In a Sun Sentinel article called “Battling back: US veterans help each other,” Diane C. Lade writes about the most logical people to help “veterans who have ended up on the wrong side of the law.
“Some former soldiers appearing in the new veterans’ court in Broward County, Fla, aren’t just getting fines, probation, or counseling. They’re getting mentors.
“Veterans Helping Veterans — modeled after a successful program in Palm Beach County, Fla. — pairs seasoned former military service men and women with veterans, of all ages and from all wars, who have ended up on the wrong side of the law.
“Though created in 2010 through Broward’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, known as RSVP, the program didn’t start thriving until being connected to the county’s Veterans’ Treatment Court, which opened in May.
“Now, it’s receiving three to four court referrals weekly (although any veteran can apply for assistance) and has 18 mentors, who under RSVP guidelines must be age 55 or older. …
“The veterans’ court is designed to channel people who suffer from behavior, mental health, or substance abuse issues connected to their service into counseling or treatment programs.” Read more.
Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters/File
US Army Private First Class Peter Gong, a Vietnam War veteran and member of the National Guard, stands in front of a US flag during an American Legion event in Hempstead, N.Y.
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