News - 2009
CEC Holiday Activities Link Staff and Residents with Family and Communities
West Caldwell, NJ, Dec 23, 2009 - Across the country this holiday season, residents and staff of Community Education Centers, Inc. programs participated in activities designed to celebrate the holiday season and also foster a deeper sense of community and family. From New Jersey to California, family services events and holiday celebrations brought out the holiday spirit of giving and community.
"For our residents, an act as simple as making a card can rebuild a bridge to a lost family member. Around the holiday it's important to enhance opportunities for our residents to connect with their families," said Dr. Lou Baretti, Director of CEC's Family Services Program.
The CEC Family Services Program is designed to integrate family services into the overall treatment program. The Family Services Program staff is committed to providing services to both the resident and his/her family and/or significant others in order to increase successful reintegration into the community and familial roles upon release. Additionally, CEC is committed to stopping the patters of criminal and addictive behavior that passes down from generation to generation.
Here are some highlights from CEC's Family Services Program and other facility holiday activities:
Tully House
Newark, New Jersey
Tully House in Newark, New Jersey is a work release center for New Jersey Department of Corrections residents. The facility's Family Services Program reunites residents (NJ DOC offenders) with their families through meetings and interactive activities. The Family Services program held its annual holiday celebration on Dec. 22. The Marine's donated gifts as part of their Toys for Tots drive and CEC staff gave the toys away to the children of Tully House residents. Staff also be provided each resident with a Christmas card and envelope to give to their family members during the Family Services Program or mail home. The event was the culmination of one Tully House's most successful Family Services years.
Hoffman Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hoffman Hall, CEC's 400-residential reentry center for the Philadelphia Prison System, held a family services event. Children decorated their own stockings and toys were purchased and wrapped and placed in a large Christmas stocking for a grab gift. Each child was also given their own coloring book full of holiday puzzles, games and coloring pages. Family members also participated in a pot luck dinner.
Delaney Hall
Newark, New Jersey
Delaney Hall, CEC's 1200-bed residential reentry center in Newark, New Jersey held a family services event for over 400 residents and families. Gifts were provided for children of Delaney Hall residents and mothers from a local church. Children colored and were entertained by a choir.
Community Alternatives of El Paso (CAE)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Community Alternatives of El Paso provides residential reentry treatment services for over 200 offenders referred from the Colorado Department of Corrections. On December 17, CAE Family Services Group got together for a night filled with holiday festivities and educational fun. Members enjoyed holiday cookies while participating in therapeutic activities. Families built graham cracker homes decorated with frosting and candy while exploring the needs of the family using a creative and simplified hands-on interpretation of the treatment tool Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Members wrote family needs that are based on each level of Maslow's pyramid and place it in their candy decorated homes. After each house was been built and families assessed their needs, there was a parade of the ornamented and edible holiday homes followed by group discussion and sharing about what "needs" were placed inside of each home.
Illinois Youth Center
Harrisburg, Illinois
The residents made their own ornaments to place on the Unit trees. The program also hosted a Christmas talent show and basketball and kick ball tournaments. The treatment youth decorated holiday bags for the entire institution.
CEC Corporate Office
West Caldwell, New Jersey
The CEC corporate office helped to fill a wish list for ex-offenders in the CEC Alumni Association program. Items such as clothing and gift cards were donated by CEC Corporate Staff. The office also celebrated the holidays with a potlock lunch.
Long Beach Community Correctional Reentry Center
Long Beach, California
The Long Beach Community Correctional Reentry Center provides residential reentry treatment services to over 100 residents referred from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. This year the residents decorated the facility for the holiday season. Residents also made cards for family members and a holiday dinner took place at the Emmanuel Church in Long Beach.
CEC In-Prison Treatment Program
Correctional Training Facility
Soledad, California
The in-prison treatment program at the California Training Facility (CTF) provides therapeutic community services for 250 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation offenders. The program held a holiday celebration and special family card making event.
Intensive Treatment Unit
Wyoming Women's Center
Lusk, Wyoming
The 32-bed in-prison treatment program at the Wyoming Women's Center provides gender-specific reentry treatment services to female offenders from the Wyoming Department of Corrections. The female residents of the Intensive Treatment Unit created a "Grateful Ornaments." The ornament indicated what they are grateful for and residents discussed the meaning in a special group. A talent show was also held.
Synergy Program
Oregon State Penitentiary
Salem, Oregon
The Synergy Program at the Oregon State Penitentiary held a "Children's Tape Project," where male program residents read stories to their children and sent them the tapes. A talent show was also held for the holiday season.
Wyoming State Prison Intensive Treatment Unit
Rawlins, Wyoming
The residents of the ITU have adopted a family through the Division of Family Services. Staff volunteered to do the shopping, residents did the wrapping, and the presents were delivered to the adopted family with great joy and holiday spirit.
Secure Facilities Division-Texas
The Secure Facilities Division hosted numerous holiday activities including a barbeque/potluck dinner at the Dickens County Correctional Center where employees supervisor and rookie of the year were honored, a joint holiday dinner between the Johnson County Correctional Facility staff and Johnson County staff was held, Parker County Jail, McLennan County Detention Center, and Falls County Detention Center celebrated with potluck dinners.
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