Veterans’ Treatment Court

1. Veterans’ Treatment Court The Kansas City VA Medical Center And Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Court

2. Mission Statement The mission of the Kansas City Municipal Veterans’ Treatment Court is to offer treatment and services which address the issues of substance abuse, mental health, and other barriers to leading law abiding, productive lives within our community. We will reduce drug and alcohol abuse, lower recidivism rates, and lessen the financial impact on our community through providing comprehensive treatment services and helping our veterans regain their wholeness within the country they have defended.

3. Goals of Veterans’ Treatment Court (VTC) • Protect the Public • Reduce participant contact with the criminal justice system • Reduce the cost associated with criminal case processing and re-arrest • Reduce homelessness • Connect Veterans to VAservices. • Introduce participants to an ongoing process of recovery designed to help them become stable, employed and substance abuse free while continuing mental health care

4. History of the Court • Kansas City Municipal VTC began in August 2009 • First Graduation Ceremony - April 21, 2010 • Modeled after Judge Robert Russell’s Veterans Treatment Court – January 2008

5. Why Start a Vet Court… Specialist Daniel • OIF/OEF Veteran • Army Combat Veteran • 27 year old Father • PTSD • War on Terrorism Service Medal and Combat Action Badge • Daniel returned from Iraq a changed young man.

6. The Model Modeled as a “treatment-based” court Hybrid of Mental Health Court and Drug Court Veterans are given the opportunity to receive treatment and services as opposed to receiving the “standard” sentence in their case Participation is voluntary and comprehensive The Honorable Ardie Bland Municipal Court Judge

7. Key Players on the Vet Court Team • Law Enforcement Officers • Judge Ardie Bland • Veteran Justice Outreach Coordinator • Prosecuting Attorney • Legal Aid • Probation • Mentor Coordinator • Volunteer Mentors-Veterans

8. Collaborative Effort • Department of Veteran Affairs • Department of Benefit Administration • Prosecuting Attorney • Legal Aid • Mentors • Volunteer Attorneys • Task Force – Committees • Jails • Other Treatment Courts • Law Enforcement • Probation

9. Referral Process

10. Justice System • Veteran is screened by the probation department to determine eligibility. • Veteran must have a treatment need. • Dockets are currently set every Wednesday at 2:30pm • If the Veteran is deemed eligible to participate they then contact the VA for a biopsychosocial assessment • If they do not wish to participate their case is continued to a traditional docket.

11. Program at a Glance • Participation is minimum 12 months and consist of Four Phases. • 68 Veterans Admitted in 2014. • 85% of Drug Test were negative. • 1,267 court appearances made by 96 Vet Court participants from January 2014-2016. • 676 Incentives and 195 Sanctions. • Average age is 52 • Diversion or charges dismissed/Probation Terminated

12. Vet Court Coins • Phase 1 • Phase 3 • Graduation • Phase 2 • Phase 4

13. Never Give Up, Meet Vets Where They Are Michael • Vietnam Veteran • Numerous contact with Law Enforcement • Homeless • Co-Occurring • Multiple Attempts at engagement/treatment • Successfully graduated from Vet Court in 2015

14. First Veteran’s Court Graduation On April 21, 2010, three of the first Veteran’s Court Program participants graduated from the Veteran’s Court Program during a brief ceremony and reception at the Kansas City, MO Municipal Courthouse

15. Lessons Learned • Develop MOU • Develop Aftercare Plan • Revise Mentor and Participant Handbooks Annually • Develop plan for grief counseling. • Staff Development

16. Where are we now? • Currently have 20 participants. • Grant to assist veterans with barriers to housing or treatment. • Continued focus on The Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. • Continued enhancement for programming available at the VA. • Strength at Home programs. • Batterers Intervention specific to Veterans

17. What’s Next? • Continue to gather metrics and data. • Utilize NADCP best practices. • Evaluate program guidelines to make improvements as necessary. • Continue to understand the individual needs of Veterans and work to find resources to address those needs. • Provide Training to mentors and increase Mentor Capacity.

18. Why is vet court so successful?

19. Mentor program

20. Mission Statement The Mission of the Veterans’ Mentoring Program is to make certain to the best of our abilities that no one is left behind. We will find them, offer them assistance, assess their needs, and help them solve their problems. We will support the veteran through their readjustment to civilian life, assist the veteran navigate through the court, treatment, and VA systems, and act as a mentor, advocate and ally.

21. Mentor Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities • Recruit and train volunteer Veterans’ Court mentors • Assist in the retention of volunteer mentors • Organize and conduct training for volunteer mentors. • Assist in supervision of mentors • Assist in the development of specialized training projects for the program • Perform all other duties as assigned by Justice Outreach Coordinator and the Judge

22. Volunteer Mentor Roles and Responsibilities • Attend court sessions when scheduled • Participate in and lead mentoring sessions with veterans when assigned by the Judge • Be supportive and understanding of the difficulties veterans face • Assist the veterans as much as possible to resolve their concerns around the court procedures as well as interactions with the Veteran’s Administration system • Be supportive and helpful to the other mentors within the program

23. Requirements • Be a veteran • Commit to program participation for a minimum of one year • Complete screening process • Complete the required training procedures • Be a willing volunteer

24. Additional Resources • Veteran Volunteer Attorney Program (VetVap) • Volunteer Attorneys (both Veterans and non-Veterans) • Law firms providing pro-bono legal services • Have attorneys in Kansas and Missouri • To date have assisted over 57 veterans • Stand Down • Veteran Justice Outreach Coordinator • Assists with identifying justice involved Veterans and linking to appropriate treatment services

25. Contact Information • Kelly McDaniel Veteran Justice Outreach Coordinator (816) 861-4700 ext 56463 • Dennis Johnson Mentor Coordinator (816) 510-9802 or dkj@pobox.com • Judge Ardie Bland

26. Questions