News
April 2008CSI Receives a Glowing Endorsement from a Juvenile Probation Officer CSI received a very complimentary letter from Roslyn Fendrick, a juvenile probation officer in Pennsylvania. In particular, she singled out praise for three of CSI's treatment staff: Allison Schiefer, Mike Otto, and Melissa Seibel, saying how impressed she was with their professionalism, dedication, knowledge, patience, enthusiasm, credibility and integrity. Download and read Roslyn's entire letter. January 2008The Watkinson Prisoner Aid Society Awards Grant for New Computer Lab CSI was recently awarded $2,000 from the Watkinson Prisoner's Aid Society for the installation of a new computer lab to supplement the vocational education program at Hartford House located in Hartford, CT. CSI will match the award with proceeds from the annual charity golf tournament. Hartford House is a reentry program for 23 female clients referred from the Connecticut Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). It is also one of the few Mothers and Infants Nurtured Together (MINT) programs in the country. This is a confinement placement for pregnant clients. At the program, the women receive prenatal care at a local hospital, give birth and bond with their babies for three months following birth. Groups cover prepared childbirth, parenting classes, life skills, nutritional education and healthy relationships. At the close of the program, some clients transition to the community whereas others return to a secure setting after making arrangements for the care of the baby. The vocational education program will provide clients with the job skills needed to help them be self-sufficient and contribute to the community. Clients will use the computer lab to write resumes and conduct job searches, and will improve their vocational skills through increased computer literacy. December 2007Coventry House Earns a Varsity Team Coventry House employs a merit based level system by which performance translates into points and points translate into advancement up the level system. Reaching the top level is difficult to accomplish and takes a minimum of seven weeks assuming the residents' behavior is near perfect. Traditionally it takes much longer and usually takes many fits and starts to achieve. The norm usually sees a couple of residents on each level from top to bottom with the previous record of five boys on the top level, varsity, at one time. Two weeks ago we had all eight boys achieve the varsity level at one time for the first, and perhaps only, time in the programs history. Staff at the Torrington AIC/Transitional adopts a family The staff at the Torrington AIC/Transitional has again this year, volunteered to adopt a family in need from the Torrington community to provide a holiday meal as well as gifts under the tree for all. Stepping Up To Fatherhood The Hartford Courant December 15, 2007 Angel Rodriguez, Jr., an inmate at the Drapelick Center halfway house in Bloomfield, spends time on Friday night with his son, Angel III, 6, as part of the Hartford Fatherhood Initiative, run by the Capitol Region Conference of Churches. The program tutors dads absent from the home on how to become better fathers. Read the entire article Surveys: Spend more on treatment for young offenders The Reading Eagle December 11, 2007 Pennsylvania is one of four states in the study of juvenile justice. The results show that many surveyed back rehabilitation over jail. Read the entire article November 2007CSI awarded contract with the Connecticut Department of Corrections CSI was recently awarded the contract with the Connecticut Department of Corrections (CTDOC) and Connecticut Board of Pardons and Parole to provide technical assistance to clients in pardon applications as well as to provide workshops and community outreach programs geared towards employment to offenders. These services will be conducted in Hartford, New London, Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. Services are slated to begin in January 2008. Ribbon Cutting for Safe Homes New Play Ground November 29, 2007 Almost 18 months ago, Alice Formeister, Program Director and Susan Guay, Administrative Assistant, began dreaming about having a brand new playscape for the children in residing at the Safe Home. They started researching what it would take to obtain a new playscape and after many months of creative fundraising events facilitated by the program staff the play scape has arrived in time to bring additional joy to the residents this holiday season. On November 29th, Bob Pigeon, CSI's CEO, cut the ribbon to officially open the new playground. The Safe Home is planning a second celebration this spring to thank the many community organizations who helped to make this dream come true.
|
