http://66.225.205.104/LM20091009a.mp3
Mecklenburg County will soon receive a grant designed to help veterans suffering from trauma-related disorders who run into trouble with the law. WFAE's Lisa Miller has more: The federal government is giving Mecklenburg County $300,000 to connect jailed veterans suffering from trauma-related disorders with the help they need. Sarah Greene helps facilitate collaborations between local law enforcement and the county's mental health department. She says right now there's no process in place to identify veterans struggling with these disorders. "Within the criminal justice system we're going to do a much better job of identifying veterans and also screening for trauma and for other problems that often occur particularly with our most recent veterans, such as traumatic brain injury, therefore getting the right treatment to those folks," says Greene. Greene says the grant will also provide training for workers at the psychiatric emergency room at Carolina's Medical Center and the county's Substance Abuse Service Center to recognize signs of trauma. Mecklenburg County's program will be a pilot for the state. North Carolina could receive up to another $1.5 million over five years to continue the program. Although targeted at veterans, others suffering from trauma will also be eligible for the program. Mecklenburg County estimates nearly 1,100 will be affected by the grant.