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Tuesday, May 8, 2012
SAMHSA: Education and Training Grant Opportunity
HealthCorps Opportunities
http://www.communityhealthcorps.org/
Attention High School and College Graduates, and Students taking an extended break from classes:
Do you want to work in the health care field but need experience. AmeriCorps is an opportunity to earn while you learn.
HealthCorps is an AmeriCorps service program which places its members in health care settings for a period of one year. This exposes them to the work of health care as a career option along with giving them skills which would make them attractive to employers. This is extremely helpful as the health care field is projected as being one of the strongest career fields over the next decade.
In addition gaining experience serving in the health care field and ongoing professional development. Members will earn a $12,000 stipend and a $5,550 grant towards their continued education. So if funding may be a perceived barrier to continuing education the member not only gets exposed to health care careers and develops usable skills but they can also earn money towards future education.
This program is available across the United States. We in the District of Columbia want to make our opportunities available to DC residents and are reaching out to returning students to ensure that they are aware they will be given priority when applying to the DCPCA Community HealthCorps program. I have included links to brochures which provide details about the program.
To apply or if you have any questions, please contact Eric Vicks evicks@dcpca.org
http://communityhealthcorps.org/client/documents/Recruitment%20Brochure%20Final.\
http://communityhealthcorps.org/client/documents/Community%20HealthCorps%20Benef\
its%20Summary-Final.pdf
Monday, May 7, 2012
Enhancing the Reentry Outcomes of Justice-Involved Women
Enhancing the Reentry Outcomes of Justice-Involved Women
By Rachelle Ramirez, National Resource Center on Justice-Involved Women
Women are one of the criminal justice system’s fastest growing populations. In the past decade, the number of women incarcerated in federal and state prisons has increased by 22 percent, while the number of women on probation and parole has risen 10 percent. Although women comprise only about 17 percent of the total criminal justice population, the implications of their criminal justice involvement are far reaching—as their children, family members, and neighborhoods can experience their absence acutely.
The rate of unsuccessful reentry for women is remarkably high, especially given the relatively low level of public safety risk this demographic group presents. Approximately 60 percent of women released from incarceration were re-arrested and nearly 30 percent returned to prison within three years of release—in most cases for technical violations rather than for new crimes.
To reduce the number and improve the outcomes of women involved in the criminal justice system, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), in partnership with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), has established the National Resource Center on Justice Involved Women (NRCJIW), a technical assistance, training, and resource center for criminal justice professionals.
Many of the NRCJIW’s resources are salient for policymakers and practitioners interested in improving outcomes for incarcerated women transitioning to the community. Below are some of our key findings regarding justice-involved women returning from prison and jail. (These findings are excerpted from the NRCJIW’s document, “Ten Truths that Matter When Working With Justice-Involved Women,” available at:http://cjinvolvedwomen.org/sites/all/documents/Ten_Truths_Brief.pdf.
- The majority of women present a low risk to public safety. They typically enter the criminal justice system for non-violent, drug, and/or property-related crimes. They are less likely than men to commit acts of violence and aggression in prison, and when released from incarceration recidivate at lower rates.
- Women have unique interventions needs. Women exhibit a greater variety of complexintervention and support needs than men, which must be addressed in order to promote successful reentry into the community. Women are more likely to experience poverty, sexual abuse, co-occurring disorders, and other health concerns. A large proportion of justice-involved women have abused substances or engaged in criminal behavior while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Fewer vocational skills, underemployment, and employment instability are more common among justice-involved women than among men.
- Women’s engagement in criminal behavior is often related to their relationships, connections, and disconnections with others. Theories of female development consistently emphasize the importance of relationships in women’s lives—both in shaping their identities and in contributing to their sense of self-worth. This can create difficulties for women involved in the criminal justice system for several reasons. First, exposure to dysfunctional and abusive relationships in childhood elevates the risk for future victimization and the perpetration of violence. Second, women will often commit crimes to maintain a relationship regardless of the outcome. For example, some women will override their personal values and beliefs in the commission of a crime to meet the needs of their children or to demonstrate loyalty to a significant other. Criminal justice programs and interventions should encourage women to maintain a desire for healthy connections, while providing them with opportunities to learn new ways of connecting and relating to others.
- Women’s programs are generally based on research about men. The increasing number of women entering the criminal justice system, coupled with a growing body of research on this population, have drawn attention to justice-involved women and signaled the need for gender-responsive policies, procedures, and services. Programs and services that support the reentry of women must adequately meet their unique needs. For example, they should provide vocational/educational training to assist them in earning a livable wage, offer safe housing options to ensure they are not further victimized by the men in their lives, and provide services that assist them in achieving successful family reunification.
- Gender-informed assessment tools are more predictive of women’s likelihood to recidivate. Research indicates that gender-informed tools achieve better results with women than gender-neutral tools. Gender-responsive classification and assessment tools are now available that capture both gender-neutral factors (e.g., criminal history and antisocial attitudes) which are associated with recidivism among women and men, and gender-responsive factors that are specifically linked to outcomes for women. Gender-informed tools also account for women’s assets, or strengths, that play a protective role and mitigate against the risk of negative outcomes.
- Many justice-involved women are also mothers. Over 66,000 women incarcerated nationwide are mothers of minor children. Over the past two decades, the number of children with a mother in prison has more than doubled, up 131 percent. Minimal contact during incarceration, barriers to regaining custody or parental rights, limited outside support for child rearing, and financial hardship contribute to considerable stress among incarcerated mothers. Research indicates that such stress can result in the individual having difficulty adjusting to the institution and results in his rates of recidivism. Therefore, connecting and/orreunifying incarcerated mothers with their children are critical for successful reentry. Programs and services that promote routine and quality contact with children and other family members and supports, facilitate effective parenting skills, and support family reunification play a key role in successful reentry outcomes.
