1 of 18

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

DECEMBER 21, 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

Subscribe to this free weekly, all volunteer-generated, news summary by joining our Veterans in The Courts Initiative Group

Nationwide, 3,055 providers of veterans’ services, just like you, receive this newsletter directly.

Thank you for sharing!

VETERANS IN THE COURTS INITIATIVE estrattonconsulting.wordpress.com

Editor's Note: To refocus 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

This data will be updated constantly. Please use the links below to share the information. Please send us new sources when you find them. Thank you!

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, NAMI Military & Veterans Policy, 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 Kelly Kennedy, author and former national health policy, congress and veterans issues reporter (USA Today, Army Times, Chicago Tribune Media Group 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.

FEATURED STORIES

Number of Veterans Behind Bars Continues to Fall (due in part to veterans courts): Justice Department http://is.gd/az1ynP

Veterans account for fewer inmates in US prisons and jails today than a decade ago,

according to new federal statistics.

2 of 18

An estimated 181,500 veterans are incarcerated, including 131,500 in prison and 50,000 in

jails, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics said in a release this week. That

figure is down 9 percent from the 206,500 veterans locked up in 2004.

Overall, veterans represented about 8 percent of all federal and state inmates. The figures

are based on a 2011-2012 survey conducted by the department.

"This decrease has been happening for a while," John Rowan, president of Vietnam Veterans

of America, told Military.com. A growing number of so-called veterans courts emphasize

treatment over incarceration for those with drug problems, he said.

"Vet courts have done a great job of keeping vets out of jail and the population [of those

incarcerated] is shrinking," Rowan said. Also contributing to the decline is the fact many

Vietnam veterans have been paroled or died while in jail, which has led to his organization

closing a number of prison chapters, he said.

Defending Veterans in the Criminal Justice System – Important and Unique Role of the VJO by Evelyn Lundberg Stratton (Video) http://bit.ly/1NjNXWK

Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio Evelyn Lundberg Stratton discusses the

critically important and unique role of the VA’s Veterans Judicial Outreach Coordinator (VJO)

in defending veterans in the criminal justice system.

Retired Justice Stratton served on the national committee that created and recommended

VJO’s to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Editor’s note: This is the first of five videos from a day-long conference, Defending

Veterans in the Criminal Justice System, hosted by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and

Chaired by retired Justice Stratton.

Resurrecting Lives Foundation Founder Dr. Chrisanne Gordon on The Journey of Success (podcast) http://bit.ly/1UXzmCZ Editor’s note: Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Retired and Former Justice of the Ohio Supreme

Court is a member of the Resurrecting Live Foundation Board of Advisors.

Join us on The Journey of Success as Dr. Chrisanne Gordon and Erik Kazmierczak of

Resurrecting Lives Foundation share their journey to fulfillment and happiness through a

non-profit organization.

Dr. Chrisanne Gordon has experience in internal medicine, emergency room medicine,

occupational medicine and rehabilitative medicine and is board certified by the American

Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Chrisanne founded The Resurrecting Lives

Foundation (RLF) which attained 501 (c) (3) status in July, 2012.

Eric Kazmierczak serves as the Director of Operations for the Resurrecting Lives Foundation.

He is a 2-time combat veteran serving in Afghanistan. He retired from the Marine Corps in

2009. Over 2.2 million service personnel have been deployed to the war zone in Iraq and

Afghanistan – many with multiple deployments.

Together, through RLF, they advocate for our returning heroes and their families while

educating the public about TBI and the associated 2nd and 3rd order effects.

A Holiday Message from Evelyn Lundberg Stratton with her childhood memories of Christmas in Vietnam during the war

3 of 18

I grew up in three foreign countries -Thailand, and boarding schools in South Viet Nam and

Malaysia. There was very little evidence of any Christmas celebration except in our home,

where my mom originally made a Christmas tree out of crepe paper until we were able to

buy a small artificial tree later to take oversees.

But we also got to go on the Air Forces bases when my dad, the missionary, would be

invited to speak at the Chapel. The Christmas decorations on the bases were everywhere. It

was the only place I ever saw a Santa Claus when growing up oversees.

It was also the time Bob Hope would come out with his

tour, and I thought I was hot stuff when a GI would ask

me if I was with the Hope tour (even though my mom

made me wear the ugly maroon shoes..."you can start a

new fashion" was her favorite phrase.) But his tour

brought some hope and cheer to some very lonely guys.

We sometimes forget, when talking about the fighting,

danger, and injuries, that there is another type of sacrifice.

Being on tour, away from an American Christmas and your

family and loved ones.

So to all those who are stationed somewhere else than

home, we thank you for your service and for keeping our country safe. It is the best gift you

could give to all of us this Christmas season.

God bless you all.

Another message.

I also wish to thank my faithful editor and his wife, Pete and Donna Miller, for the countless

hours they put into this newsletter each week, as well as taping many veterans events for

different groups and my blog. Thought they give me the credit, they do all the hard work

week after week so that we can all stay informed and connected.

I have asked them to take a break to enjoy the holidays and we will resume our

newsletter Jan. 9.

