SOMB Quarterly Minute
January 2022
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On behalf of the Sex Offender Management Board, I wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! As I look back on this year I am aware that it has been tough. I commend each and every one of you for your continued work in this field. Navigating tele-work and then a return to some sense of normalcy and back again has been a struggle. It can no doubt feel thankless at times but if there is one thing I know for sure it is that our community, our clients and our world is a better place because you are in it and because you strive to do the work you do every day. Thank you for continuing to show up. This work matters. Looking forward to a less eventful 2022!
Kim Kline, MA, LPC, ACS
Chair, Sex Offender Management Board
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30th Anniversary of the Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB)
The Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) was created by the Colorado State Legislature in statute in 1992. Since that time, the SOMB has been a leader in the state in the development of Standards and Guidelines for adults who commit sexual offenses and juveniles who have committed sexual offenses. There have been a lot of changes in the Standards and Guidelines since their first publication in 1996 as the SOMB adheres to its statutory mandate to follow the research and evidence-base. The field has changed dramatically in 30 years as has the SOMB and its work. We will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the SOMB throughout 2022 so please keep an eye out for future events.
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WHERE: Online
WHEN: January 21, 2022
TIME: 9:00AM
Click here to review previous meeting minutes, agendas, and handouts.
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*Agenda to be Posted Soon*
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Save The Date!
The 2022 Domestic Violence Offender Management Board and
Sex Offender Management Board Annual Conference
"Working Together to Build Hope and Celebrate Resilience."
Date: July 12-15, 2022
Where: Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center
620 Village Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424
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We look forward to hosting our 2022 Domestic Violence and Sex Offender Management Annual Conference in Breckenridge, Colorado. Our conference typically draws a little over 500 attendees and we hope that you will consider presenting at our conference in 2022. The theme of the conference is Working Together to Build Hope and Celebrate Resilience. Given the unprecedented times the World has faced for nearly two years now, next year’s theme doesn’t need an explanation. We all faced constant challenges and ongoing tribulations, professionally and personally. Professionals had to quickly adapt, and adjust, yet continued to work with offenders. Together, we overcame obstacles and continued to create a safer community for all. We encourage you to consider this theme as you prepare your conference proposal.
Deadline: February 18, 2022
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Practice Corner
Addressing Issues of Minimization and Denial with Clients Who Have Sexually Offended
The Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) recently held a lunch and learn on addressing denial within the context of treatment for adults and juveniles who have committed sexual offenses. The lunch and learn reviewed the applicable sections of the Standards (Adult Section 3.500 and Juvenile Section 3.130) and featured discussion from SOMB members and approved providers Theresa Weiss and Taber Powers.
For adults, the denier intervention was reviewed including specific treatment strategies that can be used to help overcome denial and ready the adult for participation in sex offense specific treatment. For juveniles, addressing issues of minimization denial typically occur during the course of sex offense specific treatment, and strategies to assist the juvenile were discussed. In both circumstances, the importance of working with family members and support systems was stressed.
For more information related to how to address issues of minimization and denial, please review the lunch and learn, and talk to other providers about specific treatment strategies to employ. If you have specific questions about the Adult and Juvenile Standards, please contact Erin Austin via email and Raechel Alderete via email for specific questions.
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Research Corner
The SOMB is required by statute to remain evidence-based, and to ensure it is using current research within treatment and management. In this ever-changing field, research is always emerging that can inform the SOMB's Standards to improve practice and reduce the risk of recidivism
Over the past year, the SOMB has also made a commitment to ensure its policies, procedures, and Standards promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Since that time, multiple SOMB committees have reviewed research, had thoughtful discussions, and received formal presentations. The following work is representative of the SOMB's work on EDI to remain evidence-based:
- A presentation was provided to the SOMB on Dismantling Implicit Bias. This was followed by each Board member's participation in smaller breakout sessions to improve recognition of their own biases.
