Jordan’s Success Story 2

Access to Recovery Program Update 3

Budget Update 3

DV GPS & Scram Pilot 4

Considering the budget cuts of recent

years, the ongoing debate about PERS,

and the negative rhetoric regarding

public institutions from the recent

election, it is easy to feel undervalued

as a public employee. But in spite of it

all, I continue to feel an undiminished

pride in working as a professional in the

public sector and in the contributions

we make to our community.

Each day we ask difficult but humane

questions: How can I help someone

beat a drug addiction? Where can I

find safe housing or food and clothes

for a homeless person? How can I

help someone get back to work? How

can I keep a crime victim safe from

her perpetrator? These are important

questions and the professional and

informed way we respond impacts our

community in countless ways. There

are always challenges, but when we

keep the hope of changed lives as our

focus, it makes it all worthwhile.

As public employees we have the

responsibility and the reward of using

our skills and resources to enhance the

quality of life in our county. While most

citizens are only vaguely aware of what

we do and its impact, the benefits are

obvious to the individuals and families

that we help. Our county’s declining

recidivism rate also speaks to the good

work we do.

Can we do better? Of course, and

that should always be part of our

mindset. As ethical public managers

and employees we need to listen to

our critics closely and respectfully and

concentrate on fiscal accountability

and outstanding performance. We

must, however, never dismiss the fact

that what we do as public employees

is essential to the functioning of our

community and the welfare of our

citizenry.

It was 30 years ago this month I

began working for Washington

County; over 17 of those years have

been in Community Corrections. I

am frequently reminded of why it is a

privilege to work for this county, this

department, and with all of you. Thank

you for all you do, and never lose sight

of the difference we make.

Making a Difference Every Day

Winter 2013

Brooke Certified as LS/CMI Trainer

Earlier this

month Brooke Vice became

one of 20 PPO’s

statewide

certified as

an LS/CMI

Trainer. She was selected for the

program following a review of her

recorded assessment tapes and

our department’s commitment to

the statewide training and quality

assurance program. Brooke was

recently invited to participate in

a review of our department’s LS/

CMI and Case Planning progress.

In the coming months, supervisors

will be working with Brooke and

the department’s EBP committee

to develop training focused on

LS/CMI inter-rater reliability and

the development of case plans

targeting offenders’ highest

criminogenic risk factors. Brooke

welcomes the opportunity to share

her LS/CMI experience within the

department and regionally. In

February she will co-facilitate her

first training with staff in Multnomah

County. Congratulations Brooke!

Jordan’s StorySince my supervision began in 2007, I’ve had 3 probation officers, graduated

from the 90 day treatment dorm, and graduated from Drug Court. Previous

to supervision, I had developed an unmanageable drug addiction. I didn’t

fully understand the impact the bad choices I was making had on my life or

would have on my future if I continued down this path.

I listened to my P.O. and wanted to complete probation successfully.

However, my desire to use drugs was stronger. I violated a few times then

was revoked. I was sentenced to 6 months in jail. I didn’t think it was a big

deal. My drug use zapped my motivation and zest for life. However, my

experience with jail staff was encouraging and I found unlikely mentors in the

deputies. I was released and wanted something different. Willpower and the

white knuckle method wasn’t enough.

After more bad choices I found myself back in jail and being screened for

the 90 day treatment dorm at the Community Corrections Center. I found

great support in the Center and I’m still close to people there. I completed

this program with confidence and knowledge about my drug addiction. I

remained drug free and held down a job for 5 months until old habits set in,

and I wound up back at square one.

I messed up big this time and was looking at going to prison! Although

this scared me to death, I accepted this consequence. I was then screened

and accepted into Drug Court. This intensive outpatient program was

challenging and really tested my resolve. I grew up in this program and

learned the value of support in recovery. I graduated Drug Court in February

of 2012.

In February I will have been off probation for a year. I have also been

drug free and working a program of recovery for over two years. I am the

Vice President of the Drug Court Alumni Committee, and I volunteer with

the Juvenile department as an outreach speaker. I’m so proud of what

I’ve accomplished with the help and guidance from all the people that

Washington County put in my life. But better yet, my family is proud of me. I

am forever grateful for Washington County Probation and Parole. I wouldn’t

be half the man I am today without their involvement in my life.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.“ ” Stephen R. Covey

New EmployeesHeather Brown

joined our

team in the

Probation Office

in December as

an Administrative

Specialist II. She

will be working with the MIS team

doing various data entry duties.

Heather graduated in March

with her AAS in Accounting and

recently finished an internship

with Micropower. Heather enjoys

spending time with her husband

and three children camping,

fishing and playing games.

Please welcome

a familiar face

within the

department as

the newest PO

II joining the

Sex Offender

Team. Tim DeMumbrum started

with the department in 2000

at the Community Corrections

Center and worked in most

classifications at the CCC

including Supervisor I, his most

recent position. Although Tim

started his new assignment

January 7, 2013, he quickly left

for a “vacation” from the office.

His destination you ask—Salem

and the DPSST Academy to

attend the four week Basic

Probation and Parole class.

Graduation is scheduled for

February 8th at 11 a.m.

Congratulations Tim

and WELCOME!

