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RETIRED JUSTICE EVELYN LUNDBERG STRATTON'S VETERANS'

CRIMINAL JUSTICE & MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES NEWS

19 JANUARY 2015

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Retired Veterans in the Courts Initiative

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

Total Number of Direct Professional Readers: 1,708

FEATURED STORIES

Lawmakers announce tentative deal on bill to overhaul troubled VA (FoxNews) http://fxn.ws/152aara

The leaders of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees unveiled a tentative deal on Monday on legislation meant to improve veterans' health care and tackle the litany of

scandalous problems at the VA, in a bid to get the wheels turning on a solution ahead of the looming August recess. "This starts the conversation," said Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., who leads the House veterans

committee. "The VA is not sacred -- veterans are." The proposal would authorize at least $17 billion in spending over the next three years to fix the veterans health program, with about $5 billion of that offset elsewhere in the budget.

Congressional aides say the agreement includes funding to make it easier for veterans who can't get prompt appointments with Veterans Affairs doctors to obtain outside care and funding to hire doctors, nurses and other medical staff.

The plan also grants the VA secretary authority to immediately fire senior executives, while providing employees with streamlined appeal rights.

• WSJ: Lawmakers Vow to Keep Close Watch on Veterans Affairs Progress, Spending (Subscription required) http://on.wsj.com/1529sdg

• House Tackles Veterans Affairs In Latest Bipartisan Spending Drive (Huff Post) http://huff.to/1529UIK

DoD Releases 2013 Annual Report on Suicide http://1.usa.gov/1wk1gdZ

The DoDSER also includes detailed assessments of demographic information, behavioral health history, and deployment history for each suicide event. This comprehensive information informs DoD senior leaders as they make policy decisions to improve suicide

prevention efforts. In calendar year 2013, active component suicide totals and rates declined over 2012, while

reserve components had a slight increase. There were 229 deaths by suicide among active

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component service members and 220 deaths by suicide among selected reserve component service members (87in the reserve and 133 in the National Guard). The suicide rate per

100,000 in 2013 was 18.7 for active component service members, 23.4 for reserve component and 28.9 for National Guard.

Hagel Initiatives Enable Veteran, Military Support Organizations http://1.usa.gov/1ITn359

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2015 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has set policy emphasizing the importance of relationships with veteran and military service organizations, as well as

military support nonprofits, through initiatives to give the groups access to service members and their families. The defense secretary signed two policy memorandums in December directing Defense

Department leaders to implement standardized procedures to allow veteran, military and military-support nonprofit organizations better access to provide support to troops and military families.

Ohio Governor Kasich appoints retired Justice Evelyn L. Stratton as an honorary co-chair of bipartisan Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations http://bit.ly/151OCe3

Ohio Governor John Kasich wants a game plan from the Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations by April 30 describing actions that can be taken to help ensure that minorities “feel safe and that they are not being targeted.”

Collaborating with black lawmakers, Kasich announced the task force last month after police shot and killed a 12-year-old boy in Cleveland who had an air pistol and a man in Beavercreek who was carrying a pellet rifle taken off a shelf inside a Wal-Mart.

The task force will be led by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director John Born. Former State Sen. Nina Turner, D-Cleveland, will serve as co-chairwoman. The task force will conduct public hearings to solicit the views of Ohioans.

Former U.S. Sen. and Gov. George V. Voinovich; former U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes, D-Cleveland; and former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton will serve as honorary co-chairs.

The panel includes lawmakers, police officers, clergy, criminal-justice experts and other community leaders, including some with ties to the NAACP and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

NEW: International Mental Health Conference Comes to U.S. For First Time; San Francisco to Host “Together Against Stigma” February 18-20, 2015 http://prn.to/1DRazuM

PR Newswire, January 7, 2015 “The international mental health community will gather at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco February 18-20, 2015, marking the first time the International Together Against

Stigma Conference will be held in the United States since its inception in 2001. It is hosted collaboratively by The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), The California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association. The conference will serve as a platform

for those working to advance mental health in the U.S. and around the globe to tackle challenges, share promising practices and spotlight innovation to promote mental health, prevent mental illness, and improve mental health care.”

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Up to $5.6 Million Available for Suicide Prevention Resource Center Grant The purpose of this program is to build national capacity for preventing suicide by providing technical assistance, training, and resources to assist states, tribes, organizations, SAMHSA

Garrett Lee Smith and other SAMHSA grantees, and individuals to develop suicide prevention strategies.

SAMHSA Is Accepting Public Comment on Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-2017 Draft Block Grant Application and Plan

Comments are due 60 days from January 8, 2015 for draft Block Grant documents: FY 2016-

17 DRAFT Block Grant Application: Community Mental Health Services Plan and Report & Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Plan and Report; FY 2016-17 Block Grant Reporting Section Mental Health Block Grant; and more.

SAMHSA Is Accepting Applications for the Performance Partnership Pilot States, tribes, and municipalities can apply to become a Performance Partnership Pilot until March 4, 2015. These pilot communities will test innovative, cost-effective, and outcome-focused strategies for improving results for disconnected youth.

VA/DOD

DoD and DOL Partner to Better Serve Wounded, Ill, and Injured Service Members http://1.usa.gov/1BoOQtl

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to foster and formalize collaboration between the two

departments. Signed by Dr. Jonathan Woodson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and Keith Kelly, Assistant Secretary for Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Services.

The MOU ensures that wounded, ill, and injured Service members and those enrolled in the Disability Evaluation System receive referrals to DOL American Job Centers and Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists. This agreement marks a collaboration milestone and

reaffirms both departments’ commitment to providing education and employment assistance to wounded, ill, and injured Service members.

After fatal shooting at El Paso hospital, VA police highlight nationwide security lapses in VA’s medical system (WP) http://wapo.st/1DRhaFr

After last week’s fatal shooting of a psychologist inside an El Paso Veterans Affairs clinic by an Iraq war veteran, the VA’s police force is renewing its long-running calls for more staff,

better training and increased resources — from fixing broken radios and cameras to installing metal detectors and developing clear procedures for how to deal with agitated patients.

DBSA-VA Peer Specialist Training http://bit.ly/1wapTdc

DBSA is proud to have been awarded the contract from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for training and certification of peer support staff employed by VA

facilities across the country. Contract training prepares individual Veterans to assume roles in VA medical centers and other facilities as part of a major expansion of peer support

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services within VA facilities. This rapid expansion of peer support positions is the result of an Executive Order issued on August 31, 2012 by President Barack Obama to improve access to

mental health services for Veterans. That Order directed the VA to expand its peer workforce by an additional 800 individuals.

VA Announces the Appointment of New Members to Research Advisory Committee (RAC) on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. VA will also begin a study to examine brain cancer in Gulf War Veterans http://1.usa.gov/1x9e9ZH

VA will appoint Stephen L. Hauser, MD as committee chair for a term through September,

2016. Dr. Hauser is the Robert A. Fishman Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. A neuroimmunologist, Dr. Hauser’s research has advanced the understanding of the genetic basis, immune mechanisms and treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Additional appointees include Ronnie D. Horner, PhD, who is a Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Services Policy and Management at the Arnold School of Public

Health, University of South Carolina; Frances E. Perez-Wilhite, a former US Army Officer who served as a Lieutenant in Desert Shield in 1990; and Scott S. Young, MD, a former Navy flight surgeon during the Gulf War, who currently heads Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute, an organization dedicated to creating and supporting high quality care

delivery programs. These new members will serve terms through September 2017. VA will also begin a study to examine brain cancer in Gulf War Veterans. The formation of the study was prompted by a discussion between VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald and

members of the RAC. The members expressed concerns over the possible association between exposure to chemical nerve agents and brain cancer in Gulf War Veterans

VA and U.S. Tennis Association Foundation Partner to Make Tennis More Accessible to Veterans http://1.usa.gov/1ITATEq

Washington – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is partnering with the U.S. Tennis

Association (USTA) Foundation, Inc., to make exercise more readily available to VA patients. The VA/USTA Foundation partnership will facilitate the formation of tennis clinics at VA medical facilities, link VA medical facilities with community resources and provide consulting and design services for VA facilities interested in upgrading or building tennis courts.

Duke Business School students visit with Sec. Bob McDonald http://bit.ly/1DOAqn6

Health Sector Management (HSM) students from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University stopped by VA’s central office in Washington, D.C., last week to speak with Sec. Bob McDonald.

Oversight Reports for Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG)

• Review of Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Other Outpatient Clinics of Gulf Coast

Veterans Health Care System, Biloxi, Mississippi • Combined Assessment Program Review of the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany,

New York

• Iron Mountain Companies Agree to Pay $44.5 Million to Settle Alleged False Billing for Storing Government Documents and Data

• Review of Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Other Outpatient Clinics of Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind says investigation underway into Tomah VA allegations

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http://bit.ly/1GgpwbW The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Office of Accountability Review (OAR) have begun their joint investigation into allegations that the Tomah VA over-prescribed pain

medication to veterans. U.S. Rep. Ron Kind made the announcement on Friday morning at his office in La Crosse. He said investigators will look into opiate prescription use and level of dosage in pain management practice, and they’ll look into any type of alleged culture of intimidation that may exist at the VA.

