The south carolina department of veterans affairs is applying for a category 3 statewide enhancement grant in the amount of $2,500,000

The veterans treatment courts (vtcs) are pre-adjunction courts. The six VTC courts will serve 20-30 participants per year for a total of 200 participants over the life of the grant. The minimum length of participation in the court is 6 months and there is no maximum length of participation. The average length of participation is between 12 and 14 months. The vtcs in south carolina are designed to assist justice-involved defendants veterans with identified behavioral health treatment needs. Participants have access to all three forms of food and drug administration approved medications to treat substance use disorder. The proposed enhancements include a) providing sub-awards to six vtcs to hire coordinators, drug testing and transportation assistance for participants, and supplemental funding for key team members; b) establishing an alumni program for those that successfully complete the process, and willing to provide mentorship to active participants; c) hiring a grants coordinator that will oversee the grant process and submit reporting.