The court substitutes a treatment problem solving model for traditional court processing. Veteran participants are identified through evidence-based screening and assessments. Many veterans are known to have a warrior’s mentality and often do not address their treatment needs for physical and psychological health care. Often those who are referred to the VATC are homeless, helpless, in despair, suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, and others have serious mental illnesses. Their lives have been spiraling out of control. Through this program, the veteran is offered the opportunity to address the underlying conditions through treatment so that the veteran can regain stability, strengthen their family, and obtain housing and employment.

An essential part of VATC is the addition of volunteer veteran mentors as part of the support team that encourages, guides and motivates mentees to complete the 18 month treatment program for physical, psychological and substance abuse conditions stemming from their military service. A properly trained and engaged veteran mentor will develop an active and supportive relationships with the mentee and will increase the mentees chances of recovery.