Evenson . . . is retiring this week after 38 years as veterans services director for

Blue Earth County.

. . . Evenson was involved in the formation of Blue Earth County's veterans court three

years ago. The program helps veterans facing criminal charges in part by making them

aware of the services available to them. The project became the state's second veterans

court and was awarded a $200,000 from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to

help with funding.

Treatment providers are seeing more serious health issues, such as traumatic brain injuries

among younger veterans, Evenson said.

Mental health issues have been at the forefront in recent years and was one service that

benefited from the opening of a veterans clinic in Mankato five years ago, he said.

"The issues that we see people dealing with have certainly become more complex," Evenson

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said. "The problems are more serious, more chronic."

OR: Klamath County Veterans Court mentor coordinator will lead the July 4 parade in Klamath Falls as its grand marshal. http://bit.ly/295cTlo

Ron Ballard will have the seat of honor this Independence Day. The 65-year-old Vietnam

war veteran will lead the July 4 parade in Klamath Falls as its grand marshal from the seat

of his 2014 custom-built red Harley.

. . . Ballard was honored as Mr. Veterans of Foreign Wars for the State of Oregon for 2016-

2017, has been the VFW post commander in Klamath Falls twice, and has been an active

member of the Klamath Country Veterans Council for nine years.

He has also served on the Klamath County Veterans Court as a mentor coordinator for three

years and as captain of the VFW Color Guard for 10 years.

TN: Shelby County Commission OKs additional funding for education (and veterans court) http://bit.ly/295cf7e

Shelby County commissioners on Wednesday approved an operating budget with an

additional $28.2 million over last year's financial plan earmarked for education — $22

million allocated to Shelby County Schools and the remainder going to the six municipal

school districts.

. . . Commissioners also approved some other spending increases.

District Attorney General Amy Weirich and public defender Stephen Bush will receive $1.3

million in additional funds, while Regional One Health was awarded $1 million.

Correctional Center officers had asked the commission to raise their pay in line with deputy

jailers. The commission set aside $1 million for them, pending the results of the county's

compensation study.

Other increase requests for Juvenile Court, General Sessions Court, Environmental Court,

Veterans Court, the Election Commission and JIFF (Juvenile Intervention & Faith-based

Follow-up) were also approved.

TN: Chief Justice Lee speaks (on several ways to modernize and make courts more accessible) http://bit.ly/295dl2P

SEVIERVILLE -- The state judiciary is working on several ways to modernize and make

courts more accessible, including efforts to put courts online so attorneys can e-file

complaints and other court documents, and a task force looking at how to improve access

for indigent clients.

Chief Justice Sharon Lee spoke about their efforts at the Sevierville Rotary meeting

Tuesday.

. . . As part of the efforts Tennessee has undertaken to address human trafficking and

obtained a grant to work on programs that will help the courts better deal with those issues.

"They're the kinds of cases that can clog up an entire court docket. They can make a judge's

head explode if they're not used to dealing with those kind of difficult legal concepts," Lee

said.

"We needed to step up and provide a venue or create a forum where these kinds of cases

can be resolved."

Tennessee has created other specialized courts such as drug courts, family courts and

veterans courts to deal with specific issues, she said, and as she researched the matter she

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found that 26 other states already have business court dockets.

So a new (business court) docket was established and steps taken to help ensure its

success, including creating an advisory board of attorneys that practice business law and

drafting an exit survey for attorneys who appear in the court.

"The feedback we've got has been very positive and there's been some constructive

criticism that we were able to incorporate," Lee said.

TX: Brazoria County Commissioners Support Veterans Court Grants http://bit.ly/298hh37

The Brazoria County Commissioners’ Court held a special meeting Tuesday (June 28). . . .

The Commissioners presented Resolutions of Support for grant applications for the fiscal

year 2017 to the Domestic Violence Court Program, the Drug Court Program, the DWI Court

Program and the Veterans Court Program.

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

Research: Trauma induces more alcohol craving than stress among veterans with PTSD and co-occurring alcohol dependence http://bit.ly/29oXm3O

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependence (AD) are two of the most

common and debilitating disorders diagnosed among American military veterans.

AD and PTSD often occur together, and this co-occurrence has a worse prognosis than

either disorder alone.

Alcohol craving is related to relapse, but the relationship between PTSD symptoms, craving,

and relapse is not well understood.