VA Crisis Hotline Documentary Nominated For An Oscar http://1.usa.gov/1DR7RWc

“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1”, a film about the Veterans Crisis Line, has been nominated for an Oscar in the documentary short category. #OscarNoms The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text.

Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.

VA Town Hall Meetings

VA TOWN HALL MEETINGS Birmingham VAMC 02 FEB 2015 http://1.usa.gov/1G3rUTm NEW Cleveland VMAC & VBA Pubic THM 18 MAR 2015 http://bit.ly/1DR9fbd

OHIO NEW OSBF Grant Applications due 15 FEB 2015 and 15 AUG 2015 http://bit.ly/1wjZfi3

The Ohio State Bar Foundation is a public charity committed to advancing the philanthropic interest of Ohio's Lawyers to recognize excellence, improve the justice system and enhance public understanding of the law throughout Ohio. Our core values include a commitment to a

society served by a fair, impartial and accessible system of justice. We believe that such a justice system results from the combined efforts of private citizens, educators, judges and lawyers. The Grants Program is one aspect of the Foundation's efforts to translate that mission and those values into reality.

Operation Legal Help Ohio January 2015 Newsletter http://bit.ly/152g8YX

Operation Legal Help Ohio seeks to connect these low-income military personnel and veterans to volunteer lawyers - at no cost - as a way of saying “Thank you, job well done." OLHO serves all qualifying Ohio Servicemembers, veterans and immediate family. However,

such service relies on volunteer lawyers and is contingent upon their availability. There may not be an available volunteer lawyer in all areas of the State of Ohio at all times.

NEW: Presentation: Brain Development and Children in Crisis, Columbus, OH, 10 FEB 2015 http://bit.ly/1wk4tdG

Franklin County Family and Children First Council in Partnership with Franklin County

Juvenile Court Presents: Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Internationally Recognized Authority on Brain Development and Children in Crisis, Please join us for an exciting opportunity to learn:

• HOW COMPLEX TRAUMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH DELINQUENCY & VIOLENCE

• HOW TRAUMA INFORMED POLICIES & PRACTICES PROMOTE POSITIVE OUTCOMES & MAXIMIZE RESOURCES

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DATE: Tuesday, February 10th TIME: 1:00 to 4:30pm

LOCATION: Xenos, 1390 Community Park Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43229

Cleveland Clinic joins 5 Ohio health systems to form statewide healthcare collaborative http://bit.ly/1DRbGdY

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Clinic has joined five other Ohio health systems to form a coalition designed to control healthcare costs and improve quality in response to growing pressure from insurers to meet goals in order to lower prices. The Midwest Health

Collaborative will also include Columbus-based OhioHealth, Canton-based Aultman Hospital, Dayton-based Premier Health, Toledo-basedProMedica and Cincinnati-based TriHealth.

Cleveland Judge sets $50,000 bond in the case of a second lawyer accused of fleecing disabled veteran http://bit.ly/1B2nnNT

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A judge Wednesday set bond at $50,000 for a Solon attorney accused of stealing from the bank account of a disabled Army veteran who suffers mental illness.

Gary Bakst, 59, was indicted this week in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on charges of theft and tampering with evidence. He is accused of taking $1,218 from Kevin C. Hart, 54,

in October. Bakst served as Hart's guardian since 2006. Hart suffers from schizophrenia, according to court records. Bakst pleaded not guilty to the allegations Wednesday before Common Pleas Judge David

Matia, who set the bond and ordered that Bakst surrender his passport. The case is the second involving Bakst's dealings with Hart.

Dayton VA "Best in Class" - Equity of Care Award http://1.usa.gov/1AQWI3O

Dayton VA "Best in Class" for American Hospital Association's Equity of Care Awards! American Hospital Association's Equity of Care Award recognizes hospitals that are leading

the way toward reducing racial and ethnic disparities and promoting diversity within their organizations. The Dayton VA Medical Center was nominated "Best in Class" for Addressing Disparities and Delivering Quality Care and also "Best in Class" for Cultural Competency and

Engaging Communities.

Retired Ohio Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel gives back with experience and elbow-grease! http://bit.ly/1EhxL2P

Retired Ohio Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Mary Titus has seen first-hand the urgent need to find living quarters for military families who move frequently.

“During my 22 years in the Guard, including two tours in Iraq, I was aware of soldiers constantly moving around for promotions, jobs and next duty station, and they didn’t have any support finding a nice place to live. Military families also often have to deal with the stress of deployment, and where they call home can make a big difference.”

This where my company takes over! My first home is ready for a family to occupy immediately!”

Mary’s company, Hero Havens, brings older homes back to life in quaint neighborhoods and leases/sells them to active duty soldiers, reserve and national guard families at a “no profit” reduced price.

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(Ohio National) Guard Care is for under-served communities in Ohio http://bit.ly/1DRfko6 The Ohio National Guard is coming to Williams County for one weekend this summer as part of a program called Guard Care. Joe Schlosser, emergency planning coordinator of the

Williams County Health Department, spoke as the guest of Marie Watson at the Bryan Rotary Club Friday. He explained that it’s a joint effort between the Ohio Department of Health, the local health

department and the ONG to help under-served communities in the state.“There are people here who need health care and aren’t getting it,” said Schlosser. “And they’ll bring in resources — resources we probably don’t have.”

The Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio has offered to set up a portable hospital, which he said is not a tent, but a 10-room structure. The ONG will assign approximately 50 doctors and nurses to provide sports physicals, immunizations, hearing and vision screenings, dental

services, sexually transmitted disease screenings and blood work. There is no cost and no one will be turned away.

NEW Cardinal Health - Veterans Professional Advancement Course, Dublin, OH, 23 January 2015 http://bit.ly/1Ggii7O

A new year at Cardinal Health means another opportunity to help service members transition

to the civilian professional environment through our Veterans Professional Advancement Course (VPAC).In 2014, 92 Service Members and Veterans attended our course and we hope to assist many more in 2015. I would be honored if each of you could pass the word along to the Service Members and Veterans in your network, so that they can take advantage of this

opportunity. Our first class is next Friday, January 23rd. Justin Norris VPAC Lead

RLTW Cardinal Health

Cincinnati-area DAV auxiliary and teens help homeless veterans http://cin.ci/1J2lr7a

COLD SPRING – Providing comfort to homeless veterans and honoring all military veterans is what a group of adult and youth volunteers work on each month at Disabled American

Veterans national headquarters. The DAV Auxiliary group meets at 6:30 p.m. monthly on each third Tuesday inside DAV headquarters at 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring. Youth and adults, including people

looking to build their resumes or fill service hours for school or church, are all welcome, said Kimberly Hempleman, auxiliary commander, of Fort Thomas.

A junior auxiliary group, led by Micah Myers, 15, of California, was started up in 2014 and is expanding, Hempleman said. Helping veterans is the goal, she said.

Hospice Of The Western Reserve Peaceful & Proud program for military veterans http://bit.ly/1wk0nlQ

Military service colors the way that veterans face death. Providing end-of-life care for those who have served in our Armed Forces requires sensitivity, understanding and respect.

Hospice of the Western Reserve has developed a dedicated program called Peaceful & Proud to meet their needs. Last year, the program provided care to 1,567 veterans in the Northern Ohio region.

Hospice of the Western Reserve serves Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and

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Summit Counties with offices throughout and outreach into Medina, Portage and Stark Counties.

Veterans receive specialized end-of-life care from clinical staff members who are educated about the history, perception, treatment, and health impacts on military personnel in all wars and in times of peace. Veteran-to-veteran volunteering matches hospice patients with

volunteers who can relate to them as fellow service members. Last year alone, 82 veteran volunteers contributed hundreds of hours of companionship to veteran hospice patients, providing a caring presence and the camaraderie of shared experiences.

VITAS Hospice Care in Ohio http://bit.ly/1wk1RfD

VITAS is proud to offer the best in hospice care services across the Buckeye state,

including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and surrounding areas.

Retired Justice Stratton Emcee's Justices Swearing-In Ceremony http://bit.ly/151NDe6 14 JAN 2015 - The courtroom was standing room-only this afternoon as Ohio Supreme

Court Justices Sharon L. Kennedy and Judith L. French took their ceremonial oaths of office for their six-year terms. Former Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, who French replaced by appointment in December 2012, emceed the ceremony.

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS Research: University of Chicago The Law School - From the Asylum to the Prison: Rethinking the Incarceration Revolution http://bit.ly/1EhIOcd

"When the data on mental hospitalization rates are combined with the data on imprisonment rates for the period 1928 through 2000, the incarceration revolution of the late twentieth century barely reaches the level of aggregated institutionalization that the United States experienced at mid-century. The highest rate of aggregated institutionalization during the

entire period occurred in 1955 when almost 640 persons per 100,000 adults over age 15 were institutionalized in asylums, mental hospitals, and state and federal prisons."

