The CRJ Journal: September 2023

Happy Fall, CRJ!

It's no secret that the work our staff carries out each day can be incredibly stressful. We support some of our society's most vulnerable citizens and communities in crisis. Our wellness can often take a backseat when life and work become too much. I want to encourage all of us - our staff, their loved ones, and the residents in our programs - to take time each day to ground ourselves and refocus.

In this issue of the Journal, I'm excited to uplift a way for us to collectively reset: CRJ's Step Challenge. Starting on September 18 and running through November 3rd, we're encouraging staff to get outside and get moving - all while winning some fabulous prizes. Why a step challenge? This past spring, CRJ's Wellness Committee asked staff to share ideas for ways to improve health and wellness at work. Wellness activities and group challenges were two of the main suggestions we heard from you, so we’re kicking off this challenge with your feedback in mind.

Here's how to join the CRJ Step Challenge:

Click here to register for the challenge by noon on Monday, September 18th.
Download the FREE Argus app on Apple or Google Play to track steps and engage with colleagues.
Participants will have many opportunities to win prizes! All participants will be entered into a raffle just for participating, but here’s a few more ways to win:
“Largest Step Crew”: Send us a photo of your walking buddies. Bring residents in your program, your family, or loved ones. The submission with the largest group earns a prize.
“Most Steps Taken”: Our walking all-star will take the grand prize!
“Most creative walk”: Walking somewhere funky? Walking while wearing a silly costume? Walking backward? Get creative, and you might just win.

At the end of the program, we will send an email asking you to send us your total steps taken between 9/18 – 11/3. Throughout the challenge, if you snap any fun photos while walking, please send to the RRRC@crj.org. Thank you to our RRRC and Wellness Committees for making this happen!

I'm excited to see you out there. Thanks for all you do.

Deb

Program Pride

Congratulations to CJI Team Katie Zafft, Andrea Tyree, Amber Nogelmeier, Amanda Coscia, and Ashley Neufeld for releasing "The Duluth Racial Bias Audit: Final Report on Findings and Considerations." This report combines months of research, interviews, and analyzing data to support the Duluth community as they seek to center equity and understanding in their law enforcement responses. The report offers clear findings and considerations on how law enforcement can better engage BIPOC communities in the Duluth area.

Read the report here

Congratulations to Christine Hall-Day, Terry Hardy, and Dina Stewart for obtaining a level one audit for their quality review of CRJ's Explore and Evolve programs! The state auditor stated that their timeliness of entering data was ‘spectacular,' and they received a score of 99%-100% in all areas!

The background: Evolve and Explore are regularly audited in data quality reviews by Connecticut’s Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division (JBCSSD). In order to achieve a “Level 1” rating, programs must have at least 90% data accuracy (must match both organizational and JBCSSD’s systems) - an amazing feat! Well done to our behavioral health teams!

ICJA Research Conference (August 20-22, 2023)

Leaders from across CRJ headed to Cincinnati at the end of August to attend the International Criminal Justice Association Research Conference.

Congratulations, Ellen!

Our own VP of Reentry Services and External Affairs, Ellen Donnarumma, was awarded the Arthur McDonald Leadership & Service Award for her decades-long commitment to community-based corrections and as a leader who utilizes the Association as a vehicle to support their goals. Ellen's leadership has paved the way for better awareness and advocacy of community-based reentry programming.

CRJ Teams took the stage to share collaborative research

Julie Finn, CRJ's Implementation Manager, partnered with CJI policy specialists Mei Yang and Shannon Streusel to share research from their project to create better outcomes for our residential reentry programs using in-house data and staff insights. By adopting a data-driven approach to answer questions and study behavior, we can better gauge the predictors of program completion!

Spotlight on our Reentry Residents: Brooke House

Community-based reentry programs offer residents the ability to work directly in the community where they live - an important factor in lasting, successful reentry. Two of our residents at Brooke House, Robert Nunes and Robert Frost, were hired by local restaurant and neighbr, Thaitation, to restore the front of their building. The management team at Thaitation believes strongly in the power of second chances and placed their faith in these two residents. Brooke House Program Director Travis Flanders-Caraballo put it best,"These guys are the pure definition of coming to Brooke House and doing the right things."

What's on Deck this Month

September

12

Caregivers Employee Resource Group

11:00am-12:00pm | Click here to join

Whether you're caring for a child, an elderly parent, or a sick loved one, join our Caregiver Employee Resource Group to be in community with others who share your experience.

September

20

DEI Lunch with US: Hispanic Heritage Month

12:00pm-1:00pm | Click here to join

Join Joanna Villalobos, Bilingual Advocate at the Women's Lunchroom, to discuss how to build an inclusive workplace for Hispanic and Latinx employees.

September

26

LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group

12:00pm-1:00pm | Click here to join

Employee Resource Groups are employee-led support groups formed by colleagues who have a shared experience or qualities. Our LGBTQ+ group meets the fourth Tuesday of every month - no RSVP needed. Just click the link above.

Reminder! Required Training for All Staff: DEI 101 Training

We have extended the deadline of our DEI training through September. This required training will give all staff a shared knowledge of DEI principles. Reach out to Abimbola Iyun to learn more: aiyun@crj.org.

355 Boylston St

Boston, MA 02116

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