This study is the first to explore the effects of trauma-induced and stress-induced imagery

on alcohol craving, affect, and cardiovascular and cortisol responses in a laboratory setting.

Results: . . . Both stress and trauma cues produced greater increases in craving, negative

affect (anxiety, fear, anger), and cardiovascular reactivity when compared to neutral cues.

Traumatic images produced significantly stronger craving for alcohol and greater

cardiovascular reactivity than stressful images.

Also, trauma-induced but not stress-induced craving was positively correlated with baseline

levels of drinking. These findings are consistent with prior observations of a relationship

between PTSD symptoms and alcohol relapse.

VETERANS: “New” VA guidelines for TBI relief http://leafne.ws/29kVTeR

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald recently granted “equitable relief” to more

than 24,000 veterans following a national review of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) claims

between 2007 and 2014.

A fact sheet from the Department of Veterans Affairs explains:

“Equitable relief is a unique legal remedy that allows the Secretary to correct an injustice to

a claimant, where VA is not otherwise authorized to do so within the scope of the law.

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. . . “To minimize burden and ensure no financial harm to affected Veterans, the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs granted equitable relief to all of the more than 24,000 identified Veterans on May 3, 2016. The relief authorizes VA to offer new TBI exams, conducted by an appropriate specialist, to all identified veterans. Further, this equitable

relief: •Enables VA to take action on any new examinations without requiring veterans to

submit new claims.

•Allows VA to award an effective date as early as the date of original TBI claim and provide any retroactive benefits due.

U.S. Rep. Steve Knight Introduces Veterans Legislation http://bit.ly/295h14P

U.S. Rep. Steve Knight introduced a bill Tuesday that would help veterans recover from

post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, chronic pain,

and opiate addiction.

The “No Hero Left Untreated Act” would establish a pilot program with the Department of

Veterans Affairs based on a promising new neurological treatment.

Magnetic eResonance Therapy technology, or MeRT technology, is a therapy used to treat

PTSD, TBI, MST, chronic pain, and opiate addiction pioneered by an interdisciplinary clinic

based in Southern California called the Brain Treatment Center. Research: New technology could deliver drugs to brain injuries http://bit.ly/29bjNt0

La Jolla, Calif. -- A new study led by scientists at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical

Discovery Institute (SBP) describes a technology that could lead to new therapeutics for

traumatic brain injuries.

The discovery, published today in Nature Communications, provides a means of homing

drugs or nanoparticles to injured areas of the brain.

"We have found a peptide sequence of four amino acids, cysteine, alanine, glutamine, and

lysine (CAQK), that recognizes injured brain tissue," said Erkki Ruoslahti, M.D., Ph.D.,

distinguished professor in SBP's NCI-Designated Cancer Center and senior author of the

study.

"This peptide could be used to deliver treatments that limit the extent of damage." VA: Online VA Resources for Stress Management http://bit.ly/29bguSA

Tips for Summer – Using Online Tools for Problem Solving: Summer can be a time for

changes and transitions, which can bring new challenges and added stress. Routines

can be changed, kids are out of school and families can move during the summer. Moving

Forward can help with these challenging times.

Moving Forward – a free, online course – is geared toward assisting Veterans during times

of transition and stress and is confidential and easy-to-use. It can be used anytime,

anywhere and is available as a mobile app or online course.

Moving Forward is not your average online course, it features interactive exercises, videos

and real-life stories from Veterans. No sign-up or registration is required and no personal

information is collected. Interested in learning more? Visit Moving Forward for more

information.

Health.mil: Yoga helps me manage PTSD http://1.usa.gov/2958a2W

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As our medical understanding of the brain continues to grow, treatment options for brain-

related issues continue to expand.

Service members with a psychological condition or traumatic brain injury now have a variety

of clinical treatment options as well as supplemental care options.

Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Chris Eder describes how yoga helped him with posttraumatic

stress disorder. All experiences shared are that of the author.

Individual contributor articles are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily

reflect the official policy or position of the Defense Health Agency, the Office of the Assistant

Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, or the Defense Department.

This is the first in a series of posts titled myVoice on the Defense Centers of Excellence for

Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury website.

Research: Breath-based (Yogic) meditation: A mechanism to restore the physiological and cognitive reserves for optimal human performance http://bit.ly/29p2SmF

Conclusion: Daily stress is associated with many physiological changes resulting in

significant decrements in human performance.

