What We Do
- Alternative Sentencing Options: Veterans may have access to treatment instead of jail time, including in-patient drug and alcohol services, out-patient therapy, mental health counseling, and peer support through community-based providers. SERVE works directly with veterans to advocate on their behalf to the court, facilitate connections with court staff, and provide case management.
- Comprehensive Treatment Plans: Veterans receive a psych-social evaluation from a community-based provider that informs a comprehensive treatment plan developed by that provider. In collaboration with clinicians, SERVE submits treatment options and recommendations to the court.
- Vet-to-Vet Peer Mentor Program: Veterans receive continuous peer to peer connection and support from veteran members of the SERVE team for the duration of their treatment.
Leadership
Donald Purington,
Don serves as the SERVE Team Lead, joining EOVS in 2012. Don is a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Anbar province of Iraq in Jan 2006 to Aug 2006 as an Infantry Rifleman and Team leader during combat operations.
Program Coordinators
Paul Burke,
Paul serves as a Program Coordinator, joining EOVS in 2022. Paul served in the United States Air Force, the New Hampshire Air National Guard, and the Massachusetts Army Guard. Paul has 21 years full time and 32 years part time experience in the armed forces, serving as an Aircraft Mechanic and Army Guard truck driver. Paul is an Iraq veteran from January to May of 2009, stationed at Baghdad International Airport.
Heather McMahon,
Heather serves as a Program Coordinator, joining EOVS in 2019. Heather enlisted in the United States Army in 2001 and served in combat operations in Iraq from 2003 to 2004 during the initial invasion. She completed an additional ten years in the Army Reserves as a Human Resources Sergeant.
Anthony Carter,
Anthony serves as a Program Coordinator, joining EOVS in 2022. Anthony served in the Marine Corps Reserves from 2015-2021, deploying to Japan in 2019 as an infantry team leader.
David Odenweller,
David serves as a Program Coordinator, joining EOVS in 2014. David served in the United States Marine Corps from 2002 – 2006 as a motor transport operator, machine gunner, and mortuary affairs personnel in Japan and Iraq.
Alex Maus,
Alex served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 2009 to 2013 as an Infantry Rifleman. Prior to enlisting he attained his Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Connecticut. He deployed to Afghanistan in from 2011 to 2012 serving in combat operations performing patrols and area security. Upon leaving the Marine Corps, Alex, like many Post 9/11 veterans, faced challenges reintegrating back to civilian life. Being a justice-involved veteran himself, he brings a unique perspective of lived experiences to EOVS’s SERVE Team as a Justice & Diversion Peer Advocate since April 2024. His role directly works with justice-involved veterans advocating for treatment as a diversion in their criminal court cases. His role also supports higher risk veterans participating in Veterans’ Treatment Court (VTC) where he attends Massachusetts’s newest VTC in Gardner weekly.
Mink is 4-and-a-half-year-old Black Labrador Retriever. He has been a dedicated service dog since May 2022 from Freedom Service Dogs in Colorado. Mink is trained in the specific task of providing PTSD support in anxiety-inducing environments, demonstrating a strong ability to support his handler, Alex Maus. In addition to his important work, Mink enjoys tennis balls and cuddling.