Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court Mentor program Judge Robert T. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court Mentor program

Judge Robert T. Russell

Presiding Veterans’ Treatment Court Judge

Jack O’Connor Hank Pirowski Jason Jaskula Jim Mulderig Mike Lancer

Coordinator, Veteran Mentors Court Coordinator Mentor Team Leaders

Veteran Mentors Motto

“Leave No Veteran Behind”

MISSION STATEMENT

• ENSURE THAT EVERY VETERAN

RECEIVES THE SERVICES NEEDED TO NAVIGATE THE COURT,VA,AND OTHER

• SYSTEMS. THE MENTOR ALSO ACTS

AS A FRIEND ,ALLY AND ADVOCATE

GOALS OF PROGRAM

• HELP VETERAN NAVIGATE THE COURT,VA

AND TREATMENT SYSTEMS

• ASSESS HIS “OTHER”NEEDS AND HELP HIM

ADJUST TO CIVILIAN LIFE

• HELP THE VETERAN AND HIS FAMILY

RECEIVE THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY

Veteran Mentors Role

• Coach
• Facilitator
• Advisor
• Sponsor
• Supporter
• Friend

VETERAN MENTOR COORDINATOR

• RECRUIT,TRAIN,SUPERVISE, AND COORDINATE

MENTORS

• DEVELOP AND TRAIN TEAM LEADERS
• ACT AS LIASION BETWEEN THE JUDGE, COURT

COORDINATOR , AND VA IF NEEDED

• MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH COURT,VA AND ALL

SERVICE ORG.(VFW,VVA,AMVETS,ETC) IN AREA

• SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH HEALTH AND SOCIAL

SERVICES AGENCIES IN AREA

MENTOR TEAM LEADER

• SUPERVISERS GROUP OF 10-15 MENTORS
• ASSIGNS MENTORS TO DEFENDENTS DURING COURT

SESSIONS

• WORKS CLOSELY WITH MENTOR COORDINATOR EXAMPLES
• WORKS CLOSELY WITH COURT COORDINATOR ON ISSUES

RELATED TO COURT /TREATMENT PLAN

• WORKS CLOSELY WITH VA AND VBA REP IN COURT EXAMPLES
• HELPS TRAIN AND GUIDE NEW MENTORS WITH MENTOR

COORDINATOR

MENTOR QUALITIES

• ACTIVE LISTENER
• EMPATHETIC
• ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTIVE
• TOLERANT AND RESPECTFUL OF

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

• KNOWLEDGE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SERVICES

• KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY

SERVICES

MAKE-UP OF MENTOR GROUP

• ALL ARE VETERAN ADVOCATES
• AT LEAST 2 ACCREDITATED SERVICE OFFICERS AT EACH SESSION
• MEN AND WOMEN AT LEAST 2 WOMEN AT EACH SESSION
• VIETNAM TO OEF/OIF
• YOUNG MEN/WOMEN FROM OEF/OIF OUR BIGGEST NEED
• FAMILY ASSISTANCE STAFF FROM RESERVES/GUARD UNITS
• DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN COURT OR PHONE CONTACT
• COUNTY AND STATE VETERANS OFFICE IN COURT OR BY PHONE
• SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS (VFW-VVA-AMVETS-ETC) ALWAYS PRESENT
• VET CENTER, VETERAN HOMELESS PROGRAM AND VETERAN POLICE OFFICER

MENTOR PROFESSIONS

• POLICE
• SCHOOL TEACHERS
• SOCIAL WORKERS
• LAWYERS
• PRIVATE BUSINESS
• STUDENTS
• LABOR
• VETS CENTER
• VETERANS HOMELESS PROGRAM
• NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES INCLUDIND FAMILY

ASSISTANCE OFFICIERS FROM EACH

• SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS VVA-AMVETS,VFW ETC
• RELIGIOUS

MENTORING POLICIES

• RECRUITMENT
• ELIGIBILITY
• SCREENING POLICY
• TRAINING
• ASSIGNMENT OF MENTOR(S) TO VETERAN
• DOCUMENTATION AND RECORD KEEPING
• RECOGNITION AND AWARDS TO MENTORS
• UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

The mentoring interview

• First interview-- match up mentor/mentee
• Be supportive “hi how are you doing”
• You are not a counselor or lawyer
• May take weeks/months to link
• Subsequent interviews may have multiple

mentors or others (ex VA- vets center-etc) Depending on on-going issues of veteran

• Develop mentor/court resource manual
• Interviews documented in Mentor/Veteran Book

V.A. Health Care Worker

• Tamekia Slaughter, Social Worker VJO
• Obtaining VA Releases of Information
• Facilitating VA linkages for services
• Coordinating and providing VA status report

regarding Tx, toxs, appointments, etc.

• Case management & crisis management

Department of Veterans Affairs

• Carly Klein and Tim Philo investigate Claim

status

• Correct errors in DD 214
• Work closely with ” Accredited Service

Officier” who is working on Veterans claim

RESOURSE BOOK

• NAMES, PHONE NUMBERS*, AND

SPECIALTIES OF ALL MENTORS

• NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF

COMMUNITY PARTNERS (SOCIAL SERVICES,VETERANS SERVICES, ETC)

• LEGAL SERVICES REFERRAL LIST
• JOBS FOR VETS
• ETC,ETC,ETC

Veterans /Mentor Book

• This book is a ongoing document of the interaction between the

Mentor and the veteran

• Any mentor can pick up the book and read what is happening with

Veteran and previous mentors

• Book has Military backround of veteran
• Each visit is documented and lists Goals,accomplishments,ongoing

issues and challenges that the Vet is experiencing

• Book is kept under lock and key

MENTOR FUND

• 501 C3 ACCOUNT BALANCE OF AROUND $6,000.
• Bus Tokens and Bus Passes
• Rent or morghage to avoid evictions
• Small appliances of furniture
• Money is contributed by Individuals,,Service organizations and others

‘‘Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act’’

• r the ‘‘SERV Act’’.
• S. 3379: Introduced July 31, 2008 by Senators KERRY

(MA.), Ms. MURKOWSKI (AK) and Mr. DURBIN (IL.), which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

• H. R. 7149: Introduced SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 by

Congresspersons KENNEDY(R.I.), Mr. HIGGINS (N.Y.), and

• Ms. SUTTON (OH.) which was referred to the Committee on

the Judiciary.

• Grants for Veterans Treatment Courts-

CONTACT INFORMATION

JACK O’CONNOR, Mentor Coordinator. 716-858-7345