The mechanisms by which yogic breathing may positively impact our compensatory

mechanisms to restore functional cognitive reserves and other physiological systems are not

completely understood.

It is very likely that meditation and intentional rhythmic breathing may, in part, reduce the

overall physiological strain and mental workload on these human systems.

By reducing the physical and cognitive workloads on the organ systems, optimal human

performance is accomplishable.

Physical activity training, EEs and cognitive reserve preserving activities such as meditation

may have a positive impact on sustaining human performance during periods of acute or

prolonged stress.

DoD: Veteran with Post-Traumatic Stress Finds Coping Skills Through ‘Dot’ Art http://1.usa.gov/290gtgK

. . . With assistance provided by a psychologist, US Army veteran Greg Mullen realized he

had an aptitude for art. He found himself doodling on paper one day, making small circles

within circles, within more circles. The more he repeated the pattern, Mullen said, the less

anxious he became.

Little did Mullen know as he doodled those patterns that his life would dramatically change

for the better. Gradually, as he transitioned from pencil and paper to paint, overlaying a

series of dots onto objects, he felt the entrapment of PTSD’s chains begin to fall away.

“It gives me peace of mind and calms me down,” Mullen said of his art.

“It gives him a chance to take a breath, when most people might go into panic,” Mullen’s

husband, Edward, said. “He just immerses himself in it. When you're concentrating on

creating dots, you're not thinking about much else.”

. . . As his collection of art grew, Mullen began showing his wares at military installations

from the East Coast to Colorado, where he is able to interact with other veterans and show

those who also suffer from PTSD symptoms that an alternative to medicine might exist for

them, too. He receives emails from inspired veterans who found coping skills through

activities such as yoga, meditation and art.

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Seeing Mullen’s work helps other veterans challenge themselves, Edward said.

His husband’s art displays at military bases “gets him out there in front of other people who

need to hear his story from him,” Edward said. “There are other veterans who are going

through the same thing.”

You Are Not Alone: Understanding and Treating PTSD (Huffington Post) http://huff.to/2959Dq3

Across the United Sates, approximately eight million people develop post-traumatic stress

disorder (PTSD) every year. Among military service members and veterans that number is

even higher.

Yet, as a nation, we do not sufficiently understand this mental health condition.

This month’s National PTSD Awareness Month aims to change that through a focus on three

simple actions with the power to make a world of difference for hundreds of thousands of

individuals living with or impacted by PTSD - learn, connect, and share.

Learn that treatment works. Connect with someone in need. Share knowledge to raise

awareness.

Warriors Heart to Provide Service Dogs to Warriors Through Operation Overwatch http://bit.ly/295h94o

To provide Professionally Trained Service Dogs to veterans and first responders dealing with

addiction, PTSD and/or TBI (traumatic brain injury), Warriors Heart(first private addiction

center for “Warriors Only” in the US) announces a new partnership with Operation

Overwatch.

During the Warriors Heart peer-to-peer healing program, Operation Overwatch, along with a

therapist, will do animal assisted therapy group sessions. Warriors will get the opportunity

to work with the dogs while in treatment, which creates powerful results for both the dog

and warrior.

If a warrior has really connected with a dog, at the end of treatment, the warrior is given

the option to take this buddy home for moral support during the long-term recovery

process.

Feature Story: Veterans lead fight against sexual assault in the military http://bit.ly/29a90M8

By the Pentagon’s own estimate, some 20,300 sexual assaults involving the U.S. military

took place in the last fiscal year.

About one quarter, or 6,083, of those were reported; 543 cases came to court martial by

the year’s end; in 413 of those cases, the accused was found guilty; and 331 of them were

imprisoned.

Do the math and you’ll find that about one in 60 of the estimated sexual attacks in the

military last year resulted in jail time.

Research: Facing additional threats, San Jose homeless women often stay hidden from safety net http://bayareane.ws/29p0Fb7

. . . "Women are more likely to be hiding in order to find safety," said Louis Chicoine,

executive director of Abode Services, a nonprofit that develops homeless housing. "They're

not as obvious as homeless men and that's the incredible challenge."

It's hard to say how many women sleep under bridges, next to creeks or in the shadows of

abandoned storefronts. Local studies disagree about how many homeless women live here.

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A survey last year found that about a third of Santa Clara County's 6,556 homeless were

women, echoing a San Jose survey of the city's 4,063 homeless in 2015. But another study

by the county and the nonprofit Destination: Home reported that half of the people on the

streets are women.