Virginia: Neff: Problem-solving courts for veterans http://bit.ly/1DOukmB

. . . There was no problem-solving court aimed at treating veterans where Sparks was

convicted. The commonwealth may have considered lesser charges if there was a judicially supervised restorative and therapeutic treatment program that Sparks could have completed to address his substance abuse and mental health problems.

Justice-involved veterans and persons with mental illness almost never receive the treatment necessary to address the underlying issues that have caused their criminal behavior. This should not be the case. Incarceration without treatment is not working, does not address the root cause and is costly to the commonwealth. We need to treat the underlying causes of

criminality, when possible. The Problem-Solving Court Act was recently introduced to the General Assembly, with

bipartisan support. The PSCA would authorize the creation of treatment courts for veterans and those with mental illnesses. Thirty-five other states, including Kentucky and Texas, have established veterans treatment

dockets or courts because veterans and mental health treatment dockets are cost-effective, run within the existing court structure and have very low startup and operational costs.

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Similar to our existing drug courts, they typically have federal funding to help establish and run critical components. Veteran-focused courts also have the benefit of access to the VA to

facilitate the evaluation and treatment of mental health and substance abuse issues, for which the VA bears the cost. This conserves community resources. Research shows that when the underlying causes of criminality are addressed with treatment

versus incarceration, recidivism decreases, the costs of incarceration decrease and the community avoids additional economic and social costs associated with criminal behavior. By example, in one year, a veterans treatment court saved Cook County, Ill., almost $600,000 due to the decrease in the number of incarcerated veterans. Mental health-focused problem-

solving courts show recidivism rates at 10 percent to 15 percent, compared with drug courts, which report recidivism rates of 25 percent. Action versus reaction. It is time that we as a commonwealth stop reflexively reacting to crime and begin to address the root causes of criminality. If the PSCA is enacted, we can stop criminalizing mental illness, offer a helping hand to our injured and justice-involved veterans and continue to build strong, healthy and safe communities. Laurie Forbes Neff is director and managing attorney at the Clinic for Legal Assistance to Service members and Veterans, George Mason University School of Law, and was a member of the Supreme Court of Virginia committee which recommended the enactment of legislation for problem-solving courts. Contact her at lneff@gmu.edu.

• SB 903 Problem-Solving Courts; established report. http://1.usa.gov/1wjYDcg

NEW CA: Los Angles City Attorney Valor Citation Clinic, 06 FEB 2015 http://bit.ly/1AR2e6B

The LA City Attorney Office, in collaboration with Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and the

County of Los Angeles, is holding a VALOR Citation Clinic at Patriotic Hall on February 6 from 11 AM to 2 PM.

The VALOR Citation Clinic is an alternative sentencing program for veterans with qualifying tickets. It dismisses one qualifying citation in exchange for completion of 4 hours of “community service.” There is no limit to the number of citations that may be dismissed. Please see the attached VALOR Citation Clinic Eligibility flyer for detailed information,

including a list of qualifying offenses. This is the LA City Attorney Office’s first VALOR Citation Clinic at Patriotic Hall. Please spread the word and help us make this a successful event, so that future clinics may be held at this

central location. Thank you!

Nicole M. Perez, MSW, JD Attorney at Law Veterans Justice Center Coordinator

LEGAL AID FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES 7000 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90003

CA: Dan Diego County Veterans court looking to expand http://bit.ly/1u1cZOR

Steve is now free with his record wiped clean because of his participation in the San Diego

County Veterans Treatment Court. The program recently transitioned from a pilot project into a permanent program, bringing an expanded scope that will allow more San Diego military veterans to seek help in order to avoid jail time and a criminal record. In its first

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three years, the court processed 74 vets with a 4 percent rate of recidivism, or reoffense. Recidivism in state prison populations is at 60 percent to 70 percent.

The first veterans court opened in 2008 in Buffalo. Today there are at least 220 operating nationally, processing more than 10,000 veterans a year, according to the advocacy group Justice For Vets.

CA: Veterans care court coming to San Joaquin County http://bit.ly/1ITg0JJ The San Joaquin County Superior Court is adding a Veterans Treatment Court to its services on Feb. 2. The VTC is a branch of the Stockton judicial system that specializes in veteran care, outside of felonies and crimes of a sexual nature.

There are approximately 300 veterans who went through the jail system in the county in 2014, according to Emery. “However this is most likely an under representation of the veteran population involved in the legal system. Nationwide it is estimated that 9 percent of

the incarcerated population are veterans in state and county jails,” Emery said. Other counties in California have already added VTC to their respective courts, including Sacramento County and Santa Clara County. There are 21 counties in California that

have VTCs and several more are considering add them.

NYC: Public Advocate Letitia James pushes for 'veterans treatment court' in Manhattan http://nydn.us/1AR3IO9

Veterans should have their day in court -- their own special court, according to Public Advocate Letitia James. The city's elected watchdog is urging Court of Appeals Chief Justice Jonathan Lippman to create a Veterans Treatment Court in Manhattan, the Daily News has

learned. Arkansas Veterans Treatment Court offers alternatives http://bit.ly/1AR3aI7

According to McGowan, a coalition of all veteran organizations in the state is working to establish VTC everywhere in Arkansas. Currently, there is a functional court in Fayetteville,

Little Rock and Conway, and there are plans for a court in Pine Bluff. “It’s harder than it appears, but it’s growing because it’s successful,” she said. “[Veterans’] records get expunged, which affects job opportunities and their right to vote.”

Clawson said VTC is also beneficial to the justice system. He said it frees other resources and costs less than placing participants in the penitentiary.

“Some of them belong in jail, but for Veterans Court, we’re looking for people who fit a certain criteria who can come out and not take assets, but produce assets,” he said.

Calls to the VTC liason for Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Services in North Little Rock were not immediately returned. Information on Veteran’s Treatment Court can be found athttp://www.justiceforvets.org.

CO: ‘Become That Soldier Again': Treatment Court Helps Troubled Veterans Avoid Pitfalls http://cbsloc.al/1DOtB4M

. . . He is part of Arapahoe County’s first graduating class for veterans’ treatment court,

which determines whether veterans commit crimes because of unresolved issues from their time of service. The program includes drug and alcohol monitoring along with treatment for

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mental issues. On Friday, five veterans completed a two-year program many are calling a “problem-solving” court.

Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, says the vets’ lives somehow got off track when they returned home. “They served their country and they brought back something less then they went in with —

whether that’s PTSD or some other type of traumatic brain injury. And that loss has caused them to make a mistake,” he said.

TX: Lubbock advocates, DA's office moving forward on push for veterans court http://bit.ly/1ITdMtM

Veterans courts have been popping up statewide since the Texas Legislature authorized

commissioners courts the power to establish them in 2009. David Lewis, president of the Veterans Resource Coordination Group and an Air Force veteran, said that since then, about 22 veterans courts have been established in Texas. According to the advocacy group Justice

For Vets, more than 220 such courts are operating nationally. Lewis said about 65 to 75 veterans are arrested in Lubbock County each month. Under the current law, on average, about 11 or 12 of them would qualify for the veterans court.

Dick Baker is a professor at Texas Tech’s School of Law, Marine veteran and retired federal prosecutor who has been working to establish a veterans court in Lubbock since the state-wide bill was passed. He said the group working to get the special court has received support

from the Lubbock Vet Center, veterans organizations, judges and other groups in the community. Now, the group is working with the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney’s Office to get

it implemented.

TN: Letter: Efforts for veterans court bring thanks http://on.dnj.com/1ITeAyS I would like to take a moment to thank the people who have made the veterans court in Rutherford County a reality. About 14 months ago, the veteran's court came about through

the efforts of the Middle Tennessee Veterans Mental Health Council. It was truly a diverse group of people of many different political differences who came together to start this program.

People who shared in this process included: • Judge Mark Rogers and Judge David Bragg. • Rob Mitchel, assessor of properties • Rachel Willis, Tennessee assistant attorney general.

• Retired Col Jeff Davis, county deputy mayor • Harry "Top" Hishon, retired Marine, • Matthew O'Dell, Reville Joe's, a veteran who has taken the cause of veterans

to a higher plain.

• Landra Orr, Veterans Affairs. • Juan A. Morales, director of the Tennessean Valley Healthcare System. • Middle Tennessee Mental Health Council

Michael Cowger Past chairman Middle Tennessee Veterans Mental Health Council

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PTS/TBI/MST

Research: Johns Hopkins Medicine: Combat Veterans’ Brains Reveal Hidden Damage from IED Blasts http://bit.ly/1wk05uY

FAST FACTS: • Autopsies of combat veterans who survived IEDs and later died of other causes reveal

a unique pattern of injuries in parts of the brain involved in decision making, memory, reasoning and other executive functions.

• The honeycomb pattern of IED survivors’ brain injury is different than the effects of motor vehicle crashes, opiate overdoses or punch-drunk syndrome.

• The Johns Hopkins-led research team may have found the signature of “shell shock,” or blast neurotrauma, a mysterious ailment that has afflicted soldiers since World War I.

