PPPS Week - July 16-22, 2023

PPPS WEEK 2023 Challenges

#APPAEats

Are you a foodie with a flair for presentation? Does your phone always eat first? We’re looking for some fabulous food photography in our APPA Eats Challenge! Feed your body today and your mind tomorrow! MANGIA!

How to enter:

Share pics of the delicious meals and libations you’re consuming with #APPAEats. We’ll choose one lucky winner at random to receive a three year individual membership to APPA.

a plate of french fries
a person walking down the street

#APPAisEverywhere

We’re honored to have members of APPA from across the country, and relationships with community corrections officers worldwide. Now’s your chance to show some hometown pride with our APPA is Everywhere Challenge! From sea to shining sea, let’s see where our parole and probation professionals live!

How to enter:

Show us your favorite street, a landmark or even your own backyard with #APPAisEverywhere. We’ll choose one lucky winner at random to receive a three year individual membership to APPA.

Past Submissions

2021 'Calm, Cool, and Collected' Challenge Submissions

Thank you to our submitters to our PPPS Week 2021 Calm, Cool, and Collected Challenge! The past year has definitely been challenging but we applaud your efforts to continue forward, taking care of yourselves and the people around you both in and out of the office!

Alix Adams  |  Nebraska Division of Parole Supervision

In the fall of 2019 the Division of Parole Supervision took steps to focus on the mental health of our teammates by delivering HeartMath training and devices to everyone in the Agency; that winter, individuals applied and were selected to attend instructor training for Mental Health First Aid. After our trainers were certified and ready to learn, Covid hit. The world, including our training, was put on pause.

Meetings and trainings that had formally been delivered inperson suddenly had to be adapted to meet the needs of trainers and participants. Luckily, in 2019, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing had begun working on developing a new, expanded, curriculum with updated content on trauma, addiction, and an extra emphasis on selfcare. This new curriculum was able to be adapted to a virtual format and once again, we were able to deliver Mental Health First Aid to our Agency. For this virtual format, participants earned their certificate by completing an online, 2-hour, self-paced class then participating in 5.5-hours of virtual, instructor-led, training.

As we cautiously return to normal operations, it is our goal to continue to have an open conversation about mental health, supporting one another by providing ongoing encouragement and resources to those who need it while taking time to prioritize self-care. To date, the Division of Parole Supervision has trained over 80% of our staff in Mental Health First Aid and looks forward to training all Parole staff by summer 2021.

Dwana DeLaCerna  |  Cook County Adult Probation Department

Connecting with my beautiful city [Chicago] and keeping up with my family helps me stay Calm, Cool & Collected!

Tira Hubbard  |  Jackson County Community Justice

We Can Do It! Gender Responsive Unit in Jackson County,Oregon.

#

Cheryl Davis  |  Nueces County CSCD

I am a probation supervisor. My dream team gives me strength & inspires me daily. We keep each other calm, cool, grounded by checking in with one another regularly, through humor, through team building. Here were are enjoying a well deserved meal together out of the office – just because! We have stressful jobs, but know we can rely on one another & always support, encourage each other.

#

Work and Life in the "New Normal"
2020 Photo Submissions

Special thanks to those who submitted photos for APPA's Work & Life in the "New Normal" video. It has been an unprecedented year, not just for community corrections, but our lives as well. Community corrections officers and employees from around the nation and even our own APPA staff shared a little glimpse into how our lives and how we work have changed. But even in the face of change we are finding new ways to continue our mission to restore trust and create hope in our communities.

2019 Video Contest Winner

Thanks to everyone for voting for your favorite #PPPSWeek Celebration Video on our Facebook page! The winner will receive five (5) 1-year APPA Individual Memberships to be given to selected staff members -OR- 1 FREE registration for a selected employee to APPA’s next Winter Training Institute!

Maricopa County Adult Probation Department

2019 Employee Spotlight Winners

Thanks to all who submitted a nomination for the #PPPSWeek Employee Spotlight Contest! These winners have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their roles in community corrections. The dedication to their agencies, clients, and communites is unsurpassed and we want to take this opportunity to celebrate that dedication and hard work. Each of these winners will receive a free 1-year APPA Individual Membership. Congratulations and thank you for all you do!