- The Victim Advocacy Committee has had thorough discussions about the label of “victim” and “survivor” and how culture, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation can impact an individual’s choice of how they refer to themselves. This Committee has continued its work on the Victim Resource Guide, adding language about the importance of advocates recognizing the term chosen by each individual.
- The Adults Standards Revisions Committee reviewed limitations of assessment instruments across diverse populations. Dr. Alex Rodrigues presented to the Committee about the importance of risk assessment instruments along with their limitations regarding certain populations.
- The Best Practices Committee also reviewed the presentation by Dr. Rodrigues and requested that the Standards reflect best practices for evaluations and treatment providers when assessing individuals who fall outside the ‘norm’ of individuals on which the assessments were validated.
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Welcome, New Staff Researcher!
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Rachael Collie, PhD
Staff Researcher & Statistical Analyst, DVSOMB
Dr. Rachael Collie has a background in clinical-correctional psychology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (Honors), Master of Arts (Distinction), and Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology at the University of Otago, Dunedin. She obtained her PhD in Psychology from Victoria University of Wellington. Rachael worked as a licensed clinical psychologist in New Zealand for over 15 years primarily as an employee or independent contractor with Psychological Services, Department of Corrections. Rachael worked as a Teaching Fellow in Psychology for Victoria University of Wellington for 8 years, teaching a range of correctional and clinical psychology subjects. Rachael has worked on a variety of research, policy, and program development projects, as well as published in the correctional psychology area. Rachael moved with her husband and children to the US in 2010 where she worked as a psychology lecturer in the Learning Innovation Center, University Minnesota Rochester. After a hiatus in Wyoming for several years, Rachael and her family now live in Denver and she is pleased to be back contributing and learning with the Colorado Department of Public Safety.
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Tackling Heteronormativity and Whitewashing in SO/DV Treatment Training
Sexual offense specific treatment and domestic violence are often heteronormative and are structured specifically for white cisgender heterosexual male clients. As a result, clients who do not have those identities tend to face difficult challenges and hardships in navigating therapeutic spaces. Holding Space for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations is about understanding intersectional identities that show up in the therapeutic space, building an awareness of power dynamics and our own identities as mental health providers, and developing cultural humility. The beginning of the training will cover the importance of language use, understanding terminology, as cultural and identity dynamics. There will be time to learn about the barriers that show up in therapy with this population and how to navigate those barriers as a therapist. Further along in the training, participants will have a chance to discuss case scenarios and how to tackle difficult conversations with co-workers, peers, and other team members relating to LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations. By the end of the session, participants will be able to have a foundation of what it means to hold space for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations in therapeutic settings.
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding terminology relating to LGBTQIA, whitewashing, and cultural dynamics
- Discuss and identify the barriers in sexual offense/domestic violence specific treatment for LGBTQIA and BIPOC populations
- Understand intersectional identities that show up in the therapeutic space and evaluations and the power dynamics in the therapeutic relationship that are present
- Learn ways to support yourself and peers when discussing social justice issues with others
- Develop a foundation to further learning and growth when working with these populations, how to continue growth outside of the training
- Develop understanding through discussing case scenarios and examples
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Trainer Bio:
Jacenta L. Irlanda (she/her) is a Puerto Rican and Polish (white European) cisgender woman who earned her MA from Naropa University in Transpersonal Art Therapy. She is currently working as a licensed professional counselor and practicing art therapist at Specialized Offender Services, LLC while also serving various populations in her private practice. Ms. Irlanda is the current President of the Colorado Art Therapy Association to support the art therapy community in Colorado. She has been working with male, female, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC adults who committed a sexual offense for five years. She continues to engage in various trainings to deepen personal understanding as well as learning new approaches to guiding healing processes in mental health practices for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: DVOMB approved providers, SOMB approved treatment providers, evaluations, polygraph examiners, and members of the CST/MDT teams.
