Delaware County Treatment Court Coordinator Jeremy Damia had a lot of questions about the services available for Veterans at Coatesville VA. He wanted to know about the specific resources available for Veterans at the county, state and federal levels. He made it his mission to understand the wealth of resources which best serve those Veterans.
As the treatment court coordinator, Damia oversees the treatment court team cases and coordinates the referrals for Veterans to treatment resources.
He asked Treatment Court member Lily Thomas for an orientation. Thomas is Coatesville VA’s Justice Outreach coordinator for Delaware County and represents Coatesville VA on the team.
Representatives from the offices of the district attorney, public defenders and probations are members of the Delaware County Veterans Treatment Court. They review Veterans’ cases and make recommendations to the judge on whether the Veteran should be referred for treatment.
“I had a lot of questions about Coatesville VA because a lot of our Veterans in the court are service-connected, and the resources they need—and are ordered to get through the court—are available here on this campus,” Damia said.
Treatment over jail time
Thomas scheduled a special session at the medical center to explain to Damia and help refresh the other team members about the health services Coatesville VA offers.
“I want everyone on the team to feel comfortable about making referrals because I am often asking them to allow a Veteran to access our health care services they so desperately need in lieu of jail time,” Thomas added.
Having a justice outreach coordinator from VA on the team helps steer Veterans toward those resources when they are being processed.
“We’re trying to provide treatment when it’s needed for Veterans who have substance abuse disorders, PTSD or other mental health issues because we know, statistically, if you have a mental health disorder, you’re more likely to become incarcerated.”
A full agenda of VA services
Thomas introduced Coatesville VA speakers to discuss intimate partner violence, suicide prevention, sexual trauma and how the team members serve Veterans with substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at a level of care dependent on the Veterans’ needs. They explained that referrals for services may be for outpatient or inpatient services, and residential rehabilitation and treatment programs.
Damia was impressed. “I got a good overview of the Coatesville VA campus. I now know a lot of the terminology and the great things that are happening here.”
Understanding the services available and how they benefit the Veteran is likely to lead to more referral recommendations from the Treatment Court and judge, which leads to more Veterans getting the health care they need when they need it.
If you or someone you love is a service member or military Veteran in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 then Press 1.
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I angry myself on government job, left me disable to work again with no benefits still getting treated by THE EDWARDS HINES JR VA HOSPITAL WITH NO TRANSPORTATION FUNDS!!!
Where does a Vet go when he needs to go to a hospital. I recently went to the local hospital CHOMP Monterey CA and while there I overheard the staff talking and one asked “What do we have here?’ while I was laying on the gurney, her response was “Oh it’s another of those damn vets coming in looking for pain medication.” well I have plenty of pain meds at home, and things didn’t get any better from there. I spent two or three miserable days there until my son came in and cleared things up and got me. I am 85 years old married to a wonderful lady, and sure as hell am not looking to end all this. I came to the hospital without ID I collapsed on the bedroom floor and my wife called 911 and the local medic took it from there. One thing I remember while that happened at the hospital, was the two nurses, asking me hello Kenneth did you get your pain meds ? and laughing and walking away. I have TriCare for life and Medicare but all they wanted to do was torment me. I wonder what other Vets go throughthat are without family. I served twenty years in the Army two tours in Vietnam and wounded twice and served another 14 years in the local PD. Several of the officers called me the old guy but 8 of those guys are deceased and I am still here with many grand kids and great grand kids.and I sure as aren’t going to end this.
As a member of the Delaware County community, I’m truly inspired by Jeremy Damia’s dedication to ensuring our Veterans receive the support they deserve. It’s heartening to see the Treatment Court team, including professionals from different offices, working collaboratively with Coatesville VA to provide essential resources. The special session at the medical center reflects a proactive approach to understanding and utilizing the full spectrum of services available. This not only benefits our Veterans but also strengthens the community by prioritizing treatment over incarceration. Kudos to Jeremy Damia, Lily Thomas, and the entire team for their commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of our Veterans. It’s reassuring to know that our community is working together to address the unique challenges faced by those who have served our country.