Special Events

WCA Hosted Reentry Meeting in Spokane  
 

By Karin LaRue Johnson
WCA East Region Co-Chair

The Washington Corrections Association recently hosted a Reentry Meeting designed for corrections staff at every level.  The title theme of the meeting was How Do We Get There Together – A Focus on Reentry.

110 Department of Corrections staff from the Northeast Region came to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture on July 30, 2008, to discuss reentry initiatives that cross state agencies.  Staff were given an opportunity to hear from our state agency partners represented on the National Governors Association-Washington State Reentry Partnership Panel.  Although five agencies are represented on the panel, in attendance were, Alfie Alvarado-Ramos, Department of Veterans Affairs, Molly Onkka, Community Trade and Economic Development, and James Walker, Employment Security Department.       

The meeting provided staff information on how to access services each of the represented agencies provide to offenders in support of successful reentry. Mary Leftridge Byrd was the key-note speaker, reminding staff that we are all responsible for reentry.  “Who’s responsible for reentry?”  She asked.   We all are, was the reply from the audience.”  It was very evident that Mary is very excited about the states reentry efforts.  Many staff mentioned that the information provided was new to them, especially the benefits that are offered to offenders who are veterans and their families. 

The meeting went so well, that DOC hosted a similar meeting in Walla Walla, WA on August 1, 2008, just a few days later.  DOC plans to host several more Reentry Meetings across the State.

WCA partnered with the DOC Offender Programs Team, which includes Reentry Program Manager Clara ‘Candy’ Curl, and Assistant Secretary for Offender Programs Mary Leftridge Byrd who helped coordinate with the agency partnership.  

Thank you to Rich LaRosa, WCA President, Bill Brown, WCA Financial Director, and the rest of the WCA Board for their support.   A special thanks to CCS Voncille Molett for her help with the meeting.