Helping hand ICBF provides grant to local Veterans Treatment Court

Some much-needed assistance for local veterans will continue to be possible, thanks to a generous donation from the Ingham County Bar Foundation (ICBF), that presented a $5,000 grant to Friends of the Ingham County Veterans Treatment Court (ICVTC). From covering utility bills and bus passes, to travel expenses for funerals and beds for kids, grant money has allowed the ICVTC to provide a wide range of items needed by veterans and their families, while they are going through the treatment court process. "It's important for a veterans court to reach out and have community support," said Honorable David Jordan, Retired. "Because things come up in the course of any court participant's journey that are outside of the box financial emergencies of various sorts. This lets our veterans know that we respect them and we want to support them." The ICVTC was the second of its kind in the entire country, when it was established in 2010 to work with veterans from all branches of the military who find themselves involved in the criminal justice system. Instead of a traditional court process, eligible veteran-defendants are diverted to a specialized criminal court that provides a veteran mentoring program and resources for things like substance abuse, mental illness, and physical health issues. "It's the greatest feeling in the world to see someone squared away," said Hon. Jordan. "We are grateful for people involved in every aspect of this court." The ICBF was established in 2002 for Michigan lawyers and other interested citizens to be able to make charitable contributions that provide meaningful benefits for the community. This year's grant matches the largest amount the treatment court has received. Published: Thu, Nov 24, 2016