San Mateo County Superior Court personnel serving lunch June 6 at the Veterans Court Picnic at Red Morton Park in Redwood City were (from left) Assistant Deputy Chief Probation Officer Ondray Cooper; Collaborative Courts Management Analyst Ryan Blihovde,; Angel Nguyen, BHRS mental health specialty courts supervisor; Judge Michael K. Wendler; Deputy Court Executive Officer Sarah Lind; Court Communications Officer Dan Radovich; and Collaborative Courts Management Analyst Sean Noland.
San Mateo County Superior Court offers veterans support. Over the course of three days, the Honorable Michael K. Wendler, Veterans Treatment Court and military diversion judge, and the San Mateo County Collaborative Courts team participated in events focusing on the support, care, recovery and celebration of veterans.
On June 5, Judge Wendler and Collaborative Courts staff joined justice partners from the San Mateo County DA’s Office and Private Defender Program for a tour of the Domiciliary on the VA Palo Alto’s Menlo Park campus, a residential treatment program offering temporary living assistance to veterans until permanent, long-term housing solutions can be provided. The group then received an overview of the Trauma Recovery Program and its intensive residential program, as well as the Compensated Work Program, which connects veterans with psychosocial concerns to vocational rehabilitation services. On the main VA campus in Palo Alto, the group learned about innovative therapy programs offered by the Addiction Consultation and Treatment team while touring a residential substance use and mental health facility. The group saw state-of-the-art facilities providing polytrauma and blind rehabilitation, as well as the research center treating spinal cord injuries. Attendees were shown one of two Fisher Houses and the Defenders Lodge, offering housing support for veterans receiving intensive medical care and their families. The day also included meeting both human and canine team members with Warrior Canine Connection, which utilizes special service dogs to help veterans reconnect with life, their families and one another.
On June 6, the 12th annual Veterans Court Picnic was held at Red Morton Park in Redwood City, at which Judge Wendler and Collaborative Courts Management Analyst Sean Noland led an awards ceremony recognizing 18 veterans in Veterans Treatment Court and Military Diversion. Each justice partner agency involved in the programs nominated veterans based on their progress, growth, effort and character. Veterans received a $100 gift card and an award in a special category recognizing their personal stories and contributions, including the “Overcoming Adversity” award, the “Best Start” award, and even the “Best Zoom Background” award. All veterans who attended were given special gift bags assembled by attorney Melissa McKowan. Judge Wendler, also a veteran, shared his passion and commitment to helping and supporting veterans, saying, “It’s an honor to serve you and help you get back on track, because that’s what we owe you.” Veterans Treatment Court and Military Diversion currently have 43 combined active veteran clients, with over 100 veterans having successfully completed the programs.
Finally, on June 7, the Collaborative Courts team participated in the Veteran Stand Down event at the San Mateo Elks Lodge, hosted by the San Mateo County Human Services Agency and Veterans Services Office. Almost 60 government agencies, nonprofits and community groups — including VA Health Care, the American Red Cross, Swords to Plowshares, Second Harvest Food Bank and Dignity on Wheels — offered services and assistance to the nearly 150 veterans in attendance. Judge Wendler and the Honorable Susan M. Jakubowski, who serves as the Collaborative Courts Supervising Judge, along with Collaborative Courts staff and attorneys with the PDP, the San Mateo County Department of Child Support Services, and the San Mateo County Superior Court Family Law Facilitator partnered to offer on-site legal services. The volunteer attorneys with the Public Defender Program offered veterans bench warrant assistance for outstanding felonies and misdemeanors, help with signing waivers to clear traffic fines and fees, as well as postconviction relief for sealing and expunging court records.
Susan E. Cohn is a member of the State Bar of California. She may be contacted at susan@smdailyjournal.com.
Susan Cohn is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association and the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. She may be reached at susan@smdailyjournal.com.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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