Access to Recovery Program UpdateOregon Access to Recovery is

designed to increase an individual’s

access to services and create a

recovery oriented system of care

comprised of clinical, community-

based and faith-based services.

Funding follows the individual through

an electronic voucher management

system. Clients must have a history of

substance abuse or addiction.

Oregon prioritizes the following individuals:

•Veterans,particularlyreturningsoldiersfromAfghanistanandIraq.

•Parentsinvolvedinthechildwelfaresystemwhohaveaccessed

treatment through ITRS.

•Individualstransitioningtocommunitiesfromcorrectionalinstitutions

who have addiction disorders and have either accessed treatment during

incarceration or who need both clinical treatment and recovery support

services.

ATR is a voluntary program and participants can choose from a variety of

support services within specific guidelines and limits. Unfortunately, due to

limiting spending per client we no longer offer full treatment vouchers but

can help on a case-by-case basis with assessments and partial treatment

options to facilitate the treatment process. Typical services accessed are:

transitional clean and sober housing, transportation (Tri-met or gas cards),

and items related to work or education.

To refer a client that qualifies: staff or the client may call the Probation

reception desk (4300) to set up an appointment. You may also directly call

Tracey (3498) or Dorothy (3459), or e-mail both at tracey_nussbaumer@

co.washington.or.us and dorothy_torelli@co.washington.or.us.

ATR is a one time use only program for each individual referred. Typically,

clients can look forward to a 90 - 120 day service period to utilize services.

Budget UpdateThe Governor proposed his 2013-14

budget at the end of November and

we now wait to see what changes

the legislature makes. The good

news is that he did not propose

any reductions to Community

Corrections like those we saw the

past two biennia. In fact, he offered

a modest increase that should allow

us to keep pace with increasing

costs. Our state grant is our largest

funding source, accounting for

about 37% of our revenue.

There is a potential new source of

revenue in the budget that we are

waiting to learn more about. The

Governor included $35 million in

“incentive” funding for counties to

keep offenders out of prison. The

Governor is looking for ways to

keep the prison population from

expanding to avoid the cost of

opening new prisons. To access

this funding counties could, for

example, expand Local Control

up to 15 months or agree not to

send certain low level property

or drug offenders to prison. Any

decisions to apply for this funding

will be made jointly with all our local

criminal justice partners.

It is important to remember that

the Governor’s budget is a starting

place and will be hotly debated

over the next few months. I will be

engaged in the legislative process

through the County’s administrative

office and the statewide directors

association and will provide updates

as things become more defined.

The final budget may look quite

different.

Hear the meaning within the word.“ ” William Shakespeare

DV GPS & Scram PilotIn the spirit of starting the New Year with new opportunities, the DV Team

started a GPS tracking & Scram (continuous alcohol monitoring - CAM) Pilot

Project this month. GPS Monitoring, and CAM technology have become

standard alternatives in community corrections and we are excited to add

these services as a sanction option.

During a review of our department’s sanctioning history, and available

custody alternatives, we recognized GPS Monitoring and CAM could fill a

void within our local sanctioning continuum. Although Washington County is

fortunate to have jail, work release, and community service options available,

there are times when an alternative sanction may be appropriate. Consistent

with the guiding principle “least restrictive sanction necessary to achieve

the desired behavior change”, GPS Monitoring and CAM provide increased

accountability and structure while the offender maintains the ability to work

and attend treatment services.

Community Corrections will partner with Vigilnet Community

Monitoring, a provider of the 3M™ One-Piece GPS

Tracking System and exclusive provider of SCRAMx for

this region. Vigilnet is experienced with the needs of

community corrections as a local provider under

contract with Multnomah County Community Justice.

Reports from Multnomah County note Vigilnet provides great customer

service with a proven performance record.

For more information about Vigilnet Community Monitoring you can access

their web site from the following link: http://vigilnet.scramprovider.com/index

January 10, 2013 the DV Team participated in training with Vigilnet and is

waiting for the first program participant.

Stepping up for this new opportunity, Bernadine Evenson will be the primary

Electronic Monitoring (EM) staff providing program monitoring and offender

enrollment. In general, the PO/Court will impose the sanction and refer the

offender to Bernadine. Bernadine will enter the sanction detail into Vigilnet’s

web based program and monitor compliance. Program compliance and

violation issues will be reported to the supervising PO for action.

More to come as the program develops!

New EmployeesNatalie Harper

started as a

Residential

Counselor on

January 14th.

She is assigned

to a general

population caseload but will also

be facilitating some groups in

the treatment dorms. She brings

with her a Master’s Degree in

Counseling Psychology and

a CADC. She has experience

at LifeWorks NW as a Service

Coordinator II working with the

severe and persistent mentally ill.

Many of you probably remember

Natalie when she worked with us

over a year ago as the women’s

aftercare counselor. She married

and moved out of the country for

a year with her husband who was

working in Italy. We are glad she

is back and welcome her to a full-

time position!

Meridith Valterria will start as

a Residential Counselor on

Monday, February 4th. She

comes to us with experience in

both residential and community

settings. She has worked with a

range of clients, including those

with substance abuse, mental

illness, and developmental

disabilities. She will be assigned

to the men’s treatment dorm.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.“ ” Aristotle