While filling in for Clarksburg Director Kelly Davis, Charleston Director Jim Sands (left) conducted a tour of the newest Dismas facility for Ed Pierce (right) and Leah Willis (center), both Disabled Veter-an Outreach Program Specialists. Their organization provides assistance and em-ployment skills to veterans. Pierce will be working with the Clarksburg program while Willis helps […]
Archives for January 2016
Dismas Charities Orlando Holds Annual Fall Festival
2016-01-27
In mid-October, the Orlando facility conducted their annual Fall Festival for its residents and their families. Everyone was treated to live music and a cook-out style lunch featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, and desserts. A bounce house and cotton candy machine were also available and staff helped with face painting (inset) and arts and crafts […]
Dismas Charities Orlando & Macon Receive Perfect Scores On ACA Accreditation
2016-01-26
At the recent American Correctional Association (ACA) Standards and Accreditation Panel Hearings in New Orleans, the Orlando (FL) and Macon (GA) facilities of Dismas Charities recorded perfect scores in 33 mandatory and 202 non-mandatory categories. The accreditation program offers the opportunity to evaluate operations against national standards, to remedy deficiencies, and to upgrade the quality […]
Dismas Charities Charleston Clean-Up Efforts Praised
2016-01-25
As part of their community service commitment, residents from the Charleston facility recently removed a massive amount of debris from a blighted piece of property near their facility. The change in the lot’s appearance was so significant – three 27-foot-long dumpsters were filled over three days – that their efforts were recorded on the front […]
Diersen Charities Memphis Bids Adieu To Retiring Cook Hassell
2016-01-22
On October 28, the staff from the Memphis program said goodbye to retiring Cook Sarah Hassell. A six-year member of Team Memphis, Hassell was honored during the monthly Staff Meeting for her devotion and work ethic. Prior to Dismas, Hassell, 70, worked 35 years for Delta Medical Center. She wants to spend more time with […]
Diersen Unity Circle Applied On National Dismas Charities Level
2016-01-21
When the Diersen center implemented a Unity Circle to counteract verbal and mental abuse the clients had experienced, the staff had no idea the concept would be used by Dismas Charities on the national level. The Circle, according to Director Ronyal Horton, is designed to give the women under his care a “push up” or […]
Dismas Charities Turns Out In Force For Annual International Corrections Conference
2016-01-19
Over 70 Dismas Charities Management and Executive staff members, including Chairman of the Board Bill Ferko, attended the 51st Annual International Community Corrections Association (ICCA) Research Conference in mid-November in Boston. Dismas also used the opportunity for its Leadership Development and Best Practices Conference. The five day conference covered a wealth of topics including managing […]
Dismas Charities Sioux City STARS Effort Takes Aim At Change
2016-01-14
The Sioux City facility has begun their sixth Special Troopers Adaptive Riding School (STARS) session, designed to positively impact adults with both mental and physical abilities using equines as the vehicle for change. The most recent participating residents were hand picked based on their repeat infractions while at the Dismas facility and their struggle once […]
Dismas Charities Clarksburg’s First CRB Nets Opportunities For Residents
2016-01-11
During it’s first Community Relations Board meeting in early December, Kenneth Milnes (standing at left), State Director of the Office of Apprenticeship with the U.S. Department of Labor, discusses plans to work with the Clarksburg program in getting residents enrolled in trade apprenticeship programs. The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Federal Bureau […]
Diersen Residents Graduate From Unique Program
2016-01-08
In early December, 50 residents from the Louisville based Diersen program graduated from five different classes under the umbrella of My Chosen People, a non-profit which serves women on the streets and those incarcerated in institutions who have lost custody of their children or are pregnant and dealing with substance abuse. The classes offered were […]