- Women are more successful when staff are knowledgeable and skilled in gender-responsive approaches. While there are a number of gender-informed programs which are beginning to report positive outcomes, all correctional staff who work with women must utilize a comprehensive andcoordinated case management approach to achieve successful outcomes. Staff should be knowledgeable and understand the implications of the research on evidence-based and gender-informed practices including the following: targeting interventions, dosage, and intensity based on risk level; understanding the importance of developing professional working relationships with women; having the skills necessary to engage them appropriately; and recognizing women’s strengths and mobilizing their personal and social supports.
Over the past few decades we have witnessed a growing body of research on women in the criminal justice system; this research includes insights into women’s pathways to crime, risk to reoffend, and criminogenic needs (among other topics). Practitioners are now well poised to draw from and apply this research to current reentry practices in an effort to increase the public safety outcomes and well-being of women, their families, and their communities.
The NRCJIW website provides a wealth of information on the issues faced by women offenders and best practices in working with this population.
A project of the CSG Justice Center
Virtual Internship Program. USDA. A model for other agencies
Virtually Redefining Internships at USDA
Dora Flores, Dairy Programs Virtual Intern Program Team Lead, communicates with Daman Wandke. On May 7th, Wandke was invited to participate in a White House ceremony honoring “Champions of Change” within the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math for people with disabilities in education and employment.
The definition of “being in the office” or “being on the clock” is changing. Most organizations—government or private—have a multi-generational workforce that may or may not be in the same location. Our team alone has four generations with varying comfort levels in using different technologies. Through our virtual internship program, we have strengthened our ability to work seamlessly regardless of physical location.
Every year college students come to Washington, D.C. to spend their summer break gaining valuable work experience and making solid connections. Many students return to school having made a good impression on potential employers. Through its new virtual internship program, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has successfully extended this summertime experience, giving new meaning to making connections and creating a model for others to follow.
Since 2001, our Dairy Programs have offered virtual internships. Virtual internships are like regular internships, but the students work from a remote location. Most of these interns came to Washington, D.C., for a summer internship and returned to school to finish their degrees. During the school year, the student interns stayed connected to AMS by working with the agency on a part-time and intermittent basis. The Virtual Internship Program (VIP) goes above and beyond, since it also works as a Leadership Program.
It’s a win-win situation for our agency because we get to attract bright, young students and then retain their knowledge. As leaders and innovators they are typically very busy – not only with their academics, but also with extracurricular activities. Sometimes this limits their ability to commute to and from internship programs that are outside their community, so a virtual opportunity is a perfect fit.
Daman Wandke, Virtual Intern, communicates with Dora Flores. Wandke came to USDA Headquarters in Washington D.C. and stayed with the agency as a virtual intern while seeking a degree in Management Information Systems from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA.
Communication has been both a challenge and a success for this program. We often use Microsoft Live Meeting, Office Communicator and similar programs, relying on technology and new communication tools to stay connected. Our projects encourage our interns to focus on collaboration and creativity, leading to innovative ideas, and injecting new approaches into our government processes.
The use of different technologies makes our students well-suited to evaluate the ways that the agency communicates with the general public. Some of their projects include testing new software, like the new Public Comment Analysis Tool, and reviewing our website to make sure it’s accessible for people with disabilities. They have also proposed innovative ways to communicate with un-served and underserved farmers.
In an age where government agencies are using webinars and similar technologies to communicate with the public and increase transparency, our experience with the internship program has made our agency a leader. We are developing our Virtual Internship “Leadership” guidelines to present to the department as an option for all USDA interns, and our program has become an example for other agencies.
In the summer of 2007, the USDA and the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) hired a virtual intern by following our model. Working from home, the intern was responsible for maintaining the HSI website after his traditional summer internship ended.
We encourage other agencies and offices all over the country to develop similar programs to improve public communication and general access. We are excited for the upcoming internship season. If you are interested in becoming one of our virtual interns or want to learn about how you can start your own program, visit our internship site for more information.
Friday, May 4, 2012
BEMA Celebrates. Older Americans Month 2012 - Never Too Old to Play!
Older Americans Month 2012
Never Too Old to Play!
The theme for Older Americans Month 2012—Never Too Old to Play!—puts a spotlight on the important role older adults play in sharing their experience, wisdom, and understanding, and passing on that knowledge to other generations in a variety of significant ways. This year’s celebrations will recognize the value that older adults continue to bring to our communities through spirited participation in social and faith groups, service organizations, and other activities.
As large numbers of baby-boomers reach retirement age, many communities have increased their efforts to provide meaningful opportunities for older adults—many of whom remain physically and socially active through their 80s and beyond. Current trends show that people over age 60 account for an ever-growing percentage of participants in community service positions, faith-based organizations, online social networking as well as arts and recreational groups.
Lifelong participation in social, creative, and physical activities has proven health benefits, including retaining mobility, muscle mass, and cognitive abilities. But older adults are not the only ones who benefit from their engagement in community life. Studies show their interactions with family, friends, and neighbors across generations enrich the lives of everyone involved. Young people who have significant relationships with a grandparent or elder report that these relationships helped shape their values, goals, and life choices and gave them a sense of identity and roots.
The Black Emergency Managers Association is joining in the national celebration of Older Americans Month 2012 with activities and events to promote intergenerational engagement and recreation.
We invite you to join in the fun! To find out how you can support Older Americans Month 2012 and take part in intergenerational play, contact your local Area Agency on Aging by visiting www.eldercare.gov or calling 1-800-677-1116 to find ongoing opportunities to celebrate and support older Americans
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Press_Room/Observances/2012/Older_Americans.aspx