TRAINER: Trainer: Jacenta Irlanda, MA, LPC, ATR
(she/her/hers)
WHEN: February 4, 2022
TIME: 8 30am-4pm
WHERE: Online
CEU: 7 Hours
COST: $10
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Plus more...
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We know you’ve been looking for VASOR-2/SOTIPS and J-SOAP Trainings. We are planning to host these trainings virtually at the beginning of 2022, however, we need you to sign up! In the coming weeks, we are planning to post registration for these risk assessment trainings online. Once you register and we receive a significant number of interested providers, we will work on details such as date and time. Keep in mind, these are engaging, hands-on trainings for SOMB approved treatment providers, evaluators, polygraph examiners, and supervision officers. Space is limited. Stay tuned!
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Have you seen all the online on-demand trainings we have listed on our website? Check it out here.
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We've hosted a variety of Lunch and Learns for our Treatment Providers. Have you missed them? As an approved provider you are able to request a recording and we'll be happy to provide it to you. Here are the topics we covered in 2020/2021: Standards Policy Booster, Variance Process, MDT/CST Dynamics, Section 4.0, Probation Terms & Conditions, Responding to Deceptive Polygraphs, and SOMB Purview.
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We have recently updated our Training Policy. Please take a minute to review it here.
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SOMB Committee Update
Juvenile Revisions Committee
The SOMB Juvenile Standards Revision Committee meets on the 1st Monday of the month. Dr. Carl Blake is the Chair of this committee with Raechel Alderete as the assigned staff member. Members of this committee include juvenile Treatment Providers and Evaluators, Probation, Human Services, Victim Representatives, School Personnel and Defense Counsel. This committee reconvened in August 2021 after a year hiatus and has been discussing HB21-1064, Sex Offender Registration related to juveniles and the Families First Act. Committee members reviewed changes to this law and the Families First Act and will be presenting proposed Standards revisions to the Board in the upcoming months, regarding sections 2.0, 3.0 and 9.0. This committee will also be discussing purview, appeal matters, cultural competency, contact with children, and victim representation. If interested in attending or receiving information about this committee, please contact raechel.alderete@state.co.us.
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Policy Update
SOMB Decision Making Process:
The majority of work presented to the SOMB is initially reviewed within Board Committees. The different SOMB Committees and their functions are outlined in the SOMB Bylaws.
At each month's meeting, an opportunity is presented for SOMB members and all attendees to offer future agenda items for the Board's review and action. These items are reviewed by the SOMB Executive Committee, and the item is then typically designated for referral to a Board Committee for further review. When an agenda is reviewed by an SOMB Committee, this will typically include a thorough discussion, review of research or literature, and input by and collaboration between all stakeholders. The Committee then moves forward a policy initiative either through consensus or formal Committee vote. If the process results in a recommended change to the Standards and Guidelines, policies and procedures, or the SOMB bylaws, those are presented and approved by the full Board.
Items are presented for review by and to the Board on at least three occasions. Here is the typical way this process is carried out:
1. Action Item: This is typically the first review by the Board. Board Members are asked to take the Standards or policy recommendation back to their stakeholders to discuss the change and its implications.
2. Decision Item: This is typically done at a subsequent SOMB meeting. The Board can discuss the issue, review the research, ask questions, and express concerns. Any member of the public can provide input and testimony at the SOMB meeting. Per SOMB bylaws, Robert's Rules direct the work of the SOMB during meetings. Following approval of any Standards revisions, the change is put out for a formal written public comment period so that stakeholders unable to attend the SOMB meeting have an opportunity to provide input.
3. Review of Public Comment and Ratification: The Board reviews public comment, and can make modifications to the previously approved language based on public comment. If no Board member offers a motion to modify, the language is considered ratified.
The SOMB welcomes any member of the public to participate in the Standards and policy development process at the Committee, Board, and/or Public Comment phase. The Board takes seriously its responsibility to provide an open and transparent process and hear all points of view for every decision it makes. Please feel free to reach out to the staff of the SOMB with any questions or concerns.
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