•

Texas center offering innovative treatment for veterans with traumatic brain injuries (Fox News) http://fxn.ws/152d4vX

Through America’s Mighty Warriors, Marr was put in touch with the Carrick Brain Center, and within 10 days he was in Dallas getting ready to begin his two-week healing journey. The center, which opened its doors in January 2014, treats both civilians and veterans, but does

not accept insurance. Veterans’ treatments and expenses are covered under research contracts or private donations, while civilians pay out of pocket for treatment. “We started with professional athletes, TBI, then we branched out to Alzheimer’s and stroke

patients,” Kara Williams, director of veterans and military affairs at Carrick Brain Centers, told FoxNews.com No prior diagnosis is needed for post-9/11 veterans seeking treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and TBI.

“We want to reintegrate these guys into civilian society as productive members who are maintaining employment,” Williams said. Of the 140 veterans the center treated in 2014, about 65 percent were Special Forces.

The therapies offered at Carrick focus on rewiring the brain in order to restore functionality to different areas of the brain. Each patient is offered a customized treatment plan which

includes vision exercises, diet guidelines, supplements or hormones. The Carrick center also offers its patented Off Vertical Axis Rotational Device (OVARD) therapy, which provides neurological rehabilitation.

Research: Evolution of MRI of Brain Injury in Concussion Patients http://bit.ly/1wljvjf

The advent of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has opened a new role for MRI in mTBI. DTI is a

novel MRI technique to noninvasively assess the microstructural integrity of white matter. DTI examines the molecular diffusion of water, described by its fractional anisotropy (FA), which measures directional flow of water along white matter tracts.[3] In normal white matter, water diffuses readily along the orientation of axonal fibers. Any change in the

microstructure of white matter and coherence of the white matter fiber tract – as may be seen after mTBI – will reduce the directional flow of water, and therefore reduce the FA, making DTI a prime tool in mTBI assessment.[3] Over the past several years, DTI has

helped to elucidate imaging correlates for the cognitive impairments that often result from mTBI.

Research: Research confirms need to support student-athlete mental health

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http://bit.ly/1ywEkfU A pilot program designed to raise awareness and encourage discussion about mental health issues among student-athletes at the University of Michigan has been met with an

overwhelmingly positive response, a U-M team told the NCAA today.

Results were reported at the collegiate sports organization's annual convention, held near Washington, D.C.

More than 90 percent of U-M's 900-plus student-athletes took part in the program last fall. Of those participating, 96 percent said they were likely to use what they learned, either to help themselves or others, said Daniel Eisenberg, associate professor of health management and policy at the U-M School of Public Health.

Research: NICHD Funds Research on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) http://1.usa.gov/1ATsJL6

Mary Ellen Michel, Ph.D., is the Program Director for the NICHD’s TBI and Stroke Rehabilitation Program, part of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR). The Program supports research to better understand TBI and stroke and to

develop and assess medical rehabilitation therapies and interventions related to improving function, quality-of-life, and outcomes for TBI and stroke patients.

Research: DAMP Signaling is a Key Pathway Inducing Immune Modulation after Brain Injury http://bit.ly/1DRhZhy

Abstract: Acute brain lesions induce profound alterations of the peripheral immune response

comprising the opposing phenomena of early immune activation and subsequent immunosuppression. The mechanisms underlying this brain-immune signaling are largely unknown. We used animal models for experimental brain ischemia as a paradigm of acute brain lesions and additionally investigated a large cohort of stroke patients. We analyzed

release of HMGB1 isoforms by mass spectrometry and investigated its inflammatory potency and signaling pathways by immunological in vivo and in vitro techniques. Features of the complex behavioral sickness behavior syndrome were characterized by homecage behavior

analysis. HMGB1 downstream signaling, particularly with RAGE, was studied in various transgenic animal models and by pharmacological blockade. Our results indicate that the cytokine-inducing, fully reduced isoform of HMGB1 was released from the ischemic brain in the hyperacute phase of stroke in mice and patients. Cytokines secreted in the periphery in

response to brain injury induced sickness behavior, which could be abrogated by inhibition of the HMGB1-RAGE pathway or direct cytokine neutralization. Subsequently, HMGB1-release induced bone marrow egress and splenic proliferation of bone marrow-derived suppressor

cells, inhibiting the adaptive immune responses in vivo and vitro. Furthermore, HMGB1-RAGE signaling resulted in functional exhaustion of mature monocytes and lymphopenia, the hallmarks of immune suppression after extensive ischemia. This study introduces the HMGB1-RAGE-mediated pathway as a key mechanism explaining the complex postischemic

brain-immune interactions.

Research: BPA alternative disrupts normal brain-cell growth, is tied to hyperactivity, study says http://wapo.st/1ATsfEI

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have shown why a chemical once thought to be a safe alternative to bisphenol-A, which was abandoned by manufacturers of baby bottles and sippy cups after a public outcry, might itself be more harmful than BPA.

University of Calgary scientists say they think their research is the first to show that bisphenol-S, an ingredient in many products bearing “BPA-free” labels, causes abnormal growth surges of neurons in an animal embryo.

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Research: TBI News & Information - Brailine.org

• New Content: When You Least Expect It • Family Change After Brain Injury

• I Am No Longer Broken

• Blood Test Tells How Long Concussion Symptoms Will Last • Lawsuit: Bad coaching, helmet misuse led to football player brain injury • Neurological center to represent NFL at Super Bowl • WWE Wrestler Speaks About His Concussion Experience

• Wearing a Helmet Is Crucial to Staying Safe on the Mountains • Bomb-Induced Brain Injury May Be Its Own Disease • UFC CEO Outlines Why His Concussion Protocol Is Better than the NFL’s • Concussion Rules Being Considered for High School Football

• New Content: Sleepless in Salem — Life After Brain Injury • Longer Rest After Concussions Might Not Be Good, Study Says • Post-Concussion Syndrome — A Misunderstood Malady

Ala. mental health facility to close in June http://bit.ly/1ywFrw8 MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama Department of Mental Health officials say many North Alabama Regional Hospital employees will be able to apply for jobs at other state facilities after theirs closes in June. • Alabama Plans to Close Most Hospitals for Mentally Ill (12 FEB 2012) http://nyti.ms/1ywFkk7

Florida-based VA Mobile Vet Center provides MST counseling, PTS treatment, much more http://hatne.ws/1ITzKwD

Based out of Pensacola, Florida, the mobile center serves 45 counties in northwest Florida, south Alabama and parts of Mississippi, said Tucker, who added he makes stops in

Mississippi about twice a year. Services provided include:

•Individual, group and family readjustment counseling •Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment and help with other related problems that

affect functioning within the family, work, school or other areas •Military sexual trauma counseling for active-duty service members of both genders •Bereavement counseling

•Group meetings and counseling •Marital and family counseling •Substance abuse information and referral •Community education

•Liaison with community agencies. “Active-duty members also can discuss post-traumatic stress disorder and sexual trauma issues with us confidentially,” Tucker said.

NYT Opinion: After PTSD, More Trauma http://nyti.ms/1BoQOd9 David J. Morris, a former Marine infantry officer, is the author of the forthcoming book “The Evil

Hours: A Biography of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.”

Going in for therapy at a Veterans Affairs hospital is a lot like arriving at a large airport in a foreign country. You pass through a maze of confusing signage. Your documents are

scrutinized. There are long lines you must stand in and a series of bureaucratic rituals that must be endured before anything resembling a human encounter occurs. In April 2013, after doing a series of intake interviews and sitting on a waiting list for three

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months, I had my first human encounter with my assigned therapist at the big V.A. hospital in San Diego. Little did I know that the delay in treatment would be less agonizing than the

treatment itself.

Research: Baylor U. receives $50,000 grant for equine therapy for combat veterans http://bit.ly/1wjZlWY

A research project on equine assisted therapy in combat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has received a $US50,000 grant from the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF).

The award has been made to Baylor University in Texas for the project “Examination of the Effects of Equine Assisted Activities on PTSD Symptoms, Quality of Life and Participation in Combat Veterans”. The work will be carried out under the direction of principal investigator

Dr Beth Lanning, and will assess the changes in PTSD symptoms, quality of life and participation of combat veterans who participate in equine-assisted activities. The research team will be assessing 75 veterans participating in five different programs or test sites.

Veterans discharged after sexual trauma push for VA health benefits http://wapo.st/1wjZU34

It took Navy Airman Apprentice Elena M. Giordano nine years to finally be granted service-connected disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the post-traumatic stress disorder she suffered after multiple sexual assaults. Until recently, she was also not eligible for any VA medical care or other benefits because she was told she did not

serve long enough. It’s a common problem for women and men who leave the service early due to sexual trauma.

SUICIDE

Veterans’ Suicide and Volunteer Exemption Bills Advance http://bit.ly/1ITC72K Additionally, the House forwarded to the Senate — for the second time in two months — a

bill (HR 203) bolstering military and veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention programs. The measure includes a requirement for an annual third-party review of mental health and suicide-prevention programs and amends the rules for reviewing discharges of

military service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorders.

