"SEED OF MERCY" SUPPORTS DAHLIA CLIENTS
CMI-Dahlia and Seed of Mercy Church continue to partner to encourage and increase the involvement with clients and the community in a pro-social manner. Seed of Mercy has developed a partnership with Lens Crafters and in the last few months 11 clients have received a free eye exam and a new pair of glasses. This is such an amazing benefit for our clients who are in need and it contributes to their success in the program and in the community. CMI-Dahlia is grateful for the support and encouragement that Seed of Mercy provides to the clients at the Dahlia facility.
DENVERWORKS ASSISTS BCTC CLIENTS WITH EMPLOYMENT
The first round of BCTC participants in the DenverWorks program has been successful. The participants were provided with transportation, job leads, work tools and new clothing for interviews, which really boosted their self-confidence and self-esteem. Four out of the six first round participants are employed and the other two participants continue to work towards gaining employment with the assistance of DenverWorks. The second round of participants have attended the DenverWorks Workshop and will meet individually with DenverWorks the week of May 9th. After their individual meetings they will work towards job placement.
ULSTER PROGRAM DIRECTOR BECOMES MI COACH
Congratulations to Ulster Program Director, Cynthia Lockwood who recently completed the EPIC Motivational Interviewing Coaching training. Cynthia will soon be able to perform one-on-one coaching with staff that are developing Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills. Coaching is a critical piece of training MI skills and helps trainees take their learning and skills to a higher, more productive level. EPIC MI trainees have reported across the board that the one on one coaching has made the most impact on their skills. She is one of the first people in Community Corrections to receive training in this capacity. This is a huge step in the advancement of the practice of MI skills in Community Corrections and we look forward to the impact this will have on CMI Employees.
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4th Quarter 2010
1st Quarter 2011
JUDGES TOUR CMI
On 04/29/11, CMI-Fox hosted Community Corrections presentations and tours for the 2nd Judicial Judges. Presentations included the Director of the City and County of Denver, Shannon Carst, Vice President CMI, and Directors from other Denver Community Corrections facilities. The purpose of the tour was to give the Judges a good understanding of Community Corrections and when it is an appropriate sentencing option.
The Judges were educated on the process and operations of Community Corrections, the Board and Non-Residential status. Beyond educating the Judges about DCJ standards and day to day operations of community corrections, the Judges were presented with what makes CMI unique. Judges learned about CMI’s state of the art training center, job development for staff, advanced camera and software systems, adherence to evidenced based practices including our free cognitive behavioral classes, free GED classes and the additional assessments we complete to ensure an overall picture of the clients are achieved.
After the presentation and tour of CMI, the Judges and staff toured other Denver area facilities. Overall, the day was a success and we feel the Judges left with an understanding of the purpose and goal of Community Corrections.
FOX & COLUMBINE CLIENTS INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY
On 05/06/11, several Columbine clients attended the "Taking it to the Streets" event at the Northern Hills Church. The clients assisted with the set up and take down of the event. The church has been conducting an in-house Bible Study group at Columbine for several weeks and the clients took this opportunity to give back to the community. The purpose of this occasion was to raise awareness about the homeless and the halfway houses of Denver. The event included refreshments, information about volunteer opportunities, a silent auction and entertainment provided by Denver comedian Dan McGowen.
CMI-Fox clients will assist Confluence Ministries, in conjunction with other Non-Profit organizations from the neighborhood, in hosting the West Colfax Neighborhood Block Festival on June 11, 2011. This event will include games, demonstrations, free services (haircuts, manicures, etc.) and great entertainment. The community is organizing art exhibitions, a farmers market, a clothing bank and other interactive venues for the benefit and enjoyment of all ages. We hope this event will strengthen the value of community and cooperation among its residents, and help us celebrate the character and diversity of our neighborhood. We hope the clients will understand that they can be a catalyst to accelerate the positive change already occurring in this at-risk community.
CMI-Fox and Columbine will partner with Denver United Church to host a Family FUN day at City Park. This event will include clients from both facilities and their families and will be held on June 18, 2011. The goal is to promote pro-social family fun. There will be a BBQ, games and a bouncy castle for the kids. In addition, the Denver Church has purchased discounted Zoo, IMAX and Museum tickets for the clients and their families. Everyone involved is excited about this upcoming event.
CMI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO BECOME MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINER
Executive Director Esther Smith will soon be a trainer of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) curriculum. The MHFA curriculum is nationally recognized and is offered across the state of Colorado through the EPIC Project, which is a Federally Funded JAG/ARRA grant. Many CMI staff has already taken the free, two-day MHFA training and we have received excellent feedback. There has been an increased need and demand for this training and therefore it is necessary to increase the number of certified MHFA trainers. The MHFA training for trainers is a five-day training event for certifying new instructors. This event is scheduled for June 6th through June 10th, 2011 in Buena Vista. The JAG/ARRA grant will cover all travel expenses for trainees. As a part of receiving this free training from the grant, participants must agree to be part of a pool of trainers that will be called upon to co-facilitate trainings in their area or surrounding areas. Attendees must complete three trainings per year to maintain training certification from the National Organization. CMI is very excited that Ms. Smith is a part of this tremendous opportunity.