Happy holidays to all,

Evelyn Lundberg Stratton

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Funding for Traumatic Brain Injury Federal programs in the new spending bills BIAA reports funding for traumatic brain injury federal programs is listed below:

TBI Act: $9.321 million. This is level funding from Fiscal Year (FY) 2015. The bill also

includes specific language to move the program's funding from the Health Resources

Services Administration (HRSA) to the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Injury Prevention Center, TBI: $6.75

million. This is an increase from FY 15's $6.548 million.

BRAIN Research Initiative: $150 million. This is an increase of $85 million from FY 15.

Defense Health Program TBI/Psychological Health: $125 million. This is the same

funding level as FY 15. The initial Defense Appropriations bill that the House considered

4 of 18

earlier this year cut funding for this program to $100 million. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ),

co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force successfully passed an amendment

restoring the funding to $125 million.

VA EHR Upgrade Comes With Strings Attached in $1T Funding Bill http://bit.ly/1Mr4pk1

Funding for VA’s VistA Evolution program, an effort to upgrade the agency’s in-house

electronic health record system, is limited to 25 percent until the VA secretary reports to

Congress the status of the agency’s plan, any changes made to its scope or functionality

and the actual program costs so far incurred. In addition, lawmakers want VA to provide a

definition it’s using to describe interoperability with DOD systems.

Last month, Pentagon officials said they were ready to certify they met congressionally

mandated interoperability requirements, although an October report from the Government

Accountability Office said a fully interoperable system is still “years away.”

New Members (From Texas, Alaska, Maryland, South Carolina) Appointed to VA Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans http://1.usa.gov/1UXwjuC

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the appointment

of four new members to the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. The committee was

chartered on November 2, 1994, and advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the needs

of the nation’s 4.7 million minority Veterans on compensation, health care, rehabilitation,

outreach and other benefits and programs administered by the VA.

The committee assesses the needs of Veterans who are minority group members and

recommends program improvements designed to meet their needs. The committee

members are appointed to two or three-year terms. Minority Veterans comprise nearly 21

percent of the total Veteran population in the United States and its territories. VA OIG Reports

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System,

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Inspection of VA Regional Office Hartford, CT

A Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Convicted of Falsifying Medical Records and

Computer Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Collects Over $ 255 Million in Civil

and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2015

Review of Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Other Outpatient Clinics of Charles

George VA Medical Center, Asheville, North Carolina

Review of Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Other Outpatient Clinics of Louis A.

Johnson VA Medical Center, Clarksburg, West Virginia

Additional resources from my blog

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

OHIO Afghanistan Veterans Encouraged to Apply for the Ohio Veterans Bonus - Afghanistan Veterans Encouraged to Apply for the Ohio Veterans Bonus - Bonus payments range from $500 to $1,500 http://is.gd/svKdMp

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Veterans Bonus continues a tradition of awarding bonuses to Ohio

veterans that dates back to the Civil War, according to the Ohio Department of Veterans

Services (ODVS).

“Ohio veterans answered the call to service when our nation needed them most,” said Chip

Tansill, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. “It is an honor to reward

5 of 18

these brave men and women who fight for our nation’s freedom.”

The payment is $100 a month to veterans who served during the eligible periods in

Afghanistan up to a maximum of $1,000. For veterans who served in other parts of the

world during these times, the payment is $50 a month up to a $500 maximum.

Veterans medically discharged as a result of combat service can receive $1,000, regardless

of how much time they spent in theater, plus up to $500 for months of service elsewhere.

Family members of those killed in action or who died from disease as a result of their in-

theater service can receive a bonus of $5,000 plus whatever the service member was

eligible for, up to $6,500.

Columbus builder gives new house to injured veteran, his family http://bit.ly/1J0S76U

. . . In the meantime, Trinity (home builders) was looking for a veteran to help.

Last year, the Columbus homebuilder worked with the nonprofit organization Homes for Our

Troops to build a house for a disabled veteran in Marysville.

Trinity wanted to construct a home for another veteran and in July started building a ranch

home on a lot it owned in Turnberry, said Trinity President Jim Phieffer.

“We think veterans are underserved and underappreciated,” Phieffer said. “And we think

this is a good way to involve our employees.”

To find a recipient, Trinity contacted Adaptive Homes, a Westerville nonprofit that helps

veterans in need find housing.

Adaptive Homes put Trinity in touch with Jefferson, who was recommended by Jean Ann

Lemke, a nurse in the behavioral health division of the Veterans Affairs Department who

had worked with Jefferson.

Adaptive Homes supplied Trinity with four veterans to interview, but Jefferson’s demeanor

especially struck Adaptive Homes Executive Director Katie Steiner-Filbrun.

“He is very gentle and has struggled for several years and really works hard to be a good

father,” she said.

Because of his head injury, she said, Jefferson will always struggle with employment,

putting him and his family at severe risk of falling through the cracks.

“He will never be able to increase his income, unlike other vets, where the traumatic brain

injury isn’t there,” Steiner-Filbrun said. “He could live in extreme poverty if this gift

wasn’t granted to him.”

VA Northern Indiana Health Care System 7 Questions on the Mobility Clinic http://1.usa.gov/1QD8rO7

Editor’s note: The VA Northern Indiana HCS serves veterans in western Ohio.

