Miami VA Works With Local Law Enforcement to Help South Florida Veterans
Miami (PRWEB) October 02, 2013 -- The Miami VA Healthcare System will be hosting an orientation and informational session for local law enforcement officials Oct. 3 to help local police understand the resources available to them if they encounter a Veteran in need.
The orientation will include sessions on PTSD, Homeless Outreach and the Veterans Justice Outreach programs that the Miami VA oversees in South Florida. More than 50 local law enforcement officials, police chiefs and legal system experts are expected to attend this half-day session.
The Miami VA Healthcare System has been one of the leaders nationally in working with local law enforcement and criminal justice systems to provide Veterans in need of mental health and substance abuse treatment alternatives to jail time in the cases of low-level offenses.
“It is not special treatment for Veterans in that this is not a 'get out of jail free card', Veterans must comply with all the court requirements and address their criminal behaviors,” said Dr. Giovanna Delgado, Miami VA Veterans Treatment Court liaison and psychologist. “There are no excuses being made for their criminal behaviors. However, these programs can often help Veterans who really need it and can be the second chance they need to live a successful life.”
Media interested in this event can contact Shane Suzuki at (786) 359-5243 or at shane.suzuki(at)va(dot)gov.
Who: Miami VA Healthcare System
What: South Florida Law Enforcement Orientation to VA Services
Where: Miami VA Healthcare System, Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center
1201 NW 16th Street, Miami, FL 33125
When: Oct. 3, 9 a.m.
Shane Suzuki, Miami VA Healthcare System, http://www.miami.va.gov, +1 (305) 575-7303, [email protected]
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