Ayesha W. | Deputy Probation Officer
Solano County Probation Department
Ayesha W.

Ayesha is a Deputy Probation Officer with the Solano County Probation Department and is currently assigned to an adult supervision caseload. She has been with the Probation Department for over 20 years. Ayesha is the epitome of excellence and has an outstanding work ethic. She has an unwavering dedication to provide quality services to the clients on her caseload. She also goes above and beyond to assist her clients whether its buying them a much needed innertube for their bike or assisting them in applying for social security.

Ayesha’s enthusiasm and compassion does not stop with just her clients, but rather spills over to her colleagues. Ayesha is constantly trying to improve the health and mental health of all employees within the Solano County Probation Department. Ayesha is a Department Wellness Ambassador for the County’s Wellness Program, member of the Department’s Wellness Committee, Chair of the CARE (Committed to Actively Recognizing Employees) Committee and devotes her own personal time providing Zumba classes during the lunch period. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her coworkers.

Jason M. | Agent
Michigan Department of Corrections
Jason M.

Jason began his career with the Michigan Department of Corrections in 2010. He has involved himself in various opportunities to expand his growth, influence and knowledge. He has voluntarily supervised sex offender, veteran, and drug court caseloads. For two years, he was on an EPIC team that reviewed and rewrote policies.

He was one of the first to volunteer for the Carey Guide pilot. He applied and was selected to become a Motivational Interview coach. He is an outspoken advocate for MI and its benefits, stating “MI is a way to help people find their own reasons for change and every interaction is a chance to make a positive impact on an offender.”

He organized an outing to Forgotten Harvest, where staff packaged 8,000 pounds of food for the less fortunate. He is a member of the MDOC Traumatic Incident Stress Management Team and has responded to traumatic events experienced by his colleagues; providing support and assistance. He received the MDOC 2019 Candice Dunn Agent of the Year Award for his exceptional work serving the citizens of the State of Michigan, promoting offender success and public safety. He also received the State of Michigan Good Government Teamwork coin.

Lee R. | Community Coordinator
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Lee R.

Lee doesn’t just do his job as a Community Coordinator; he lives the job! He was doing the work of coordinating service providers even before he joined the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS), as well as working with his church to provide such services. Lee tirelessly seeks out and persuades nonprofits and others to partner with DCS to support returning citizens in turning their lives around. He encourages those partners to work together, instead of in isolation. His volunteer work in the community has earned him unquestioned credibility. Lee is a gifted orator. Several of his encouraging catchphrases have become part of our vocabulary.

Some Georgia counties have a housing coordinator and community coordinator, but Lee manages both responsibilities in the second largest county in the State. When Lee sees a problem, he doesn’t complain about it: he chips away at it. One example is Uplift, a service he started that provides transportation to returning citizens to get to critical appointments during the first weeks of their release while they get on their feet. Lee also established a reentry coaching program, so that people who want to provide guidance are trained to provide support in the most appropriate way.

2018 Video Contest Winner


Warren County Common Pleas Court Services

Thanks to everyone for voting for your favorite PPPS Week Celebration Video on our Facebook page! Warren County Common Pleas Court Services (Warren County, Ohio) had a wonderful celebration to honor their staff members for all their hard work in community corrections. As our 2018 PPPS Week Video Contest Winner, Warren County Common Pleas Court Services will receive five (5) 1-year APPA Individual Memberships to be given to selected staff members, or 1 FREE registration for a selected employee to APPA’s 2019 Winter Training Institute to be held in MIAMI, FLORIDA March 10-13, 2019. Thank you Warren County for all your hard work!

2018 Employee Spotlight Winners

Arlyn H. | Adult Probation Officer Supervisor
Maricopa County Adult Probation Department (MCAPD)
Arlyn H.