What is your clinic? We’re the Mobility and Sensory Aid Clinic under the Prosthetic Service When did you open? August 3, 2015 What kind of patients do you see? All Veterans that are eligible for VA services. How many consults have you had since opening? Approximately 600 consults. What do you offer? Assessments for the larger durable medical equipment and sensory

aid needs of Veterans, for example, power wheelchairs, ramps, vertical porch lifts, stair lifts,

vehicle lifts for scooters and power wheelchairs and HISA grants.

6 of 18

How are patients able to see you? With a referral from the provider. Additional Info? The clinic travels to all VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System locations

so the patient can be seen at their main VA campus in Fort Wayne or Marion or at one of

our Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen wish you a Happy Holiday

Greetings, Ohio National Guard Ambassador -

On behalf of the 16,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the Ohio National Guard, we wish you a

Happy Holiday and a Peaceful New Year. We truly appreciate your support and our

partnership and look forward to seeing you next year.

Warm regards,

LtCol Kathy Lowrey

Kathy Lowrey, LtCol OHANG

Director, Community Outreach

Ohio National Guard Additional resources from my blog

OPERATION LEGAL HELP OHIO http://bit.ly/1Gg0HbK

OHIO RESOURCES FOR VETERANS http://bit.ly/19ouWn0

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

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

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

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS

AZ: LHC Properties Donates to Veterans (Court) http://bit.ly/1OjjFH3

Dean Baker, owner of Lake Havasu City Properties, presents a check for $1,200 to Judy

Lacey, secretary of the Veterans Resource Team. The VRT works with the Havasu Veterans

Treatment Court to locate resources to provide veterans in the court system with counseling

and life management skills.

Lake Havasu City Properties’ donation will help the VRT pay for court-ordered tests and for

transportation for veterans to get to medical appointments, the VA, court hearings and

other needs.

FL: Breaking a 'vicious cycle': Court takes new approach to mentally ill http://bit.ly/1JpLki1

Bay County embarked in November on a volunteer-run pilot program called the Therapeutic

Justice Court (TJC), the first of its kind in the court’s history.

Bay County Jail officials early on identified an issue with mentally ill inmates going through

a revolving door of incarceration. Of the some 900 people in the Bay County Jail at any

given moment, about 250 are on psychotropic medication and about 125 suffer from “Axis

1” mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Five of those cases are

currently progressing through the TJC, with two pending confirmation and three slots open

for qualifying cases. RULES COMMITTEE PRINT 114-39 TEXT OF HOUSE AMENDMENT #1 TO THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2029, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016 http://1.usa.gov/1QsD0pj

Justice For Vets @Justice4Vets: Thanks to Senate Appropriations for bi-partisan support for

7 of 18

Drug Courts, DWI Courts, and Veterans Treatment Courts!

SCOTUS: Advocates back military family's Feres doctrine challenge http://bit.ly/1OjjWdd A diverse group of organizations has filed briefs urging the Supreme Court to hear the case

of a military child whose medical malpractice suit was dismissed because her injuries

stemmed from complications during birth from her active duty mother.

In their amicus, or "friends of the court," briefs, the advocates, including the American

Legion, the National Organization for Women, four members of Congress and others, urged

the court to hear Ortiz v. the U.S., saying the case, which calls into question the

applicability of the Feres Doctrine, is important to military women.

Federal Appeals Court Finds Jurisdiction, But Denies Veteran’s Preference Claims in Dean v. Department of Labor http://bit.ly/1OjkgZi

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently ruled in Dean v.

Department of Labor that Mr. David Dean did not have his veterans’ preference rights

violated by the Department of Labor when he applied, but was not considered for, a position

as a Recent Graduate Wage and Hour Specialist pursuant to the President’s Pathways

Program.

. . . . . . Mr. Dean was not considered for the Recent Graduate Wage and Hour Specialist

position because he had not graduated within the timeframe established under the

Pathways Program (i.e., he had graduated more than 6 years prior).

UK: Just leave me be: Soldier's plea as lawyers force Iraq veterans to relive horror of combat after surge in legal claims http://dailym.ai/1OjkX4U

Servicemen cleared of any wrongdoing in the Iraq War have been forced to relive the

horrors of combat years later as a result of a surge in legal claims.

In one case, six soldiers – two of them suffering from post-traumatic stress – were ordered

to give evidence about their role in the shooting of an Iraqi in 2003.

During the hearings, one pleaded with the inquiry to let him get on with his life, adding:

‘Can’t you just leave me be?’

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/MS

Research: Findings from MR Imaging in Military Traumatic Brain Injury http://bit.ly/1JpP7Mv

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a high prevalence in U.S. service members who return

from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center reports that over 300 000 service members

were diagnosed with TBI between 2000 and 2015 (1). Military TBI, which in the deployed

setting was primarily from blast injury, could fundamentally differ from TBI caused by motor

vehicle collisions, falls, and sports-related injuries.

Blast as an injury mechanism has been associated with greater physical injuries and higher

rates of sensory impairment (2–6), neuroimaging findings (7), and neurosurgical

8 of 18

presentation (8,9).