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 SPRC/CDC: Suicide Rates by Occupational Group — 17 States, 2012 http://bit.ly/29ihDI0

SPRC: A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzes

suicide by occupational group using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System

(NVDRS). By ascribing occupational codes to 12,312 suicides in 17 states in 2012, the

report examines the frequency of suicide in different occupational groups, and calculates

rates of suicide by sex and age group for these categories.

According to the report, the highest suicide rates were among individuals working in

farming, fishing, and forestry (84.5 per 100,000); construction and extraction (53.5); and

installation, maintenance, and repair (47.9). Among females, the highest suicide rates were

among those working in the protective services occupations (14.1 per 100,000) and among

males, the highest rates were among those in farming, fishing, and forestry (90.5 per

100,000).

These data underscore the need for increased attention to suicide prevention in work

settings on par with the workplace's increased attention to other public health issues like

smoking cessation and physical activity. A comprehensive approach to suicide prevention in

work settings has the potential to reduce the rate of suicide among working adults. The

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention has released a statement on the report,

which includes a list of resources to support such an approach.

ME: Suicidal veteran taken into custody in South Portland http://bit.ly/295f2h2

South Portland Police took into custody a suicidal and combative military veteran during an

incident on Benjamin Pickett Street Tuesday night. Officers were called to a parking lot

where a man was sitting in his truck, threatening suicide.

Police asked the 29-year-old man to talk, but instead he jumped from his vehicle and

confronted the officers in an aggressive manner, according to a police statement.

He then grabbed a hockey stick from the bed of his truck and challenged the officers with it.

Police ordered him to drop the stick. He complied with that order, but did not comply with

other commands and was still hostile. An officer attempted to restrain the man, but he

assaulted the officer.

Police were able to take the man into custody only after they deployed a police dog and

Tasered him.

The man was transported to a hospital for medical and psychological evaluation. Police

found a knife and marijuana in his truck. Although he was not arrested, a report of the

incident will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office. The man could be prosecuted for

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refusing to submit to arrest and assaulting the officers.

According to South Portland Police, more than a third of use-of-force incidents in the city in

2015 were related to non-criminal matters, mostly involving someone in a mental health

crisis. Nearly 80 percent of all use-of-force incidents involved people in crisis or who had

been using drugs or alcohol.

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.

University of Denver: DU extends welcome mat for veterans http://bit.ly/29dVyXi . . . Veterans coming to DU these days are attracted by more than just that world-class

education. The University continues to enhance its welcome mat for veterans by expanding

and strengthening its offerings.

(Veteran Joshua) Oakley is taking advantage of Right Foot Forward, a new program offered

through Veterans Services at DU. It pairs student veterans with businesspeople in industries

in which they’re interested. Students and mentors meet regularly to discuss career options

and network with other professionals. After the program, each veteran — male or female —

gets a free suit from Brooks Brothers.

“My mentor is also a veteran and has given me his insider perspective on transition from the

military, as well as numerous contacts,” Oakley says. “He’s both a mentor and facilitator.”

Oakley is one of about 300 veterans currently enrolled at DU, says Damon Vine, who

coordinates Veterans Services at DU. “We’re definitely seeing a resurgence in support for

our veterans here,” Vine says.

“It starts with my office, but it’s really all across the campus. They come to my office

looking for community and to be a part of higher education.” El Paso Community College: El Paso Community College sets veterans up for success in school and social lives http://bit.ly/29p14tX

EL PASO, Texas — A brand new Veteran Resource Center opens its doors at El Paso

Community College Friday. "When they come in, as you see we have a welcome sign over

here and we want them to feel that way," said Resource Center Director Arvis Jones.

As soon as a veteran walks onto campus, the center will serve as their command post. It

will guide them all the way through the process of enrolling, graduating and employment.

"We will have a coordinator case manager as well as an advisor here that will be working

with those veteran students when they walk in.

From degree planning to different types of workshops they can go to that will enhance their

skills while they're here," said Jones.

Veterans have access to printers and computers, and a book exchange program where they

can take a textbook and leave textbooks.

University of Missouri–St. Louis Research: APA Podcast: Dimensions of anger and how they relate to change in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). http://bit.ly/29dXKOM

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. . . Marla Bonner: In your article, you define the different presentations of anger, such as

state anger and trait anger. Could you please describe the differences between the two?