US Military Suicides 2013: 479 Serving Personnel Took Their Own Lives In That Year: DoD http://bit.ly/1DRgakN

Almost 500 serving members of the U.S. military took their own lives in 2013, a significant quantity of them believed to have been suffering from post-traumatic pressure disorder

(PTSD), according to an official report from the U.S. Division of Defense. Though the all round figure represents a drop from 2012, when the total quantity of suicides was 522, there are fears the final total for 2014 could rise once again as the rate

improved in the 1st half of the year. The figures for serving soldiers are dwarfed by these for former soldiers. In the U.S., about

6,500 former members of the armed forces kill themselves every single year.

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Army Times Opinion: How to end the 'disturbing' number of vet suicides http://bit.ly/1DRgqQM

An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide a day, a shocking and disturbing number. Even more alarming, this statistic does not include active-duty members, 75 of which have

committed suicide between January and March of this year according to the Pentagon's quarterly Suicide Event Report. Fortunately, members of our government have recognized this pandemic and are

introducing legislation designed to combat military suicide. The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Bill will do a number of things to improve the VA and Pentagon's suicide prevention programs, as well as make it easier for the VA to recruit more quality psychiatrists.

This bill needs to be passed, but it will not be enough. I believe that members of the military community with a history of combat experience and a willingness to help their

fellow soldiers can make a huge difference.

Suicide prevention among military is Rotary topic in PA http://bit.ly/1ITBx4R Two-day intervention class offered in Tyrone - Kenneth Koon, founder of Armed Forces Mission headquartered in Tyrone, recently spoke to the Peachtree City Rotary Club.

AFM was established in 2012 with the primary focus of developing the Office of Suicide Intervention and Training to address the high rate of suicide within the active military, including the Reserves and National Guard, and the veteran community. Koon’s personal

story and the stories he told about others gave Rotarians insight as to how common suicide really is, particularly among war veterans.

Koon also talked about a two-day suicide awareness workshop he conducts to train people how to recognize signs and intervene to prevent suicide. The emphasis is on teaching what he called “suicide first-aid” to help an at-risk person stay safe and seek further help as needed.

The Weekly Spark: Friday, January 16, 2015 http://bit.ly/1wk1phD

Announcements

• SPRC Spotlight: Crisis Services for Suicide Prevention Research • Suicidal Behavior and Mental Disorders in Adolescents National News

• Schools take on stress State News

• Psych patients pack emergency rooms

Funding

• Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS)

• The Paul G. Quinnett Lived Experience Writing Prize

GENERAL NEWS

Research: Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange–Contaminated C-123 Aircraft http://bit.ly/1ATtpQP

VA asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to study possible exposure and increase in adverse

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health effects in C-123 crew members. IOM released its report, Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft, Jan. 9, 2015. VA has assembled a

group of clinical and other subject matter experts to review and respond to the report.

Wounded veterans starting federal jobs would get sick leave under new bill (WP) http://wapo.st/1DRhFj1

Wounded veterans hired by the federal government would start their jobs with a stockpile of paid sick leave under a new bill introduced in Congress this week. The bipartisan measure

would give service-disabled veterans 104 hours of paid sick time after they enter the federal workforce; non-veteran employees begin with none and accrue hours over time. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), who sponsored the bill, said in a joint statement with other

House supporters this week that new veteran hires, many of whom return from multiple tours of duty with post-traumatic stress disorder and other health issues, often start their jobs without paid leave for medical appointments to treat their service-related disabilities.

Virginia Values Veterans V3 Legislative Update – No. 1 http://bit.ly/152e3ME

The 2015 General Assembly Session will bring some exciting developments to the V3 Program that will help train more employers, recognize and reward V3 companies’ efforts to hire Veterans, and establish the V3 Program more firmly in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Several bills pertaining directly to V3 have already been introduced by legislators committed to increasing employment opportunities for Virginia’s Veterans, and the governor’s budget and legislative package reflects his firm commitment to building upon the great success Virginia’s companies have had in hiring qualified Veterans into the Virginia

workforce. A summary of the budget items and legislation is listed below.

(Example) VA Video: Get your recommended screenings (PTSD) and immunizations http://bit.ly/1ywENib

Editor's Note: An example of the 'new' VA video format to reach vets

Military Health System News (Health.mil) http://www.health.mil/news/articles

• TRICARE Home Delivery to begin at NMCSD

• Concussion Treatment Training at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth • Sculpting Molds Recovery for Army Truck Driver • Laboratory Airmen ensure healthy force • SMART program keeps medical Airmen mission ready for future conflicts

• Students take on video project promoting System for Health

DCoE: Routine Military Medical Visits Can Include Behavioral Health Checkup http://bit.ly/1ITtkxJ

Frances (not her real name) is benefiting from the Military Health System’s decision to integrate an internal behavioral health consultant (IBHC) -- either a psychologist or a

licensed clinical social worker -- into the primary care team. For the military, the goal is healthier, fitter service members.

IBHCs add a new dimension to patient-centered medical homes, primary care units that house a team of medical specialists. The Deployment Health Clinical Center aims to help the military’s patients with health concerns such as diabetes and high blood pressure as an adjunct to other treatments. An important goal for the medical homes is to enable patients

to adopt healthier lifestyles.

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Deployment Health News

New Program Helps Service Members Break Addictions, Avert Crisis DCoE News, January 6, 2015

“While the abuse of illegal drugs among service members has decreased in the last decade, substance abuse is still an issue in the military, health experts say. Service members under stress are more likely to abuse other substances: alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs. ‘This really is a priority issue that rises to the top,’ Daniel Evatt, Ph.D., Deployment Health

Clinical Center (DHCC), told a group of federal health professionals. Not only is alcohol a very expensive addiction, but it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, he said.” Research: Access to Behavioral Health Care for Geographically Remote Service Members

and Dependents in the U.S. (This research was sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain

Injury and conducted within the Forces and Resources Policy Center of the RAND National Defense Research Institute.) RAND Corporation, January 5, 2015 “Abstract. With many service members now returning to the United States from the recent

conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, concern over adequate access to behavioral health care (treatment for mental, behavioral, or addictive disorders) has risen. Yet data remain very sparse regarding how many service members (and their dependents) reside in locations remote from behavioral health providers, as well as the resulting effect on their access to

and utilization of care. Little is also known about the effectiveness of existing policies and other efforts to improve access to services among this population.” Research: ‘Brain zapping’: Veterans say experimental PTSD treatment has changed their

lives The Washington Post, January 12, 2015 “The headquarters of Oakley, a maker of recreational and military gear, looks as if it belongs in a war zone. It’s a massive bunker with exposed-steel pipes, girders and blast walls. Even

the dais in the auditorium is armored. But on a recent afternoon, the talk inside the building, set atop an arid, inland hillside in Orange County, is not about fighting wars but about caring for warriors. Doctors, scientists and veterans approach the podium at a conference to

present some of the latest tools to help vets recover from wounds both mental and physical: bionics, virtual reality, magnetic waves.” Research: White Matter Abnormalities Link Depression, Concussion Neurology Advisor, January 5, 2015

“White matter brain abnormalities in some patients with depression disorders closely resemble abnormalities found in patients who have experienced a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), more commonly known as concussion, according to new research presented by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers at the annual meeting of the

Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).” An Army Chaplain, First Tested By War, Finds His Faith Renewed NPR, January 6, 2015

“David Peters' life was supposed to be one continuous arc of piety and service. But for the U.S. Army chaplain, it's ended up a more circuitous route. Peters lost the very faith he was supposed to embody for his soldiers — but has also found his way back. … He had symptoms of PTSD, and his own marriage had shattered while he was away at war.”

Research: Personal traits may help protect police officers from PTSD symptoms News-Medical, January 7, 2015 “Personal traits such as resilience, satisfaction with life and a grateful disposition may help shield police officers from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the

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aftermath of a natural disaster. This is the case even though repeated exposure to traumatic events has been found to provoke PTSD and police officers are exposed repeatedly to

traumatic events. These are the conclusions of a new study that looked at police officers in the New Orleans area during and in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The results suggested that they were shielded from PTSD by the protective qualities not only in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, but years later as well.”

