DVOMB Quarterly Minute
January 2022
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The Arrival of a New Year
At the time of this writing, it has been 648 days since March 20th, 2020 when COVID-19 spurred worldwide shutdowns and effectively changed life as we knew it. Indeed, 648 fun-filled days of confusion, calamity, and chaos of things we never imagined. In some ways, 2021 has been more challenging than that of 2020. Specifically, our field lost some truly amazing people this year whose lives were all cut too short. People like Mary Augustyn, Angie Bell, Anthony Antuna, Shawn Griffin and too many other people to list here (there was a moment of silence at the November Board meeting acknowledging everyone and we have a dedicated spot in the quarterly minute to remember those who have passed). Staff, Board members, and people in our communities experienced shock and grief as these individuals were important to our professional and personal lives. Yet, I still sit here optimistic because of the community that has emerged in the days since the start of the pandemic. People have rallied and stepped up to help each other as a community to support one-another during times of difficulty. Skip the work-sponsored wellness and mandatory fun events designed to promote a “healthy” culture. I want to know that when I am in my worst moment, there will be someone there to cover me (thanks Caroleena!). With the unfortunate passing of our colleagues, people stepped in to help without hesitation. This is a culture that I am proud to be affiliated with and one I hope carries beyond 2021. Stay safe, be proud, and let’s all take some time to remember what is important to us: our health and each other.
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January Board Meeting
The DVOMB is continuing to meet virtually and the next meeting falls on January 14, 2022. There will be 1.25 hours of training credit offered at the next Board meeting.
We hope to see you there!
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When – January 14, 2022
Time – 9:00AM – 12:30PM
Where – Online Only Via WebEx (Click here to Register)
Approved Board Minutes
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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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Policy Update
DVOMB Sunset Review
On October 15, 2021, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) published its report (click here) regarding the sunset of the DVOMB. The sunset process began nearly a year ago and involved DORA conducting a comprehensive analysis of the program. The review included a thorough dialogue with agency officials, representatives of the regulated profession and other stakeholders. The purpose of this review is to determine whether the currently prescribed regulation of the DVOMB should be continued and to evaluate the performance of the Department of Public Safety (CDPS). During this review, the DVOMB must demonstrate that the program serves the public interest. The functions of the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board (DVOMB), as enumerated in Article 11.8 of Title 16, Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.), shall terminate on September 1, 2022, unless continued by the General Assembly.
The report made three key recommendations:
- Continue the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board for 11 years, until 2033.
- Require the DVOMB to review five percent of treatment providers each year.
- Modernize the language related to criminal history record checks and fingerprinting.
As far as next steps, a sunset bill will be introduced in the next few months that will hopefully be run and signed into law granting the continuation of the DVOMB. Stay tuned for more information!
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DVOMB Provider Capacity Concerns
Thank you to everyone who responded to the Capacity Questionnaire. The results were very informative. Of those who responded, approximately 84% (n = 47) of Approved Providers have experienced increases in referrals since March of 2020. Only 38% of Approved Providers who responded indicated they had capacity to help other jurisdictions. The DVOMB is currently working on a number of efforts to understand and help. Some of these efforts include working with the State Court Administrator's Office on reopening the contract applications, allowing staff to approve Trainee applications if there are no administrative issues, and drafting changes to Section 9.0 that will be reviewed by the DVOMB at the start of the new year. There will be more opportunities to collaborate with the DVOMB on these efforts and others in the coming year. If you are interested in helping the DVOMB explore this work, please feel free to reach out to Jesse Hansen at jesse.hansen@state.co.us
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DVRNA Research Update
At the November Board meeting, staff from the Office of Research and Statistics (ORS) presented validations research on the DVRNA. This research focused on the reliability of the instrument and follow-on analyses will be done in 2022 that look at recidivism and other aspects of the DVRNA. The DVOMB would like to thank all of the Approved Providers supporting this research by submitting it through ReliaTrax. There is still a continuing need for more data, so thank you for continuing to send in your data, keep up the great work!
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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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In Memoriam of Shawn Griffin
Shawn Griffin practiced in Colorado since 1999 and had over 20 years of experience in the fields of mental health and substance abuse, including trauma therapy. He was one of the first Licensed Addiction Counselors in the State of Colorado, once that license became available. He provided counseling services for individuals, couples and groups and supervised and mentored therapists in training at Running Creek Counseling, which he and his wife, Sharon, owned.
Shawn was well known and respected among his colleagues in the field. As a DVOMB Clinical Supervisor, he played a crucial role in the development of many therapists currently practicing, even while he remained eager to learn and develop his professional skills. In discussions with his peers, he always brought both a gentle wit and helpful clarity. He was a Trauma Dynamics trainer and helped many providers to become skilled at treating trauma with a somatic experiencing model that helped in healing trauma. He had a great deal of compassion for offenders who had a trauma history.
As an agency owner, he was known for being thoughtful and collaborative, especially during the pandemic, when he reached out to his peers to ensure that his client and employees continued to receive his support and care. His peers enjoyed their regular meetings with him, where his love of his family and work, and his dedication to his clients and his craft shined through.
He was known by his clients as being direct, caring, compassionate, and "the real deal," for his ability and willingness to have difficult but compassionate conversations with the men and women in his groups. One of his group members said: "I never had a doubt that he really cared about us." He was known among some probation officers as “the DV whisperer” for his ability to engage and bring about change in even some of the toughest clients.
He will be remembered as one of our best, during trying times.
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Welcome, New Staff Researcher! |
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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