Arlyn became a Probation Officer with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department (MCAPD) in 1997 and promoted to Supervisor in 2005. She currently serves as MCAPD’s Thinking for a Change (T4C) Program Coordinator. A true champion of this cognitive-behavioral intervention, Arlyn successfully managed a BJA Smart Supervision grant to expand the T4C program. Accomplishments included streamlining referral and enrollment processes; reducing client wait time to enter group; coordinating group space, staffing, and scheduling across multiple locations; training of T4C facilitators; and training and marketing with probation officers to generate referrals and buy-in. With community treatment providers, Arlyn developed a collaborative model of implementing T4C with a sustainable funding source. Under Arlyn’s leadership, significant outcomes were achieved. Based on results of the grant evaluation:

  • 128 T4C groups were provided and over 2,600 probationers referred and accepted to the program, surpassing MCAPD’s targets to provide 65 groups and serve 864.
  • Of those probationers who entered a group, half graduated from T4C.
  • Of a comparison group who had not been referred to T4C, 53.5% experienced a Petition to Revoke (PTR) compared to 15% for those who completed T4C.
  • 25.6% of the comparison group had been revoked to incarceration compared to only 2.7% of those who completed T4C.
The positive outcomes could not have been achieved without the energy, enthusiasm, dedication, and skill that Arlyn brings to her role as T4C Program Coordinator. She is a change maker who has contributed significantly to the MCAPD’s ability to provide evidence-based programming.

Spencer C. | Probation Officer
4th District Juvenile Court, Utah Courts
Spencer C.

Although quiet at the office, Spencer’s hardwork speaks to the kind of person that he really is. Within just a few years, Spencer has worked as a Deputy Probation Officer and as the Deputy Probation Supervisor. Once he became a Probation Officer, he was diligent in completing all of the required trainings to advance in his career track to become a Senior Probation Officer. Spencer has plenty of experience with all kinds of cases from simple infractions to very complicated felonies involving restitution. He demonstrates responsibility by meeting deadlines, getting to know each of his youth individually, and by arriving to court prepared. Furthermore, Spencer has gotten involved with several different committees throughout the years such as New Policy Committee and the Safety Training Committee, where he discusses the implementation of new policies and trains the staff within his district how to maintain a safe work environment. Spencer goes out of his way to maintain a positive relationship with community partners by playing basketball with the district attorneys or participating in staffings with the Sex Offender Task Force. He is usually one of the first to volunteer to train new staff. He deeply cares about the wellbeing of his team.

Leonor S. | Juvenile Probation Counselor
King County Superior Court
Leonor S.

A community member highlighted this contest for me and shared that, “Leonor is a positive source of energy and a resource who understands our young people’s needs and to effectively align resources. She understands family dynamics and community and has always been willing to fill in wherever needed to achieve our team’s desired results.” In reflection, I feel Leonor has gone above and beyond for our youth and families, having brought a community perspective to the work we do collectively and specifically through our Credible Messenger Mentorship program as a Juvenile Justice Navigator though her years of community based work and social work approach.

She has a been an internal “Credible Messenger”, her values, principals and engagement have been a huge help and resource for King County Superior Court to transform processes internally. I feel by sharing stories of outstanding partners like her, it shines a spotlight on the impacts of having staff who have a community focused, social justice perspective. Leonor understands the need and impacts of implementing transformational programs and processes on our youth and families. In response, she has been promoted to a Probation Counselor, and is seen as a positive investment for our communities we serve.

Linda B. | Manager of the Community Corrections Division
Orange County Corrections Department
Linda B.

Linda, Manager of the Community Corrections Division, has more than 36 years of experience in the field of Corrections with focused expertise in Community Corrections. After a brief retirement, Linda felt she had more to give to the field of corrections. She believed her expertise in community corrections, leadership, and mentoring could be used to help another organization achieve its best. In 2015, she was appointed Manager, of Community Corrections at the Orange County Corrections Department. Under Linda's leadership, the division has thrived in the furtherance of implementing innovative practices and programs. One such program is the Cognitive Behavioral Change (CBC) Program facilitated in the Probation Unit. Linda charged the team of officers to “think outside the box” of the traditional, and come up with a new way to reach offenders, that affects their way of thinking.

Seizing the opportunity presented to them by Linda, the team delivers the lessons and process-thinking reports in a meaningful and engaging manner leaving the offenders wanting more. At every graduation, we receive positive feedback regarding their caring and motivational style of teaching. Skills they learned in the Motivational Interviewing training introduced to the division by Linda.

Note: Member Spotlights are no longer a PPPS Week contest but are instead a year-round feature on APPA CONNECT. If you'd like to nominate a peer or colleague to be interviewed for APPA's Member Spotlight series, please email us.

APPA Agency Membership banner ad