Criminal Court Judge Sandra Donaghy announced the initiation of the Tenth Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court.
The Tenth Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court, along with United Way of the Ocoee Region VISTA Team, are hosting a Veterans Resource Expo on Thursday, with former State Rep. John Forgety, U.S. Army (Ret.) as the keynote speaker to open the public event at 1:30 p.m.
On Thursday, two events will be hosted in conjunction with each other: a Mentor Boot Camp and a Veterans Resource Expo.
The Mentor Boot Camp is for good-standing veterans willing to serve the Court participants as mentors. Each veteran-defendant is assigned a mentor to guide and support him or her through the treatment court. Judge Donaghy is coordinating a Resource Expo which includes various nonprofits and other organizations across the district that assists veterans and their families/caregivers. These organizations have been asked to set up a table to explain what they do and how they are to be contacted.
There will be 30 plus organizations set up to display all of the many services that Bradley, Polk, McMinn and Monroe Counties have for veterans. This event is free at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 3405 Peerless Rd, NW in Cleveland.
Organizers said, "If you know of a veteran who could use a helping hand or a care-giver looking for support come join us and walk around the expo from 1:30-4 p.m."
"The Veterans Court is not only important because it helps get the veteran back into a productive role in society," said Judge Donaghy, "but it saves the county and state tax dollars as an alternative to incarceration. The Veterans Court will be implemented in 2020."
For further information or to sign up to be a mentor, contact Judge Sandra Donaghy at 423 339-5506 or email veteranscourtvistar,t:gmail.com.