Dr. Tara Galovski: Sure. Anger is a large general construct, and oftentimes we can break

that down into a number of subtypes, for lack of a better word. The two of the broader

subtypes certainly would include state anger and trait anger. So we think about state anger

specifically as describing the amount of anger that any given individual is currently

experiencing, right now, in this moment, whereas trait anger would reflect a bit more of an

overall tendency to respond to different situations or stimuli with anger.

Marla Bonner: And you mention in your article that previous studies have shown a unique

relationship between anger and PTSD. Could you describe in more detail what this unique

relationship is as presented in previous research?

Dr. Galovski: We reviewed in the paper a number of metaanalytic studies that combined

individual anger studies and really showed that anger, in addition to hostility, have been

related to PTSD.

So anger really seems to occur alongside PTSD, at a rate that you would consider to be

higher than what we would normally see in a non-PTSD population, including other anxiety

disorder populations.

So when you look specifically at anger, as we were talking about a minute ago, it can be

broken down into these subtypes, and it appears that most specifically, anger directed

inward, directing anger at oneself, and one's ability to control their anger, were really

specifically important in driving this relationship between PTSD and anger.

So in other words, this anger directed inward and the amount of control that one has over

the anger is particularly problematic for individuals suffering from PTSD — with anger

directed outward also being important. New York University (NYU): An N.Y.U. Study Gone Wrong, and a Top Researcher Dismissed http://nyti.ms/293EGCI

New York University’s medical school has quietly shut down eight studies at its prominent

psychiatric research center and parted ways with a top researcher after discovering a series

of violations in a study of an experimental, mind-altering drug.

A subsequent federal investigation found lax oversight of study participants, most of whom

had serious mental issues. The Food and Drug Administration investigators also found that

records had been falsified and researchers had failed to keep accurate case histories.

In one of the shuttered studies, people with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress caused by

childhood abuse took a relatively untested drug intended to mimic the effects of marijuana,

to see if it relieved symptoms. University of North Georgia: New scholarship to aid veterans at UNG Cumming Campus http://bit.ly/290fooY

Five scholarships of $2,000 each will aid veterans enrolled at the University of North

Georgia's (UNG) Cumming Campus in the upcoming academic year, thanks to a donation

from the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation.

University of Rochester: Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group to meet July 13 http://bit.ly/29p1Ozl

Canandaigua, N.Y. The Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group, hosted by UR Medicine’s

Thompson Health, will meet from 5 to 6 p.m. July 13 in the Constellation Center for Health

and Healing at Thompson Hospital, 350 Parrish St., Canandaigua.

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This group is open to individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury, loved ones

and anyone interested in learning more about life with a brain injury.

The group is facilitated by Allison Eaton, community integration counselor for Happiness

House. For more information, call 585-507-7002 or email aeaton@happinesshouse.org.

GENERAL NEWS

VA’s CIC Milestone: 5 Years as a National Program http://1.usa.gov/1JtBnky This Summer, Coaching Into Care (CIC) is celebrating 5 years as a telephone-based service

to help family members and friends of Veterans who want to assist a Veteran seek mental

health care.

In this time, we have answered more than 11,000 calls from family members and others

concerned about a Veteran.

Callers reach out to us for help getting educated on how deployments may have affected

their loved one and for finding effective treatments, services, and programs.

We guide them towards effective conversations about difficult topics like making a decision

to seek help.

NON-VA EVENTS FOR VETERANS

Mind Games – The State of Veterans Mental Health, Dallas, TX, July 19th

Women Veterans Network, Orange County Webinar: Beyond Service, July 19th

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 - 1,329 Professionals in VIJ Group

Active Topics

Webinar: Female Veterans in the Criminal Justice System (Jul 26, 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

Another American Hero Discarded, SSG Lewis Foutch

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.) 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,

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

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

5. Please fell free to pass the news clips on to any of your networks, so that we may get the word out as far as possible. You may also send in information similar in content to what we pass on. While we may occasionally pass on such information, we don't intend to promote commercial or for profit products nor be a substitute for your own efforts to promote your own entity or website. We especially welcome information about national funding or training opportunities. 6. If you pass on our clips, please also pass on our Disclaimer.

EDITOR/CONTACT

Pete Miller, cruzzen@gmail.com, @OHCircuitRider

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

Veterans In The Courts Initiative

Editor/Publisher - Veterans Treatment Court News Daily

Editor/Publisher - Traumatic Brain Injury Nes Daily