Military health: The insurmountable gulf; Twenty-four years after the conflict ended, scientists and veterans are still fighting for recognition of Gulf War illness Nature, January 6, 2015 “The meeting last April was supposed to be a scientific review, but the scene looked more

like boxers lining up for their turn at a punchbag. The target was Robert Jesse, who at the time was deputy undersecretary for health at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans, scientists and VA administrators were meeting in Washington DC to discuss Gulf

War illness, a complex disorder that affects some 250,000 veterans of the 1990–91 military operations in the Gulf. After 24 years, the condition is still the subject of intense controversy in the United States and the United Kingdom.” Research: PTSD May Raise Women's Risk for Diabetes

WebMD/Health Day News, January 7, 2015 “Women with post-traumatic stress disorder seem more likely than others to develop type 2 diabetes, with severe PTSD almost doubling the risk, a new study suggests. The research

‘brings to attention an unrecognized problem,’ said Dr. Alexander Neumeister, director of the molecular imaging program for anxiety and mood disorders at New York University School of Medicine. It's crucial to treat both PTSD and diabetes when they're interconnected in women, he said. Otherwise, ‘you can try to treat diabetes as much as you want, but you'll never be

fully successful,’ he added.” Research: Exploring the Link Between Depression and Memory Loss Huffington Post-Science Blog, January 7, 2015/p> “For people with depressed mood, memory and concentration difficulties are often a day-to-

day reality, greatly affecting job performance and personal relationships. While those with the disorder report that these cognitive problems are some of the most deeply troubling, previous studies have been unable to observe this phenomenon in a laboratory setting. In a

study published online recently in Cognition and Emotion, researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas are the first to substantiate memory deficits in individuals with depressed mood. The findings may have implications for the way cognitive deficits are diagnosed and treated in depression.”

Using Wingman Toolkit as a fitness tool Air Force Times, January 10, 2015 “The Air Force health chief wants airmen in the 'fit to fight' spirit. One tool he is promoting to help airmen get there is the Wingman Toolkit app and website. Here's what you need to

know: 1. What is it? The program was launched as a mobile app in 2012, and posts various activities airmen can use to enhance their social, spiritual, mental and physical health -- the four components of comprehensive airman fitness.”

Why is Sleep Important? HHS, December 29, 2014 “Why is sleep important to you? An estimated 35 percent of U.S. adults report less than seven hours of sleep during a typical 24 hour period. Sleepiness resulting from insufficient

sleep, irregular sleep schedules, or poor quality sleep is a cause of motor vehicle crashes, occupational errors with hazardous outcomes, and difficulty performing daily tasks. Sleep and wakefulness disorders affect an estimated 15-20 percent of US adults who are more

likely to suffer from chronic disorders including depression, substance abuse, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and all-cause mortality.” What’s at 0800? Help for vets U-T San Diego, January 6, 2015

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“Zero 800 is military talk for 8 a.m., the time when most suit- and tie-wearing workers arrive at the office. It’s also the name of a new effort to help military veterans settle into

civilian life in San Diego County. Spelled as zero8hundred, the project has a groundbreaking agreement with the Navy to link up with San Diego sailors before they shed the uniform. Zero8hundred’s ‘navigators’ – all interns from the University of Southern California’s social work master’s program – will track exiting sailors starting at six months before discharge.”

For more deployment health-related information, click here to go to the DoD Deployment Health Clinical Center's PDHealth.mil website.

The Baguio Retiree Assistance Office (RAO) (Philippines) U.S. Veterans News • Bulletin 150115 (PDF Edition) • Veteran Legislation 150113 • Vet State Benefits & Discounts – ID 2015

• Military History Anniversaries 0116 thru 0214 • Retiree Appreciation Days (RAD) 150111 • VA and U.S. Tennis Association Foundation Partner to Make Tennis More Accessible to

Veterans

• VA Announces the Appointment of New Members to Advisory Council • Whidbey Island Sailor Michael McCastle Flips 250lb Tire 13 Miles for Wounded Vets

DOD: TRICARE Patients Must Attest to Health Care Coverage http://1.usa.gov/1BoOa7d As tax season begins, Defense Department officials want to remind TRICARE beneficiaries of

changes in the tax laws, which require all Americans to have health care insurance or potentially pay a tax penalty. For the first time since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, all U.S. citizens, including service members, military retirees and their family members, must

report health care coverage on their 2014 taxes, said Mark Ellis, a Defense Health Agency health care operations program analyst. For this year only, taxpayers will “self-attest” on their 2014 tax forms to each month in which they had health care coverage, he said.

New Orleans still tackling homeless vets issue despite city's claim http://bit.ly/1BoSrHL TV Reporter: But in less than five minutes, our Eyewitness News crew met Robert Bentley who identified himself as a homeless Desert Storm and Afghanistan War veteran. His alleged military service history is something we couldn't confirm with the Department of Veterans

Affairs on Friday night. The 57-year-old says he's been living on the streets for nine months. "I was in the service and I'm homeless and right now, everything is just real bad," said Bentley.

Califoriaopoliticalreview.com Military Reform Aims To Slash Pay For New Troops http://bit.ly/1BoTjw6

In a speech on Wednesday off the coast of San Diego, outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned troops that the U.S. can’t afford its military personnel anymore. Troops are already bracing for the results of a report on Feb. 1, which will most likely not be friendly to

military pay. The report is by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, which was originally created in 2013 by Congress for the purpose of researching feasible reforms for military pay and retirement benefits.

US Chamber of Commerce: Hiring Our Heroes Welcomes BP America to U.S. Chamber’s Veteran & Military Spouse Employment Advisory Councils http://bit.ly/1GfUOjc

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program today welcomed BP America as the newest member of its Veteran Employment Advisory Council (VEAC) and Military Spouse Employment Advisory

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Council (MSEAC). By joining the VEAC and MSEAC Chairman’s Circles, BP America is expanding its commitment to support America’s military families by connecting military

members and spouses to meaningful job opportunities. In addition to supporting Hiring Our Heroes established programs, BP America will power the development of an energy-specific industry track on Fast Track, an online career tool which

identifies the fastest-growing industries and communities in America. Service members preparing to transition out of the military will soon be able to explore the full-range of jobs available in the oil and gas track as well as the schooling or certifications required for each position. After selecting a track, users will then be able to identify communities with fast-

growing energy sectors and apply for open jobs in those areas.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES, WEBINARS & OTHER EVENTS Please send us notices about events in your area.

EVENTS FOR PROVIDERS NEW Next DCoE Webinar: How to Use Mobile Apps in Mild TBI Clinical Care, 15 JAN 2015 http://bit.ly/1B2sNbA

Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury will host its next webinar, “The Application of Behavioral Health Technology Tools in the Clinical Care of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury,” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (ET) Jan. 15, 2015.

This webinar will feature mobile applications, produced by the National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2), health care providers can use to treat patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Tennessee Town hall meeting, 20 JAN 2015, Hendersonville, to address veteran suicide http://tnne.ws/14lz0Ru

Back home, there's another battle to take on — post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide.

Local and state veteran groups are hosting a PTSD and suicide prevention town hall meeting 6-9 p.m. Jan. 20 at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. Veterans of all conflicts and active duty military, as well as their families, and first responders are encouraged to attend.

The Jan. 20 meeting, hosted by the Tennessee State Council, Vietnam Veterans of America and Sumner VVA Chapter 240, will include presentations on the history and causes of PTSD and symptoms and treatment options, talks from treatment providers, and time to visit with

veterans service officers. For more information, email Barry Rice at barryrice.tsc@gmail.com.

Santa Clara Valley Brain Injury Conference, Santa Clara, California, Feb 5-7, 2015 http://bit.ly/1pOOEhg

The 4th Santa Clara Valley Brain Injury Conference: Building on the Legacy of Coma to Community, will be held February 5-7, 2015 at the Marriott Santa Clara, 2700 Mission Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95054.

This conference is the updated continuation of the Coma to Community Conference hosted by Santa Clara Valley Medical Center from 1977 through 1995. We anticipate an audience of 500 rehabilitation professionals representing a variety of disciplines as well as individuals

with brain injury, family members, and caregivers. Our previous conferences were endorsed by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Brain Injury Association of

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America, and the International Brain Injury Association.

The main conference includes two days of multi-disciplinary state of the art educational sessions focusing on issues related to acquired brain injury treatment and research in both a military and civilian population. The 2015 conference will feature multiple half-day pre-conference workshops as an optional add-on.

The 2015 main conference will focus on: • Medical Complexity and Acute and Chronic Treatment (successful strategies and new

approaches) • Innovative Interventions and Assistive Devices (new technology, stem cells and

others) • Living After Brain Injury (socialization, relationships, advocacy and caregiving) • Special Populations (military and veteran issues, cultural competence, dual diagnosis,

pediatrics, and aging)

Ohio Presentation: Brain Development and Children in Crisis, Columbus, OH, 10 FEB 2015 http://bit.ly/1wk4tdG

Franklin County Family and Children First Council in Partnership with Franklin County Juvenile Court Presents: Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Internationally Recognized Authority

on Brain Development and Children in Crisis, Please join us for an exciting opportunity to learn:

• HOW COMPLEX TRAUMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH DELINQUENCY & VIOLENCE • HOW TRAUMA INFORMED POLICIES & PRACTICES PROMOTE POSITIVE OUTCOMES &

MAXIMIZE RESOURCES DATE: Tuesday, February 10th TIME: 1:00 to 4:30pm LOCATION: Xenos, 1390 Community Park Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43229

NEW: International Mental Health Conference Comes to U.S. For First Time; San Francisco to Host “Together Against Stigma” February 18-20, 2015

PR Newswire, January 7, 2015 “The international mental health community will gather at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco February 18-20, 2015, marking the first time the International Together Against Stigma Conference will be held in the United States since its inception in 2001. It is hosted collaboratively by The California Mental Health Services

Authority (CalMHSA), the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), The California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association. The conference will serve as a platform for those working to advance mental health in the U.S.

and around the globe to tackle challenges, share promising practices and spotlight innovation to promote mental health, prevent mental illness, and improve mental health care.”