Additionally, blast may be more emotionally traumatic than other mechanisms and show

differential patterns of stress and other symptoms with varied exposure (10–12), although

this has not been a consistent finding in the military population (13–15). Some aspects of

blast, such as patterns of neuropsychologic deficits, do not appear to differ by mechanism

(16,17).

In military patients with blast-related TBI, the initial treatment focus is on the more obvious

and more immediate life-threatening injuries often sustained to the rest of the body, and

the symptoms of mild TBI may not be recognized until sometime after the injury.

Current assessment of TBI heavily relies on behavioral observations, such as the Glasgow

coma scale, and on patient recall of events, such as posttraumatic amnesia and loss of

consciousness. There is a need for a more definitive indicator than these classic behavioral

observations.

This is especially critical in mild TBI, given the complexity of symptoms and the high

sensitivity and low specificity of current screening mechanisms (18,19).

INDIANA GOVERNOR PENCE ANNOUNCES PLAN TO BUILD A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART NEURO-DIAGNOSTIC INSTITUTE http://bit.ly/1JpOqme

Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today unveiled the state’s plans to build a new state-of-

the-art neuro-diagnostic institute that will provide major advancements to Indiana’s public

mental health delivery system. The institute, scheduled to begin serving patients in 2018,

will be a key component of the state’s initiative to improve Indiana’s network of state-

operated mental health facilities.

“This new institute will serve as the centerpiece of our ongoing commitment to improve

mental health care and address the scourge of addictions in Indiana,” said Governor Pence.

“This new institute is another part of our strong commitment to improving health care in

Indiana and to caring for our most vulnerable fellow citizens, including those living in

poverty, with disabilities and impaired from psychiatric illnesses, brain diseases and

addictions.”

This new 159-bed institute is projected to have the capacity to treat 1,500 patients each

year.

. . . ’Neuro’ is a word that pertains to the brain,” said Dr. John Wernert, Secretary of the

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). “’Diagnostic’ reflects the

techniques used in diagnosing illnesses.”

Dr. Wernert explained that the focus of this new institute would be on the precise diagnosis

and assertive treatment of brain-based disorders, including:

acute and chronic mental illness

chronic addictions

intellectual and developmental disabilities

traumatic brain injury

neuro-degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease

Will Smith’s ‘Concussion’ Is Ending Our Brain Injury Denial http://is.gd/IK5sga

Hollywood has done for traumatic brain injuries what science and pro sports have been

unable to: get us to confront ‘Concussion.’

Scientists, government agencies, and athletic organizations have spent decades working on

how to protect the brain and improve brain health. In the last ten years, neuroscientists

9 of 18

have uncovered new brain processes, altered perceptions about development, and

uncovered clues to how we lose our precious memories and functioning as we age.

Leigh Steinberg, the super agent who has represented hundreds of professional athletes,

even wrote on brain health and injury’s implications for the future of professional sports

beginning in the ’80s. Yet organizations like the National Football League have been able to

get away with ignoring science and skirting responsibility for impairing hundreds—if not

thousands—of individuals over the same period of time.

That time of denial has come to end. Not because of good science, improved policy, or

respect for the lives being injured to entertain us, but because of Hollywood.

Enter Will Smith and his Christmas Day sure-to-be-blockbuster “Concussion.”

. . . At this point in brain exploration, with research like this, there is no going back. The

genome has been mapped and DNA has been sequenced. Neuroscience is the new frontier

of medical advancement, and “Concussion” is prepared be the catalyst that brings the public

along for the ride and serves as the platform for getting Americans to hold organizations like

the NFL accountable for human lives.

Article author Nicole Fisher is the president and CEO at HHR Strategies, a health-care and

human-rights-focused advising firm.

DCoE: Clinician’s Corner: Expert Highlights Cognitive Rehabilitation after Traumatic Brain Injury http://bit.ly/1O0Avcc

Providers should rely on the evidence base for cognitive rehabilitation of patients with

traumatic brain injury (TBI) rather than solely on “clinical intuition,” an expert told

attendees at the 2015 Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic

Brain Injury (DCoE) Summit.

“Please use the available materials” to guide cognitive rehabilitation for mild TBI, commonly

known as concussion, Linda Picon, the Department of Veterans Affairs liaison for TBI at

DCoE, urged providers. There is still much to learn about the most effective treatments for

this patient population, but using the wealth of provider tools available means that care can

be standardized to help advance the science and optimize patient outcomes, she said.

Patientslikeme.com http://bit.ly/1I70hup

We believe that you—the patient—should be at the center of healthcare. Other members

and researchers will learn from your real-world health experiences so we all can start living

better, together. (Don’t worry, certain account information like your email address will not

be shared.)

Moving forward is not always easy. But each journey is made one step at a time.

In the U.S. alone, about 7.7 million adults live with post-traumatic stress (PTS), and

each year more than 2 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Learn from and help others who are living with PTS or have experienced a TBI.

Make progress. Share progress. And advance research.

Connect with others who have been there and are living better, together.

Track and share your experiences for PTS and TBI research.

Show yourself and others what's possible.

If you're living with PTS or a TBI, you don't have to take the journey alone.

