Superior Court of Santa Barbara County honors graduates of the Santa Maria Veterans Treatment Court
Santa Maria – On Friday, April 11, 2014, the Honorable Rogelio Flores will host a commencement ceremony to honor military veterans who have successfully completed the Veterans Treatment Court program. The graduation will begin at 1:30 pm at Shepard Hall in the Santa Maria Public Library and will include a Color Guard and a special certificate presentation with Congresswoman Lois Capps and representatives from the offices of Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson. Guest speakers will include Sheriff Bill Brown, Supervisor Steve Lavagnino and Assistant Principal of Santa Maria High School Peter Flores III, Master Chief US Navy Retired. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony.
The Veterans Treatment Court of Santa Maria was established in November 2011 with the goal of serving justice-involved veterans struggling with substance abuse, addiction, serious mental illness, and/or co-occurring disorders. The court program is a collaboration amongst the Superior Court, Probation, the offices of the Public Defender and the District Attorney, the department of Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services, UCSB, and the Veterans Administration. Funding to support the program has been awarded from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The 12-month program promotes sobriety, recovery and stability and assists veterans with accessing VA services and benefits available to them. The graduates of the Veterans Treatment Court have successfully completed their treatment program and have maintained sobriety.
To learn more about Veterans Treatment Courts including resources, legislation, and statistics, visit www.justiceforvets.org.