UTA Third Annual Military and Veteran Social Work Conference - Strengthening Military Families Through Effective Community Practices, September 16-18, 2015 Thompson Conference Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Conference participants will hear from leading clinicians and researchers in the field of

mental health and family services to military personnel and veterans. Sessions will focus on clinical skill building with an emphasis on "best practices" and evidence-based treatment techniques in social work. Topics will cover core clinical issues relevant to working with this population. Click here for more information.

Learn more: Download conference preliminary information (PDF) Submit a proposal: Download abstract submission form (Word) for skill-building presentation or poster presentation. Deadline coming soon: February 1, 2015!

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EVENTS FOR VETERANS & FAMILIES

Free Legal Clinic for Veterans, 13 JAN 2015, Long Beach, California VA Hospital, Building 128, Room K227, Second Tuesday of each month thereafter.

The California Veterans Legal Institute is sponsoring a FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR VETERANS Tuesday, January 13, 2015 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, The second Tuesday of the month

thereafter • Expungements • Discharge Upgrades • Veterans Benefits • Immigration • Bankruptcy • Landlord-Tenant

• Consumer Law • Nonprofit Assistance • Estate Planning • Small Business Assistance

Location: Veterans Administration Long Beach Hospital, 5901 E. 7th Street, Long Beach Building 128, Room K227

*No attorney-client relationship will be established until a retainer agreement is signed and a VLI attorney agrees to take on your case. Attorney services are free of charge. Client is

responsible for all courts costs, service fees, and other administrative fees and costs.

NEW Los Angles City Attorney Valor Citation Clinic, 06 FEB 2015 http://bit.ly/1AR2e6B

The LA City Attorney Office, in collaboration with Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles, is holding a VALOR Citation Clinic at Patriotic Hall on February 6 from 11 AM to 2 PM.

The VALOR Citation Clinic is an alternative sentencing program for veterans with qualifying tickets. It dismisses one qualifying citation in exchange for completion of 4 hours of “community service.” There is no limit to the number of citations that may be dismissed.

Please see the attached VALOR Citation Clinic Eligibility flyer for detailed information, including a list of qualifying offenses.

This is the LA City Attorney Office’s first VALOR Citation Clinic at Patriotic Hall. Please spread the word and help us make this a successful event, so that future clinics may be held at this central location.

Thank you! Nicole M. Perez, MSW, JD

Attorney at Law Veterans Justice Center Coordinator LEGAL AID FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES 7000 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90003

OhioValleyVets.Org Events in Eastern Ohio http://www.ovvets.org/

We have a couple of events coming up in the first quarter of 2015 that may be of interest. The first will take place on Saturday, February 7 at 11:30AM at Historic Fort Steuben. We (AMVETS Post 275) and several other area veterans groups are having a planning meeting for our Vietnam Veterans Day program. The second will be our Vietnam Veterans Day 2015

program that is being planned for Saturday, March 28, 2015 at a venue to be determined in Steubenville.

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PGA TOUR: 2015 Northern Trust Open Military Appreciation - February 18-22, 2015, Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA http://nto.pn/1vQWuYo

Please pass this information along to any other Bases or Military organizations who may be interested. Veterans are welcome to participate. To register for a complimentary ticket and receive a voucher, please visit https://birdiesforthebrave.sheerid.com/NorthernTrust2015/ Veterans’ Appreciation Event

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Complimentary Military Tickets - General Admission to the Northern Trust Open Date: Wednesday, February 18 – Sunday, February 22, 2015 Birdies for the Brave® Patriots’ Outpost DATE: Thursday, February 19, 2015 – Sunday, February 22, 2015 Active Duty Military Caddie Program: Caddie for a PGA TOUR player for one hole! DATE: Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Military Pin Flag Attendants DATE: Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22, 2015 Military Tee Announcers DATE: Saturday, February 21, 2015 Military Appreciation Ceremony DATE: Saturday, February 21, 2015

Thank you very much for your consideration. If you would like to volunteer for any of the above-outlined military appreciation initiatives, please contact me at kristileefowlks@pgatourhq.com

Jose Arevalo Volunteer at SFV Veterans Employment Committee Mission Hills Neighborhood Council - Outreach Member

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MissionHillsNeighborhoodCouncil Twitter https://twitter.com/MissionHillsNC Twitter https://twitter.com/jlapolo

State Bar of Georgia fundraiser to benefit Augusta Warrior Project, 28 Feb 2015

The Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia has announced the Augusta Warrior Project will receive the proceeds from its Signature Fundraiser event this year in Atlanta. “The mission of the AWP includes advocacy for our military veterans and connecting them to

Veterans Administration-related benefits, which we have identified as one of the goals of our military support program for this year,” said Sharri Edenfield, president of the State Bar’s Young Lawyers Division. “We look forward to another successful Signature Fundraiser event

to help provide the group with the resources it needs to assist our veterans.”

NEW Stand Up for Heroes, Bob Woodruff Foundation, 10 NOV 2015, NYC Stand Up for Heroes, presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation & the New York Comedy Festival, will return to the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Nov. 10, 2015. Sponsorship opportunities are available now. Contact Jasmin Guerra for more information

Veterans Job Listings, Job Fairs & Training

Mayor's Alliance Job Fair for Persons with Disabilities & Veterans

23 JAN 2015 Keiser University, Tampa, Fl

http://bit.ly/1xtxgSi

NSA Bethesda Employment &

Education Fair

23 JAN 2015 NSA Bethesda Fitness Center

Gym

http://bit.ly/1yBbhsr

NEW Cardinal Health Veterans Professional Advancement Course

23 JAN 2015 Dublin, OH http://bit.ly/1Ggii7O

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NEW US Chamber of Commerce Foundation

12 FEB 2015 Virtual Job Fair http://bit.ly/1GgjJ6g

Military.com 2015 Nationwide http://mil-com.me/1y4WaXB

Metro Careers (California)

Current California http://www.metro.net/about/jobs/

Central Ohio Current Columbus Area raisbell@columbus.gov

NEW New York National Guard Job Zone

Current Primarily NY state https://dmna.ny.gov/jobs/?id=nyng

NEW JP Morgan Chase Current (1-13-2015)

Nationwide http://wp.me/a5y0P1-6a

NEW US Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Current, Job Fairs, Other Services

Nationwide http://bit.ly/1y4Vn9k

.

"Veterans in Justice" -- Linked-In Professional Group (VIJ)

Please join us on LinkedIn for networking and discussions on the issues regarding veterans in the criminal justice system. This group's mission is to connect professionals and

advocates who work with and for justice-involved veterans and to share ideas and practices for assisting those veterans -- from the conditions that lead to justice involvement, through initial police contact, arrest, criminal case processing, conviction, sentencing, incarceration, and release. Subgroups include Veterans Treatment Courts, Mental Health, Female Veterans, and Peer

& Mentoring. Access our group at http://linkd.in/1947vfS Facebook: www.facebook.com/veteransinjustice

Join The National Discussion - 1,131 Professionals in VIJ

Active Topics:

• Phoenix VA Handling of Suicides, Intoxicated Vets and Vet records • The "I know a guy from Poughkeepsie" argument: Are we really changing anything? • New Orleans still tackling homeless vets issue despite city's claim

• Military Reform Aims To Slash Pay For New Troops

• Ron Kind says investigation underway into Tomah VA allegations • Public Advocate Letitia James pushes for 'veterans treatment court' in Manhattan • Progress Report: Veterans Court

• Veterans Legal Assistance • References on Veterans in Justice • "From the Asylum to the Prison: Rethinking the Incarceration Revolution" • More . . .

LINKED-IN 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

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• Mental Health http://linkd.in/12QFCjI • Female Veterans http://linkd.in/145CTbn • Peer Support & Mentoring http://linkd.in/145D32G

Cuyahoga County Ohio Veterans and Supporters (Bryan A. McGown "Gunny") http://linkd.in/Zxwx1f Veteran Employment Representatives http://linkd.in/ZxwUcc Midwest Military Outreach, Inc. http://linkd.in/1eiMTkJ Military Veteran Job Fairs & Hiring Conferences http://linkd.in/Zxx4jS Wounded Warrior Resources http://linkd.in/17TMNhJ The Value of a Veteran http://linkd.in/15vD7H4 MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS POST DEPLOYMENT FOR PROVIDERS, COMBAT VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES http://linkd.in/1fkQLA8 (Please email us other groups that you find and think would be informative and useful for our audience)

MILITARY VETERANS PRO BONO LEGAL ASSITANCE

Editor's Note: Starting today, we are going to try to list all of the pro bono military veterans legal assistance and law clinic resources in the U.S. by state, and as appropriate

for veterans of other nations. We will need your help. Please email info on resources that our not on our list to cruzzen@gmail.com. Thank you!

MILITARY & VETERANS PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE

STATE NAME LOCATION CONTACT

California Veterans Legal Institute

UC-Davis Smedley Butler Veterans Justice Project Thomas Jefferson School of Law Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic

Fountain Valley, CA

Davis, CA

San Diego, CA

www.vetslegal.com

http://bit.ly/1B5irGw http://bit.ly/1DQZZUF

http://bit.ly/1DQYLZw

Illinois The John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal

Support Center and Clinic

The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL

60604

http://bit.ly/14le7Wo

Missouri Mid-Missouri Legal Services Legal Aid to Veterans

Program

Harry S. Truman V.A. Hospital in Columbia,

MO

http://bit.ly/1B5mgvy

New York

Veterans Legal Clinic Syracuse University http://bit.ly/14le0Ku

Ohio Operation Legal Help Ohio Ohio State Captain Jonathan

D. Grassbaugh Veterans Project

Columbus, Ohio www.mvlap.org http://bit.ly/1aWIlAy

Texas Texas Veterans Legal

Assistance Project

Texas Legal Services

Center

http://bit.ly/14kWpCF

National ABA Military Pro Bono Project National www.militaryprobono.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Resource Guide on Military and Veteran DOMESTIC VIOLENCE for Program Staff

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• Neurology Today, An Official On-Line Publication of the American Academy of Neurology • ExploreVA.gov • California Statewide Collaborative for our Military and Families • Trauma-Informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Guide for Service Providers (DOL) • VA PTSD Consultation Program (Search) and http://1.usa.gov/1vQNW3B • National Center for PTSD Website Map • VA Health Services Research & Development Upcoming Cyberseminars — Catalog • Guide to Veterans Legal Issues Second Edition (Benchmark Institute) http://bit.ly/1zxkFvW • List of Ohio Specialized Docket Courts http://1.usa.gov/1FgdpG3 • The VA's Pilots Database An Electronic Index to Traumatic Stress Literature • The Veterans Choice Program • NIMH Twitter Chats Listing • VA Caregiver Support Home • Resources for MST • Operation Legal Help Ohio • Department of Veterans Affairs www.mentalhealth.va.gov • Department of Defense (DoD) Safe Helpline is a groundbreaking crisis support service for members of the DoD

community affected by sexual assault. Safe Helpline provides live, one-on-one support and information to the worldwide DoD community. The service is confidential, anonymous, secure, and available worldwide, 24/7 by click, call or text — providing victims with the help they need anytime, anywhere. www.safehelpline.org

• Make the Connection: Connecting veterans with information, resources and solutions to issues affecting their health, well-being and everyday lives. www.maketheconnection.org

• After Deployment: Wellness Resources for the Military Community www.afterdeployment.org • U.S. Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response www.sapr.mil • Advocating for men and women affected by Military Sexual Trauma. Information and resources for: potential clients

(active duty and veterans); friends and family members; the media; advocates; health care providers (civilian and military); academics (students and professors); and potential donor. www.vetwow.com

• Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center Medical Providers Information Website • My HealtheVet is VA’s online personal health record • VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs • Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas • Anxiety - JAMA Psychiatry Collection • SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach • SAMHSA Releases New Strategic Plan

• Serious Mental Illness: A New Block Grant Priority • Projections of National Expenditures for Treatment of Mental and Substance Use Disorders, 2010-2020 • Addressing the Specific Behavioral Health Needs of Men • Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks • Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks • CEMM Virtual Library/TBI: Interactive Brain • Substance Use and Mental Health Estimates from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health-Overview of

Findings • Milhealth's Research http://bit.ly/1ouB2BN • Veterans Coalition of North Central Texas http://www.vcnct.org/ • Life-Changing Mobile Apps for People with Brain Injury (brainline.org) http://bit.ly/1mnn5pk • Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC): Understanding TBI http://bit.ly/1mnpMXY • DoD Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program http://1.usa.gov/1mnqnZD • VA’s Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) http://1.usa.gov/1mnrpoz • ARMY Suicide prevention resources http://bit.ly/1ldVWKp • The Veterans Defense Project http://www.veteransdefenseproject.org/ • CEMM: Traumatic Brain Injury Multimedia Library (USAFA) http://bit.ly/TQqWmD • CEMM Virtual Medical Library (USAFA) http://www.cemmlibrary.org/ • SAMHSA New Spanish Language Mental Health Resources • SAMHSA Suicide Prevention Resources • SAMHSA's Preventing Suicide: Everyone Plays a Role Webcast • National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline • Connecting Justice Communities (probono.net) http://www.connectingjusticecommunities.com/ • NCSC Veterans Courts Resource Guide http://bit.ly/Irrd5M • Justice For Vets http://www.justiceforvets.org/ • Center for Brain Health - Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART) http://bit.ly/1ricLWH • SAMHSA Programs for Military Families http://1.usa.gov/1ii97Tk • Military Mental Health Resources: Depression, TBI & PTSD http://bit.ly/1nlU5kO • Traumatic Brain Injury News (paper.li) http://bit.ly/1iNxKuW • VA: What are Peer Support Groups? http://1.usa.gov/1nIySAI

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• New Spanish-Language Mental Health Resources "Tool Kit" http://1.usa.gov/1qhtOYF • mentalhealth.gov in Spanish http://1.usa.gov/1qhu6P3 http://1.usa.gov/1qhu6P3 • International Hyperbaric Medical Association http://bit.ly/1ihcfT1 • ARMY OneSource http://www.aosresourcecenter.com/ • SAMHSA Publication: Helping Clinicians Address Suicidal Behavior Get the Quick Guide for Clinicians • SAMHSA Publication: Helping Administrators Implement Suicide Prevention Get the Quick Guide for Administrators • http://www.militaryconnection.com/ CAREERS FOR MILITARY VETERANS, VETERAN SCHOOLS, • NEW GI BILL RESOURCES AND MILITARY LOANS • SAMHSA Publication: TIP 57: Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services http://1.usa.gov/QKQ8Kx • SAMHSA Talking Points for Faith-Based Communities http://1.usa.gov/1imVuV3 • SAMHSA Everyone Can Play a Role in the Conversation about Mental Health - Faith-Based Organizations Fact Sheet • Brain Injury Book List http://bit.ly/1oAvPuK • U.S. Disability Statistics on the NIMH Website http://1.usa.gov/1gaPXm • SAMHSA's Mental Health & Substance Abuse Data Archive http://bit.ly/OcAPbT • California Brain Injury Attorney News http://bit.ly/1lNAJ8M • VA Strategic Plan Now available Online http://1.usa.gov/1cy2M9i • mTBI Pocket Guide http://bit.ly/1eRzvRf • The National Center for Telehealth & Technology http://www.t2.health.mil/ • ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel http://bit.ly/1etiug6 • BrainLineMilitary.org Resource Directory Search for local military brain injury resources near you.

http://bit.ly/1fmvnNy • A Structured Evidence Review to Identify Treatment Needs of Justice-Involved Veterans and Associated

Psychological Interventions http://bit.ly/1c3HH5l

• Silenced No More http://www.silencednomoreasoldierscourage.com/#/ • Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence http://bit.ly/1jYYRjf • Defense And Veterans brain Injury Center http://bit.ly/1bVoZec • DVBIC Back to School Guide to Academic Success After Traumatic Brain Injury http://bit.ly/1bVoFMw • THE U.S. SERVICEMEMBER’S GUIDE TO ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND AID http://bit.ly/1bVo39q • Disaster, Disease and Distress: Resources to Promote Psychological Health and Resilience in Military and Civilian

Communities.” • The National Resource Directory, Connecting Wounded Warriors, Service Members, Veterans, Their Families and

Caregivers with Those Who Support Them www.nrd.gov • WAR- Sebastian Junger • What It Is Like to Go to War by Marlantes, Karl 1st (first) Edition Hardcover(2011)

Veterans and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (New York Times) http://nyti.ms/14kWDn1 • 365 Days, Broken Bodies, Shattered Minds: A Medical Odyssey from Vietnam to Afghanistan, Wounded: Vietnam to

Iraq, by Dr. Ronald J. Glasser, M.D. http://www.ronaldjglasser.com/ • List of Brain Injury Programs and Services http:/bit.ly/17w778S • NIC: Buffalo Veteran's Court and Veterans Mentor Handbook http://1.usa.gov/11bDRSr • Ohio Specialized Docket Certification Submission Guidelines http://1.usa.gov/13gaCgg

For daily news updates, please subscribe to our two Internet newspapers: Traumatic Brain Injury News Daily and Veterans Courts News Daily

TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

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

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

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entity or website. We especially welcome information about national funding or training opportunities. 6. If you pass on our clips, please also pass on our Disclaimer.

EDITOR/CONTACT

Pete Miller, cruzzen@gmail.com, @OHCircuitRider

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

Ohio Veterans Treatment Courts

Editor/Publisher - Veterans Treatment Court News Daily

Editor/Publisher - Traumatic Brain Injury News Daily