Rockingham County Awarded Funding from Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program

Rockingham County, NC (October 17, 2024)—Rockingham County Government is excited to announce it has been granted $900,000 from the 2024 BJA FY24 Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program. Rockingham County is one in five in the U.S. to receive this level of federal funding for such programs. County Commissioner Kevin Berger plans to present the program for approval to the Board of Commissioners during the regularly scheduled board meeting on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 6:30 pm.

Upon approval, this funding will facilitate the planning and implementation of the Rockingham County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) over the next 48 months. The VTC is designed as a minimum 14-month post-plea program aimed at assisting Justice-Involved Veterans (JIVs) facing felony or misdemeanor charges who are identified as high-risk according to the Risk and Needs Triage (RANT) assessment, and who require support for substance use or mental health challenges. Participants will have access to a full range of FDA-approved medications for substance use disorders, along with behavioral health services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and local community health providers. For those JIVs unable to access VA services—due to eligibility, transportation, or other barriers—the program will ensure that evidence-based treatment for substance use and mental health is available.

The funding will also support the hiring of a full-time coordinator to oversee case management and daily operations. This position will facilitate ongoing education for both new and existing VTC team members, implement comprehensive drug and alcohol testing for participants, address housing and transportation needs, and collaborate with an evaluation team dedicated to collecting and analyzing data on program outcomes while ensuring equity in referrals, admissions, experiences, and results.

“This funding will be an invaluable asset for a crucial segment of our community. We must acknowledge the unique challenges our veterans face as they transition back to civilian life and that their sacrifices for the freedoms we cherish should never be overlooked,” said Commissioner Berger. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to North Carolina Supreme Court Justice, Phil Berger, Jr., District Court Judge for Rockingham and Caswell Counties, Chris Freeman, District Court Judge for Rockingham and Caswell Counties, Erica Brandon, Veteran Treatment Court Coordinator, Tammi Howell, Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office Kevin Southard, and Rockingham County Clerk of Court, Abner Bullins for their dedication and support in making this program a reality. Your efforts were instrumental in securing this funding for Rockingham County.”

Any veteran interested in becoming a volunteer mentor for Veterans Treatment Court participants can contact Tammi Howell, Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator at 336-634-6065 (office), 336-932-3143 (cell), or [email protected].