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In the United States there are over 2 million offenders incarcerated
in Federal, State or local jails (Bureau of Justice Statistics,
December 2002). In the State of New Jersey, the Department of Corrections
reports having more than 27,000 inmates as of August 31, 2005 in
their custody (NJDOC, September, 2005). Nearly all of these inmates
(approximately 96%) who are incarcerated will return home (New
Jersey Institute for Social Justice, December 2003). In fiscal
year 1999 Federal, State, and local governments spent over $146
billion for civil and criminal justice. In New Jersey, the Department
of Corrections budget is over $900 million. With nearly two-thirds
of these offenders being rearrested within 3 years of their release,
examining the process of how offenders are prepared to re-enter
the community is paramount. Investing in and equipping offenders
with the skills necessary to live crime-free and productive lives
promotes not only social justice but fiscal responsibility.
Continued - Next Page >
Please email generic questions to web@certbd.com and
we will print the answers in our next issue, and possible inclusion into
the Q & A section.
This messes age is from Edna Davis Brown
who is looking for consultants for a SAMHSA contract
working with Katrina victims. Please reply to her directly
at the the contact information listed below:
Dear Friend and Colleague:
Westover Consultants, Inc. (WCI) is in desperate need of your assistance.
As you know, Hurricane Katrina has proven to be one of the worst natural
disasters in American history. It has made a tremendous impact throughout
the country, especially in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is responding by sending teams
of mental health professionals into the hurricane-impacted area. Westover
Consultants, Inc.-SAMHSA's contractor for this effort-is assisting SAMHSA
by managing the staffing and deployment of mental health and substance
abuse providers to the Gulf Coast region to deliver behavioral health
services. A large proportion of children, youth, and families affected
by Hurricane Katrina are racially and ethnically diverse (such as African
American, Hispanic, Vietnamese, and Honduran residents).
In all, SAMHSA will deploy 40 Katrina Assistance Teams (KATs)
comprised of about 8-10 mental health professionals each to Louisiana
over the next 30-45 days, beginning on September 21. Each KAT will
serve in Louisiana for 2 weeks. For serving, SAMHSA will pay each
KAT member a $200-per-day honorarium. SAMHSA will also pay for
lodging, travel, and meals. Once on the ground in Louisiana, the
KATs will provide crisis and supportive counseling services to
mental health clinics, shelters, and other service delivery locations
in Louisiana.
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All APCB counselor Codes of Ethics (Principle 12: Societal Obligations)
encourages counselors to "actively engage" in legislative, educational
and in the general public to change public policy and promote services
for all those impaired by addiction. I can't think of a better
way to meet this obligation than to celebrate "Recovery" by participating
in this important event. There will be speeches, talks, information
and the "Recovery Walk" at Liberty State Park.
This beautiful park faces the Statue of Liberty and is easily
assessable off Exit 14 B of the NJ Turnpike. Registration is at
Noon.
Go to www.foarnj.org
or call 8887-872-3979 for information.
(P.S. you don't have to be in "recovery", all are welcome!)
Look for the Certification Board booth to get your verification
card for Recertification credit.
Friends of Addiction Recovery-New Jersey Looking to Share Knowledge
Friends of Addiction Recovery-New Jersey is seeking members of
the recovery community who would like to help others in recovery
by sharing their knowledge, skills and experience.
For two years now, Friends of Addiction Recovery-New Jersey has
been offering recovery support learning circles: at two correctional
facilities, three halfway homes for women in recovery, and two
sober housing organizations. Some are also held in the community.
Friends is seeking individuals to present material and information
in our learning circles, which support and enhance the recovery
experience of the circle participants.
The learning circles through which participants gain and exchange
knowledge and awareness, learn skills and new information, while
supporting and enhancing their recovery in a peer-to-peer setting,
have been very well-received by participants and presenters alike.
Everyone benefits from this much needed service.
We ask those who would like to help with this to contact Friends
of Addiction Recovery-New Jersey at 888-872-3979 and ask for Yury
Tarnavskyj x110 or Jeanette Grimes x109 or email us at FOAR@ncadddnj.org.
We are not asking for large chunks of time. A couple of hours
a few times a year are what we are asking of people. Some may wish
to put forth more, and that's OK too.
Currently, the circles are being offered in Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer,
Burlington, Somerset and Sussex counties.
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*HOW YOU CAN HELP*
If you are or know of a licensed mental health professional who is African
American, Hispanic, or Vietnamese (or someone who has substantial experience
providing mental health services to culturally diverse populations) who
may be interested in serving on a KAT, please inform us immediately.
Also, please ask others whom you would recommend to contact us directly.
You can reach us by calling the 24-hour, toll-free Katrina Assistance
Hotline at 1-866-587-5908 or our corporate line at 301-495-7405 (ask
for Project Director Edna Davis-Brown, ext. 108), or by sending an email
to katrinahelp@westover.com .
Mental health professionals who are interested in joining a KAT should
carefully review information found on the project website at wcikatrinahelp.com,
including KAT eligibility criteria.
Here is a list of the types of mental health professionals that are
needed:
- Licensed drug and alcohol substance abuse counselors;
- Licensed social workers with child, family, and adolescent expertise;
- Registered nurses with geriatric and psychiatric expertise;
- Licensed psychiatrists;
- Licensed psychologists; and
- Pastoral counselors.
We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.
Yours truly,
Faye E. Coleman, Ph.D.
President and CEO
Westover Consultants, Inc.
8360 Fenton Street - Suite 724
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 495-7405, ext. 110
Fax: (301) 495-7174
Email: fcoleman@westover.com
Updates to the APCB website continue on a daily basis. The Calendar
Page allows new items to be added at any time, 24/7, and at your convience.
The same can be said of the Job(s) Posting page. (Soon, the Profile pages
will contain "resumes" of those seeking employment.)
We encourage idea and article submissions and we will continue to provide
information on a timely schedule, in order to fulfill our mission to
the consumers of the state of New Jersey.
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