Monitor on Psychology - March 2012 - (Page 37)
psychologists and other providers who serve as veterans justice outreach coordinators, a treatment compliance officer, VA health benefits specialists, community treatment providers and fellow veterans. If the veteran has problems finding a job or housing, people are there to connect him with VA and community programs and services as well. In addition, thanks to computers linked to the VA’s electronic health records system, the veterans justice outreach coordinator can work on the spot to set up needed health appointments. Central to the process are the veteran mentors: service men and women who have sometimes been through treatment themselves and are available to support other veterans. Some of these courts are now pairing veterans with mentors who served in the same conflict they did and who are similar in age and gender, and who have expertise in the benefits the veteran may need, says NADCP spokesperson Chris Deutsch. “The issues and experiences some of these folks are dealing with are so unique that it’s extremely helpful for them to talk to someone who understands exactly what they’ve been through,” he says. The mentors can significantly increase the chances the veteran will stick to treatment, adds VA psychologist Giovanna Delgado, PsyD, outreach coordinator for the Miami VA Medical Center. “In my opinion, a lot of times when a veteran gives another veteran advice, they’re more likely to respect and follow it than they are from a traditional treatment provider,” she says. The process isn’t always perfect. Judges who have run drug and mental health courts are already familiar with the treatment court model and therefore may be better prepared than newcomers to run these courts, at least initially. And, it can take time for veterans to comply with court mandates. “Often these folks are dealing with substance abuse disorder, and relapse is part of that process,” says Clark. The courts handle any setbacks through a defined set of sanctions that may require veterans to come to court more often, stay in court after their case is heard to observe other cases, or even serve brief jail time if noncompliance continues, for example. Given how quickly the courts are growing and the large numbers of troops returning home, funding issues are still being worked out, adds NADCP’s Deutsch. That said, many courts have been able to get up and running without additional funds, and they can apply for grants available generally for drug courts through the Department of Justice and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. In addition, the NADCP offers training and mentoring programs for courts wishing to adopt the model or improve on their current systems. “Great strides have been made to make funding available to these programs, but with troops continuing to surge home, we expect the need for funding to grow substantially,” says Deutsch. Who is served The veterans who come to these treatment courts are a diverse group. Many are Vietnam-era veterans, but an increasing
M a rc h 2 0 1 2 • M o n i to r o n p s yc h o l o g y
number are service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, says Clark. Common charges include drug- and alcohol-related offenses such as driving while intoxicated and drug possession, and theft that is often linked to supporting a substance-use habit. Other charges include aggressive behaviors such as bar fights and domestic violence, and possession and sometimes illegal use of weapons. While there are no firm numbers on the exact relationship between such criminal actions and war-related traumas and
veterans treatment courts are the brainchild of Judge robert russell, an associate judge in Buffalo’s City Court. During the early 1990s, russell helped to establish the now highly successful drug and mental health treatment courts, which connect defendants to treatment services as a standard part of court processing and provided the inspiration and structure for the veterans courts. one day in 2006, russell noticed a sad, lethargic veteran in his mental health court, and asked two veterans who worked at the court to talk to him. After the meeting, the veteran “looked different — his posture was different, he stood more erect,” says russell. “He indicated he was going to try harder to work on his problems.” russell reasoned that such peer support could go a long way toward helping veteran defendants in general, including the large numbers seen in the drug and mental health courts. In 2007, he spoke with the medical director of the Buffalo vA Medical Center and its all-veteran advisory board, asking what they thought about setting aside a day each month to focus exclusively on veterans and their needs. they responded enthusiastically, volunteering to help in whatever way they could. Soon after the first veterans treatment court was held in 2008, federal vA officials decided to create a related program, veterans Justice outreach, one of a large number of vA outreach programs that address issues including homelessness, mental health and substance abuse. Launched in 2009, it mandated that each vA medical center designate a veterans justice outreach coordinator to work with veterans involved in the criminal justice system, including veterans courts. —T. DeANGELiS
A history of treatment courts
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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
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