PatientsLikeMe is a network where people like you are learning, connecting, and

making a difference in research and treatment.

Take the next step. Sign up today (It’s free)

10 of 18

Blanket protection offered through new veteran therapy http://bit.ly/1JpM7j8 HARTFORD -- Sometimes the simplest solutions can have the biggest results.

Chelsea Carisio, a co-owner of the downtown Hartford gym called Boundless Performance

Systems, has created a prototype that she calls "Snug as a Bugz." It's a 17-pound

compression blanket filled with polypropylene pellet.

The goal? To provide a feeling of safety and security for veterans suffering from combat-

related symptoms like depression and PTSD.

"The concept kind of goes to when you were a baby and you want to be swaddled," said

Carisio, who is also an occupational therapist. "It's a feeling of comfort and what it does is it

naturally releases serotonin and that is a sleep promoter, a relaxer, and a calmer."

The blanket goes everywhere with Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Petrulis, a two-time bronze

star recipient from Higganum who served five tours overseas. One of his primary jobs while

serving was as an explosives ordinance disposal technician. "My job was to go out

and disarm all of the roadside bombs," Petrulis said.

Years of harrowing work with explosives have led to PTSD , panic attacks and depression

for Petrulis, who was honorably discharged from the Air Force three years ago. Petrulis says

the Snug as a Bugz blanket might seem so simple, but it makes a difference for him.

"It makes me feel like I have some comfort," Petrulis said. "I can take meds from doctors,

you can talk to as many people as you want, but, with this blanket, I wrap it around and it

instantly gives me a calming effect."

When PTSD Is Contagious - Therapists and other people who help victims of trauma can become traumatized themselves. (The Atlantic) http://theatln.tc/1ZarUqJ

. . . Exposed each day to the distress of others, our second-line responders to tragedy—

humanitarian workers, therapists, social workers, lawyers, and journalists—can develop

traumatic stress disorders that mimic the PTSD of their clients, patients, and sources, down

to the images of violence that can haunt a traumatized mind. Thirty to 40 percent of

mental-health clients in the U.S. show symptoms of post-traumatic stress. By one estimate,

as many as half of the psychotherapists who treat these patients could have symptoms

of “secondary” or acquired trauma.

Currently, the best treatments for trauma require sharing the story of what happened. Talk

is therapy—but when the things we share are horrifying, our listeners can be altered for the

worse. In this way, individual trauma can morph into something collective.

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NEWS IS POSTED IN THE COLLEGES AND

UNIVERSITIES SECTION BELOW.

In the war against sexual assault, the Army keeps shooting itself in the foot http://is.gd/fg8Or7

For the past two years, the Pentagon has acknowledged having a severe problem with

sexual assault in the ranks. Military leaders have promised Congress, the White House and

their own troops that they are redoubling efforts to protect victims and punish offenders.

But those pledges have been undermined by a string of previously undisclosed cases in

which soldiers entrusted with key roles in the campaign against sexual assault and

harassment have, in turn, been accused of committing those very offenses, according to a

Washington Post investigation. Additional resources from my blog

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

11 of 18

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

SUICIDE

Congress Orders Defense Dept. to Study Combat’s Effects on Veteran Suicide Rates http://nyti.ms/1OjlqnI

. . . The issue of suicide among war veterans gained prominence almost a decade ago, but

repeated studies seeking a cause have left the question of combat’s role unanswered. The

studies generally focused on whether deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan raised suicide

rates, sidestepping whether troops encountered combat on those deployments.

. . . The amendment requires the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments, which

oversee active-duty troops and veterans, to begin the study within a month, using an

independent research team to research what it called “the impact of participation in

combat during service in the armed forces on suicides and other mental health

issues among veterans.” Air Force Secretary James outlines suicide prevention initiatives http://bit.ly/1I708aq

Suicides, which number 273 across the active-duty military so far this year, are an issue

"we all need to be worried about," Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said Tuesday in a

town hall meeting with airmen. She outlined three initiatives the service is undertaking to

prevent such deaths:

"We're going to try to do a better job of screening some of your younger airmen, at

the tech school level and try to identify people who seem to be having difficulties ...

in problem solving perhaps, coping and try to put a little bit more help and

assistance for some of those airmen."

"On the medical front we are looking to offer more full-up medical screening for

those who actually come to us with certain problems and tell us they need help.

We're going to give them a more complete medical screening and medical support

service."

"We will be building up what we call prevention specialists at bases around the

country and the job of the prevention specialists will be to try to pull together the

various helping resources and streamline some of the training programs that are out

there because what we've realized is that we have sexual assault training, we have

suicide prevention training, we have resilience training ... but there is overlap. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) http://is.gd/sRBnMl

ASIST is the first suicide prevention program to be listed under the new, more stringent

standards found in the revised National Registry for Evidence-based Programs and Practices

(NREPP), an evidence-based repository and review system designed to provide the public

with reliable information on mental health and substance abuse interventions. LA Theater: War, suicide explored in moody ‘Act’ - InnerMission’s world premiere drama looks at PTSD’s effect on vets and their families http://bit.ly/1ZarfFO

In the opening moments of Delia Knight’s world premiere drama “Disappearing Act,” the

audience is led to believe that Alex, a troubled Iraq War veteran, may have lost his long

battle with PTSD.

