June 2018
Spotlight
June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, which is an important time to learn more about PTSD and share resources with those around you. Here are a few short informational videos that are easy to understand and share!

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD
Research
Erika J. Brooke and Jennifer H. Peck
This study investigates whether elements of veterans’ service histories are associated with arrest frequencies, types of criminal behavior, and whether certain service components influenced these outcomes differently for male and female veteran inmates. Using data from a nationally representative sample of inmates incarcerated in state prisons, results indicated that various attributes of military service and veteran gender were directly related to lifetime arrests and offense types. Gender disparities also emerged across military experiences depending on the type of behavior examined. The findings lend support for the need to understand and implement gender-specific programming in meeting the needs of justice-involved veterans.

Shoba Sreenivasan, Joel Rosenthal, Daniel E. Smee, Keith Wilson, and Jim McGuire
The authors propose modifying a veteran-centric justice model of resilience training developed by the military for assisting service members coming home from war to assist Iraq/Afghanistan veterans coming home from prison. Resilience training can be provided in psychoeducational venues prior to prison release and with follow-up training post-release. Resilience building offers promise as an intervention to enhance the justice-involved veteran’s successful community reentry
Practitioner Publications
National Center for PTSD
This booklet defines PTSD, explains possible causes, describes symptoms and screening, details why to get treatment along with common treatment practices, and provides resources for help. 

National Center for PTSD
This awareness flyer provides resource links and tips for those with PTSD or in contact with someone who may have PTSD. 

U.S. Department of Justice
This one-page informational explains the National Institute of Justice's role under the Second Chance Act (SCA). Studies found that participation in the SCA program did not affect a range of reentry outcomes other than increasing access to reentry services. A list of ways to advance the criminal justice field is included. 
Multimedia Resources
(Webinars, Podcasts, Online Resources)
July 18 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Virginia Values Veterans
This free webinar will educate employers on the value of hiring veterans, train employers on leading best practices in recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans, and connect employers with valuable resources to find qualified veteran talent. Additionally, it has been approved for 2.5 credit hours for HRCI and SHRM certifications.

July 24 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
The Center for Deployment Psychology
This training will teach participants how to apply the VA/DoD Guidelines for the Assessment of Trauma and PTSD and differentiate between symptoms of PTSD and other disorders based on the DSM-5. The webinar also illustrates how to facilitate the screening, diagnostic assessment, and tracking of treatment outcomes in PTSD patients using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). This training also addresses how to communicate results of diagnostic assessments and treatment outcome measures to clients.

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence a program of the National Institute of Justice
The National Drug Court Resource Center’s Project Director, Preeti Menon, spoke with the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence's Just Science podcast on the significance of treatment courts. They discussed how the treatment court model improves outcomes for both individuals and communities by decreasing recidivism and increasing treatment program completion. Additionally, the discussants addressed the growing opioid crisis and the steps treatment courts are taking to respond to this societal threat. 

RecruitMilitary 
This interactive map offers a calendar of veteran job fairs in cities across the nation.  
Policy Updates
Connecticut Senate Bill 231 ENACTED: Effective 10/01/18
This bill concerns the legislative commissioners' recommendations for revisions to statutes concerning military and veterans' affairs. It relates to the Veterans Residential Services facility or Healthcare Center. 

Iowa Senate Bill 2418 ENACTED: Effective 6/1/18
This bill includes appropriations for veterans, health, and human services, and other related provisions and appropriations, as well as provides applicable penalties and date provisions.

US Senate Bill 2372 ENACTED: Effective 06/06/2018
This bill amends the United States code in relation to veterans' benefits, providing outer burial receptacles for veterans’ remains buried in national parks, and giving veterans the option to seek private health care if wait times or care from Veterans Affairs are insufficient.  
In the News
Event Calendar
Veterans Events
July 11: Hickory, NC Health Care Town Hall
July 13: Huntington Station, NY Veteran Services Day
July 13-15: Spruce Creek, PA Retreat for Military Women with Breast Cancer
July 15-18: Amelia Island, FL Clinical Overview of the Recovery Experience 
July 16: Summerville, SC Women Veterans Healing and Well-being Group  
July 18: New York, NY Intro to VA Disability Benefits
July 20-24: Yellowstone National Park, WY Ecosystem and Fly Fishing Workshop
July 28: Palo Alto, CA Veterans Pathway to Citizenship Workshop  
July 30-Aug 4: Orlando, FL National Veterans Wheelchair Games

Veteran-Focused or -Related Community Events
July 4: Washington, DC National Independence Day Parade
July 4: Washington, DC A Capitol Fourth 2018 Concert
July 4: Washington, DC Firework Show on the National Mall
July 4: New York City, NY Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks
July 8-12: Ocean Park, ME Caregivers Retreat
July 24-28: Palm Springs, CA 2018 National Leadership Conference
Contribute to the Next Issue
To submit content for the next issue of this newsletter, please email [email protected] with "Veterans’ Justice and Mental Health Newsletter” in the subject line.
Our mission is to inform policy, practice, and scholarship through the distribution of current veterans treatment court-related resources.   
The  National Drug Court Resource, Policy, and Evidence-Based Practice Center , funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and operated by the Justice Programs Office (JPO) at American University, strives to provide practitioners and professionals working in the drug court field with current resources and upcoming events.  Please email  [email protected]  with any inquiries.
National Drug Court Resource Center | Justice Programs Office
ndcrc.org