Monitor on Psychology - March 2012 - (Page 36)

psychologist Rachael Guerra, PhD, an outreach coordinator “It helped turn things around for me,” says Welch. “A lot of with the Palo Alto VA Health Care System. times I wanted to get out of treatment because I didn’t think I “My aim is to make sure there are clear lines of could make it. But [the judge and court staff] stood by me and communication between the courts and the VA, so that each helped me get through it.” understands the other in terms of recommended treatments As it turns out, Welch benefitted from the country’s first and the veterans’ court-mandated legal obligations,” Guerra veterans treatment court — an entity that works within the says. Those obligations range from paying fines to attending criminal justice system to comprehensively address veterans’ DUI classes to showing up for treatment. She also enrolls mental health and substance abuse issues. The courts are veterans in the VA, and assesses them so she can route them similar to drug and mental health courts, but designed into appropriate VA services, whether mental health, substance specifically for veterans, who have both substance use and abuse or other. mental health issues. Many The role is similar are “dockets,” a day or to the one many more set aside each month psychologists play within to address these cases. the VA, except there’s Since the launch of more travel, Guerra adds. that first court in January “We’re going to court, 2008, versions have we’re going to jail — we’re cropped up across the doing a lot of our work in country. There are now places outside the VA as about 88 veterans courts opposed to in the office.” in 26 states, according to Justice for Vets, a Meeting veterans’ branch of the National needs Association of Drug Court In keeping with Guerra’s Professionals, or NADCP, role, the courts work that is dedicated to the with the VA to help establishment of veterans veterans access VA treatment courts. benefits and services. “For many veterans, They also use community the time they spent in the workers and volunteers military was the high point — particularly veteran of their adult lives — they mentors — to help had jobs where they did JuDge robert russell defendants navigate the important work, had a lot Buffalo’s City Court practical and emotional of responsibility, and felt obstacles to finding they did their jobs well housing, complying with and were good at what medication regimens and they did,” says Sean Clark, dealing with post-traumatic stress symptoms or other mental JD, national coordinator for Veterans Justice Outreach at the health problems. Department of Veterans Affairs, the program overseeing the Say a veteran is in court for alcohol-related problems, and VA’s involvement in these courts. “But a lot of them feel they’ve suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain become very disconnected from that sense of accomplishment injury. Even before his case heard, members of his support and community.” team meet to gain an understanding of his status and to discuss It makes a big difference for veterans to have a community solutions to existing problems, whether it’s finding a way to get wrap itself around them, help them adhere to treatment and to treatment, a place to live or something else. gently hold them accountable for their actions, adds Welch, “Everybody hears what’s going on, so the veteran is not who now mentors other veterans through the court. “It took alone in trying to navigate a system and figure out how to get me a few times to get it right,” he says. “But the judge, the things done,” Guerra says. court staff and the mentors wouldn’t give up on me. They said, On the day the vet’s case is heard, the courtroom is filled ‘You’re going to complete this and you’re going to succeed.’” with people to help him sort out his problems — physical Psychologists are working in these courts in the position health, mental health, legal and practical. The team may of veterans justice outreach coordinator, a job created by include the judge, the veteran’s attorney, the prosecutor, the VA to ease veterans’ access to services and benefits, says “If veterans who have put themselves in harm’s way find themselves going through challenges at home, then shouldn’t we as a society be doing more to help them become stable?” 36 M o n i to r o n p s yc h o l o g y • M a rc h 2 0 1 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - March 2012

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court rejects eyewitness protections
New member benefit: prevention screenings
A psychodynamic treatment for PTSD shows promise for soldiers
Was ‘Little Albert’ ill during the famed conditioning study?
New research identifies ways to improve eyewitness identifications
In Brief
‘Our health at risk’
Perspective on Practice
APA endorses higher education guidelines
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Help for struggling veterans
Driving out cancer disparities
In the Public Interest
SCIENCE WATCH
Practice, virtually
The legal and ethical issues of virtual therapy
Psychologist PROFILE
EARLY CAREER PSYCHOLOGY
Bringing life into focus
Pay attention to me
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Division Spotlight
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012