CULLMAN, Ala. – On Thursday, Cullman County’s brand new Veterans Treatment Court (see www.cullmantribune.com/2019/05/30/cullman-county-veterans-treatment-court-gets-underway-today/) held its first docket day, and presiding Judge Wells “Rusty” Turner declared the opening a success. Three veterans officially entered the program, and seven others began the application process. Six mentors, who assist veterans throughout the year-long program, were present, and by late afternoon, the mentorship program even had a new candidate.
Turner told The Tribune, “We’re still getting our feet wet and figuring out how we’re going to make this thing run. And it’s probably going to take us a good, I’m going to say, six to eight months to kind of get into a groove, but that’s okay. The three that we got are really good candidates; I think they’ll be able to help them out.
“The good thing about the three of them is they’re already into the VA system, so they’re getting their help that they need there. And a couple of the ones we had today that applied definitely need some help with the Veterans Administration; (they) just haven’t used the resources that are available. Now, I think we can get them in the program and get them directed in the right way.”
Get involved
Cullman County Veterans Treatment Court still needs mentors, hoping to assign both a primary and secondary mentor to each veteran. Volunteers will undergo training led by instructors from established veterans court programs. The county is currently seeking military veterans to serve as mentors, believing that people who understand the military experience and “speak the language” can offer the best help to other veterans.
If you are a veteran who is interested in helping other veterans by becoming a mentor, please contact one of the following:
- Cullman County Veterans Service Officer Darrell Brewer, Cullman County Courthouse, 500 Second Ave. SW, Room 109 in Cullman. Phone: 256-775-4662. Brewer will be supervising the mentor program.
- VFW Post 2214 Commander Will Harris at 256-739-6611 or twodogwill@hotmail.com.
Mentor applications are available from, and completed forms can be dropped off at, the VFW Post, 112 Veterans Dr. SW in Cullman.
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