How to Build a Mentoring Program for your Veterans Treatment Court Jack O’Connor Coordinator, Veteran Mentors Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court © Jack O’Connor, May 10, 2011 The following presentation may not be copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the author or the National Drug Court Institute. Written permission will generally be given without cost, upon request.

What is a Veterans Treatment Court? A Hybrid, Drug and Mental Health Court. Is a team effort of standard Drug Court team members, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and Veteran Mentors. Strikes proper balance between treating the justice-involved Veteran and protecting the community. Approximately 71 VTCs in 26 states.,

What is a Veteran Mentor? Acts as a resource to the Veteran client Helps Veteran clients and their families with transportation and other financial issues Served or is serving in the U.S. Military Is not a counselor

Mentor Program Mission To ensure that every participating Veteran receives the services they require by helping them navigate the system and to act as a mentor, advocate, and ally. Program Goals 1.Help our fellow Veterans receive the services they need to reach their full potential as productive members of society. 2.Help them navigate the court system, treatment system, and the VA system. 3.Assess their needs and help them adjust back to civilian life.

Mentors’ Duties & Responsibilities Attend Court scheduled sessions Participate in and lead mentoring sessions when assigned by the judge Be supportive and understanding of the difficulties the Veteran clients are facing Assist the Veteran clients as much as possible to resolve their concerns around the court procedures

Mentors’ Duties & Responsibilities Assist the Veteran clients on how to access and navigate the Veteran’s Affairs System Be supportive and helpful to other Veteran Mentors Communicate and stay close to the court coordinator and judge

The Mentor Coordinator Essential to maintaining the success of the Veteran Mentor Program –Recruit volunteer Veteran mentors –Assist in their retention –Organize and conduct their training –Supervise –Perform duties as assigned by Project Director and Judge –Sustain and evolve the Veteran Mentor Program Who should this be? How you find this person?

Matching Policy Branch of service Occupational specialty Combat experience Similar age/gender/ethnicity Specific skill of a Mentor matched to the need of a Mentee Previous sessions where the Mentor and Mentee were matched

Finding, Screening, & Retaining Who you look for Knowledge & Experience (Accredited Service Officers), Branch of Service, Combat Experience, Age, Gender, Active duty/Reserve/National Guard Screening –Criminal history –Temperament –Untreated Combat Mental Illness –Commitment to program Retaining

Collaborating with Veteran Agencies US Department of Veteran Affairs Veteran Health Care Network Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Vietnam Veterans of America Veterans of Foreign Wars Local Vet Centers

Mentor process: Keep it simple All Mentors are Veteran advocates You are a resource for the Vet Help Vet and family navigate systems Make sure VA Healthcare and any claims in place 75% of time, you are just a friend Training is in how to navigate systems, not in “counseling”

The Mentoring Interview 50% is just bonding Document your interview in Mentor Log for other Mentors to use in future interviews Use your Resource Book or other Mentors to help vet if problems arise Problems associated with Court or counseling are referred to Court/VA personnel

Log and Resource Book Basic history on Veteran On-going notes for each interview Resource page listing agencies most helpful to Veterans and contact people to call for help One page contains individual history of Vet Each interview ID documented

Resource Entries Important Develop resources as you go along Names, phone numbers, and specialties of all Mentors Community Partner Contacts (Social Services, Veterans Service Organizations, etc.) Legal Services Referral List Jobs for Vets Etc., Etc., Etc. Simple 2 pages develop as you go along

Mentor Do’s and Don’ts Is it appropriate or inappropriate for a Mentor to: Looking at a participant’s file Act as a counselor Escort participant to VA or other appointment Eat lunch with participant

Mentor Professions Police School Teachers Social Workers Lawyers Businessmen Labor Students Religious Veteran Spouses Vet Center Reserves and National Guard Veteran Service organizations (e.g., Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, Disabled American Vets, etc. )

Buffalo’s First Graduate to become a Mentor

501c3 “Not for Profit” status Donations come from many sources Donations are used to help Veterans Transportation bus passes Rent/mortgage payments Furniture Small appliances Travel

Start Small Find coordinator and train Only need 1 or 2 more mentors Slowly build Resource Book – Use it! Keep Logbook Be careful on Mental Health cases Court admonishes, Mentors motivate

CONTACT INFORMATION Mentor Coordinator Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court Jack O’Connor

Leave No Veteran Behind

This project was supported by Grant No DD-BX-K003 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice.