The Cobb County Veterans Treatment Court is scheduled to graduate three veteran participants, accompanied by their families and their mentors, on May 10 in the eighth graduating class of veterans.
That brings a total of 32 local participants who have completed Cobb’s 18-month intensive treatment program.
This court began in June 2014, joining a nationwide surge of accountability courts for veterans to address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse and other mental health issues via counseling, job training and additional needed services to achieve success, according to Cobb Communications Director Ross Cavitt.
An estimated 774,464 veterans reside in Georgia with 47,000 of them in Cobb.
Also, 4,500 active duty/reservists are assigned to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta.
Cobb Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) Presiding Judge Reuben Green said, “On average, one veteran is arrested daily in Cobb County. Many of these veterans have sacrificed greatly for our country, and (they) are suffering from post-service issues that have not been addressed or treated.”
With the Atlanta Veterans Administration, Cobb VTC participants receive alcohol and drug treatment in Decatur and are given additional treatment locally through a private provider.
When participants are stable in their recovery and treatment, the assigned VTC team addresses other issues which hinder their success such as unemployment, the lack of stable housing, the need for continuing education or the benefits of family counseling.
Through the VTC Mentor Program, each VTC participant is paired with a veteran who understands the challenges encountered by their assigned veteran to succeed in the program and graduate.
VTC mentors must be honorably discharged from military service, have no prior criminal record and be willing to commit to the duration of assisting a minimum of one veteran for the entire 18-month VTC program.
Information on Cobb County’s Accountability Courts: youtu.be/6_Ffglh3HAc
About the Author