But what unfolds more gradually in the contemplative 90-minute play is how PTSD infects

not only the veterans of war but the shell-shocked loved ones waiting for them at home.

DEPLOYMENT HEALTH NEWS, 18 DECEMBER 2015

12 of 18

Veterans With PTSD Show Unusual Activity In Brain Regions Unrelated To A Natural Fear

Response

Medical Daily, 16 December 2015

“Unusual activity occurred in several brain regions, a new study showed, whenever combat

veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder looked at images only vaguely similar to an

original trauma. This suggests PTSD treatment strategies could be improved by focusing on

tangential triggers and not just the trauma itself, say the Duke Medicine and Durham VA

Medical Center researchers.”

Factors Impacting Functional Status in Veterans of Recent Conflicts With PTSD

The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 16 December 2015

“Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) underwent a systematic evaluation to

determine which factors were associated with the degree of functional status. Demographic

information, self-report scales, and symptom ratings performed by trained evaluators were

investigated in multiple regression models to determine their contribution to functional

status. Ninety-six participants were included in the model assessing degree of functional

status. Depressive symptoms, a depressive disorder diagnosis, and to a lesser extent, the

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale were selected in the final model that best predicted the

degree of functional status. Depressive symptoms significantly affect the function of

veterans with PTSD.”

Overcoming the fear of spiders, in 2 minutes

The Washington Post – 15 December 2015

“The tarantula sits in an open cage in the center of the room, dark and hairy and as big as a

man’s fist. Its eight thick legs, sharp fangs and large glassy eyes are enough to give anyone

the creeps, let alone someone who has feared spiders all her life, like the woman standing

at the far side of the room, looking distraught. The woman, a participant in a study on

arachnophobia, has one task: touch the tarantula.”

Improve Your Health with Smartphone Technology

T2's Mobile Health Blog, 3 December 2015

“We were always told that when we got to the 21st century, we’d all be traveling in rockets

and technology would improve our lives in amazing ways. Well, we don’t commute via

rockets yet and we don’t have diagnostic health scanners like those on Star Trek, but the

pace of our lives is quickening (thank you millennials!) and we do have some amazing tools

to help us. Try these three approaches to learn how to use your smartphone to improve

your health.”

Psychologist: Headway made on treatments for PTSD

Stars and Stripes, 14 December 2015

“Before he launched into his lecture on the long-term consequences of ‘the blast,’ Alan

Peterson, a clinical psychologist, took a moment to pay tribute to his subjects — and to get

his audience’s attention. ‘This time of year, keep in mind, we have a lot of people who are

deployed,” said Peterson, who is the behavioral medicine chief at the medical school of the

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. “For our troops who are

deployed, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and …’”

Army report shows soldiers lack sleep, struggle to eat right

Army Times, 13 December 2015

“Soldiers continue to struggle with eating healthy and getting enough sleep, according to

the Army’s first Health of the Force report. The report, released Dec. 10 by the Army

surgeon general’s office, gives leaders and commanders a snapshot of active-duty soldier

health across 30 U.S.-based installations in 2014. It looked at injuries, behavioral health,

chronic disease, obesity, tobacco use, sleep disorders, hospital admissions, and other health

measures. Officials then created an overall Installation Health Index, rating each installation

in the study.”

State programs for veterans face legislative scrutiny and concerns

Richmond Times-Dispatch, 14 December 2015

“A state program to direct military veterans to mental health services and family supports is

relying on staff that may not be properly trained or certified to manage behavioral health

care, according to a new legislative report that raises major questions about initiatives Gov.

Terry McAuliffe is trying to expand. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission took

specific aim Monday at the Virginia Veteran and Family Support program, created in 2008 as

13 of 18

the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program to coordinate care for military veterans returning

from battlefronts in the war on terrorism with brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and

serious depression.”

Waking Up From War Part One

Waking Up From War Part Two

The Huffington Post – 11 November 2015

“Joseph Bobrow is the founder of Coming Home Project, a non-profit organization of

psychotherapists, veterans, and interfaith leaders whose programs help Iraq and

Afghanistan veterans, service members, and their families and caregivers alleviate the

emotional, social and family, and moral injuries of war. Joseph is a psychoanalyst,

community activist, and Zen master of Deep Streams Institute which offers Zen Buddhist

practice; develops new integrative models of healing; and implements these models as it

serves the community through the non-denominational Coming Home Project. His new book

is titled ‘Waking Up From War: A Better Way Home For Veterans And Nations’ with a

foreword by H.H. The Dalai Lama.”

DCoE Webinar Rewind: Your Electronics May be Ruining Your Sleep

DCoE Blog, 16 December 2015

“Do you spend countless hours at night playing video games, watching TV and trolling on

social media? Are you having trouble falling asleep? Using electronic devices more often for

longer periods of time has a negative impact on sleep, according to a recent study

presented at a webinar hosted by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health

and Traumatic Brain Injury Dec. 3.”

For more deployment health-related information, click here to go to the DoD Deployment

Health Clinical Center's PDHealth.mil website.

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.

Adler University: M.A. in Psychology: Specialization in Military Psychology Offered Entirely Online http://bit.ly/1ZaqbSb

. . . Adler University’s online Master of Arts in Psychology: Specialization in Military

Psychology program is founded on our longstanding expertise in military cultural

competency and commitment to social justice, producing psychology and mental health

professionals who work effectively with active-duty military, veterans and their families.

The M.A. in Psychology: Specialization in Military Psychology curriculum immerses students

in every aspect of mental health and the U.S. military, including the psychology of conflict,

trauma and loss, understanding the VA healthcare system, and more.

Columbia University: Research: Speeding up brain’s waste disposal may slow down neurodegenerative diseases http://1.usa.gov/1OjhoLZ

NIH-funded mouse study identifies therapeutic target for clearing out toxic proteins

damaged during neurodegenerative disorders. Las Positas Community College: College program gives veterans internships, jobs at Livermore Lab http://bayareane.ws/1OjiQ0U

LIVERMORE -- During the four years that Ryan Kelley spent in the Marines, he served as

ordinance technician for machine guns and rockets, at one point living on a ship off the

coast of Libya as tensions broiled between rebel soldiers and former dictator Muammar

Gaddafi.

While his military service provided him with indelible life experiences, he wasn't sure how it

would translate to finding a civilian job. "I used to work with machine guns," Kelley, 25,

14 of 18

said. "I moved to California and I thought my skills were all gone."

It turns out he was wrong.

Kelley is one of about 30 veterans participating in a partnership between Las Positas

Community College and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that helps veterans

complete a two-year degree in engineering technology while establishing a pipeline of

qualified candidates for the lab and other Bay Area employees.

He's now taking classes ranging from welding to advanced math at Las Positas while

working part time in the lab's High Explosive Applications Facility, where he uses his military

skill set in the research of cutting-edge weapons.

The partnership, which is in its second year, stemmed from two needs, according to Beth

McCormick, the recruiting and diversity manager for engineering at the lab. McCormick said

through the lab's outreach efforts, they were aware that many veterans re-entering the

workforce struggled at finding jobs that fit their unique skill sets.

Renison University College: Renison University College (Canada) leads the way in training BSW students in suicide intervention and prevention http://is.gd/KL0SSj

WATERLOO – For the second year in a row, suicide intervention training is being offered to

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students at Renison University College.

Renison, affiliated with the University of Waterloo, is once again partnering with the

Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council to provide Applied Suicide Intervention Skills

Training (ASIST) for 60 students enrolled in the BSW program and numerous others in the

part-time BSW. ASIST is an internationally recognized, accredited two-day suicide skills

training workshop.

Rutgers University & Rowan University: New Jersey Veterans health programs get $5M in state grants http://bit.ly/1QD7Wnj

Two New Jersey health systems and the state university were awarded $5 million in grants

to expand existing primary care, behavioral health and social service programs for veterans.

The state Department of Health awarded $2 million to Cooper Health System, $1.55 million

to Rutgers University and $1.4 million to Kennedy University Hospital.

In addition, 11 other service centers and hospitals were awarded a combined total of

$500,000 to provide wellness and health management services and activities for veterans

and their families.

That list includes . . . $33,333 to Rowan University (Camden and Gloucester counties)

“In order to help close the gap of unmet veteran needs, the program grants we are

announcing will help provide evidence-based screening and treatment to this population,”

said acting Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett. “These projects will ensure veterans

across New Jersey receive the primary care and behavioral health services they need.”

UCLA: Program Reduces Anxiety, Depression, PTSD in Military Families “A UCLA-developed program is improving the lives of military families by helping them cope

with multiple deployments and bounce back from challenges, according to a report

published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Families OverComing Under Stress (FOCUS) is an 8-week program that has been

administered since 2008 under a contract from the Bureau of Navy Medicine and Surgery.

The intervention is delivered by specially trained behavioral health professionals at military

15 of 18

bases, and teaches the entire family approaches for overcoming misunderstandings,

diminishing tensions, handling difficult emotions, and banding together.”

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Research: Mechanism to Reduce Epileptic Seizures Following TBI Identified http://bit.ly/1JpPPt4

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found that halting production of new

neurons in the brain following traumatic brain injury can help reduce resulting epileptic

seizures, cognitive decline, and impaired memory.

GENERAL NEWS

NAMI State Mental Health Legislation 2015 Report http://bit.ly/1JpQWsE

NAMI’s report, State Mental Health Legislation: Trends, Themes and Effective Practices,

highlights the good and bad news in states’ approaches to mental health.

The good news is that in 2015, 35 states adopted one or more measures that NAMI

applauds with a Gold Star—and five states passed model legislation.

The bad news is that, at a time when public awareness of the need for mental health reform

continues to increase, funding for mental health services fell in more states than it grew.

This is the third year in a row the number of states willing to increase spending on mental

health shrank. Fewer than half of states increased their mental health budgets this year.

The rest reduced funding, including three states that have been in steady decline over three

years—Alaska, North Carolina and Wyoming.

Only eleven states have steadily increased investment from 2013 to 2015: Colorado,

Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina,

South Dakota, Virginia and Washington.

NIH unveils FY2016–2020 Strategic Plan http://1.usa.gov/1QD9j5y The National Institutes of Health (NIH) today released the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan, Fiscal

Years 2016–2020: Turning Discovery Into Health, which will ensure the agency remains well

positioned to capitalize on new opportunities for scientific exploration and address new

challenges for human health.

Developed after hearing from hundreds of stakeholders and scientific advisers, and in

collaboration with leadership and staff of NIH’s Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs), the

plan is designed to complement the ICOs’ individual strategic plans that are aligned with

their congressionally mandated missions. The DAV Veterans Pulse Survey (PDF) http://is.gd/yVrDUE

Landmark survey reveals attitudes and perceptions of veterans of all generations, identifies

gaps in support for veterans

While veterans of all generations have a very positive view of their military service, only

one-in-five feel the government treats veterans well and less than half believe they receive

the benefits and support they were promised. These are some of the major findings of a

landmark survey by DAV.

CALVET Regional Outreach http://is.gd/AFFIg5

CalVet works closely with local communities in its efforts to serve veterans. To ensure

veterans get the assistance, benefits and services they need, CalVet has divided California

into eight regions and has staffed each region with a Local Interagency Network Coordinator

16 of 18

(LINC). These LINCs play a dynamic role within local communities, serving as both

informational conduits to the community and feedback resources for CalVet. Mindful Warrior Project http://is.gd/TYvuxq

Veterans are at the core of all we do and provide at The Mindful Warrior Project (MWP). Our

signature program is a 10 session mindfulness- based course called The Way of The

Mindful Warrior. This course is specifically created for the veteran community and

addresses the challenges and opportunities that are uniquely theirs. While remaining firmly

grounded in mindfulness (practice and orientation), the course explores themes like self-

compassion, self-forgiveness, acceptance, and non-judgment. Taking it a step further, the

course guides veterans in actually experiencing these concepts for themselves. Through this

unique combination (conceptual and experiential), many veterans begin to have hope for

the first time and begin to see how they really can heal their invisible wounds. To find out

more about this powerful course please contact us.

In addition, MWP provides on-going free events throughout the Los Angeles community. In

partnership with Brentwood Presbyterian Church, the Pasadena American Legion, YWCA

Santa Monica, and Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, we provide these events for veterans free of

charge. We also provide a monthly closed event on Skid Row to serve the veterans there.

(To find out more, contact us). These events serve as a place for camaraderie, healing,

mingling, and as an introduction to mindfulness. They also serve as an opportunity for the

compassionate community to become educated about the challenges and opportunities that

the veterans and their families face. We also host some incredible keynote speakers and

screen some important films, followed by panel discussions, through the year. Please see

our Events page for the most current details. We sincerely hope to meet you at one of these

events soon! CLC unveils Women Veterans Wall in Dallas http://bit.ly/1I6Zolv

The Community Living Center (CLC) at VA North Texas Health Care Center recently unveiled

a Women Veterans Wall of Honor, celebrating the service and sacrifice of our Nation’s

female Veterans.

“The goals of this project are to honor and recognize our women Veterans, educate them

about VA services available to them, and ultimately, reduce the number of advanced

gynecologic cancers in the aging, female Veteran population,” said Geriatrics & Extended

Care Physician Assistant Pam Korzeniowski, PA-C, one of the event planners. “This wall has

been a labor of love from everyone who works here.”

. . . Women are the fastest growing group within the Veteran population and VA North

Texas offers a variety of services designed to meet their unique needs. To reach the VA

North Texas Women Veterans Program that advises and advocates for women Veterans and

helps coordinate primary care and specialized care including reproductive health services,

call 214-857-1938.

This Veteran Faced Life in Prison for One Nonviolent Crime. After 19 Years, He’s Free. http://dailysign.al/1JpRGOs

NEWBERRY, S.C.—Douglas Lindsay was supposed to serve life in prison for a first-time,

nonviolent drug crime.

But in July, after 19 years, Lindsay was one of 46 federal inmates to be granted clemency

by President Barack Obama. Additional resources from my blog

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS http://bit.ly/1Gg21LH

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

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

NATIONWIDE LIST OF CONFERENCES & STAND-DOWNS RELATED TO HOMELESS VETERANS

17 of 18

http://bit.ly/1LahaTK 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 - 1,269 Professionals in VIJ

Active Topics

Army launches review of soldier misconduct discharges

Army doctor fights to clear his name

New Survey Report: Veterans In Prison And Jail, 2011–2012

Supporting the Uniformed Services and Justice Advocacy Group (USJAG)

Toby Keith

Haven’s Military Services Division Provides Education on Treating Military Sexual Trauma

(MST).

Two Army Veterans, From Germany, seek to start Veterans Law Office, to help veterans

with benefits, Mike Tanner

Good, Innovative Stuff In Our Federal Courts

Question for Veterans and/or their family members

YOUNGSTOWN JUDGE & WIFE ENDOW YSU SCHOLARSHIP FOR GRADUATE OF ANY OHIO

VETERANS TREATMENT COURT

More . . .

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 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)

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.

18 of 18

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