RECENT NEWS

Save the Date - French Toast Feed 2012

CCJ will once again be hosting a french toast feed fundraising event. We hope to see you there!

When: April 10th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Where: First Baptist Church, 200 Lynn Ave., Ames (click for directions)
Cost: $5 per person, children under 5 eat free!

Check Us Out on Facebook

You may have recently noticed a small facebook icon in the upper-right corner of our website. That's right, CCJ has launched a Facebook page. We plan to post agency updates, what's happening in the community, and notifications and pictures of agency events and fundraisers. In the future we may post other relevant information regarding the community and events for partner agencies.

To check out our new Facebook page, you can click on the facebook icon in the top-right corner of this website or you can click on the Facebook icon to the right and don't forget to "Like" us to stay on top of all CCJ news.

CCJ Supporting Community Programs

CCJ relies on community contributions and is grateful to all those that help us make the community stronger. One of the ways we help the community is to give back. We make it a priority to help those in need through various community programs:

Shop With a Cop

Shop With a Cop is a charity that pairs Officers from the City of Ames Police Department, ISU Parking Division, Nevada Police Department, and the Huxley Police Department with youth from around the community. CCJ staff will once again this year donate their time to assist the Shop With a Cop program by meeting with some of the youth and helping to wrap gifts after the officers and youth return from shopping.

For more information on Shop With a Cop, please visit the website: Shop With a Cop.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is a not-for-profit public charity created by the U.S. Marine Corps. Each year the U.S. Marine Corps collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December and help distribute those gifts to children in need. We strive to identify families of those clients in need during this time of year and assist them in registering for Toys for Tots.

For more information on Toys for Tots, please visit the website: Toys for Tots.

Angel Tree

Angel Tree, from the Salvation Army, is a way to provide items to a family in need. Each year, a family or group in need may be "adopted" and receive dontaed goods such as winter coats, gloves, boots, and other needs a family may have. This year, CCJ has once again "adopted" a family and pitched in to donate these much needed items.

For more information on Angel Tree, please visit the website: Angel Tree.

Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc. (MICA)

MICA ia a non-profit organization that serves disadvantages individuals and families. They provide assistance in many vital areas such as: Early Education programs, Women Infants and Children (WIC), Maternal and Child Health, energy assistance, and residence assistance, to name a few. During this time of the year, MICA is also able to provide a small number of food baskets to help those that need it the most. Whenever CCJ identifies a client that may qualify for such assistance, we make it a priority to inform them of such programs and refer them to MICA so that they may apply for assistance.

For more information on MICA, please visit the website: Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc..

To view their resource guide, you may click the following link: Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc.

The Annual APPA Conference

Christy Boyer and Deb Claire recently attended the American Probation and Parole Association's [APPA] traingin conference in Chicago, Illinois. The APPA is an international association actively involved in probation, parole, and community corrections. Areas of trainging included:

The Supervision of OWI Offenders:

Case Plans - Action steps that are attainable for the defendant.
Incentives - Clients who complete programs or make their probation appointments may be eligible for rewards.
Home Visits - Complete more home home visits on high-risk clients.

Identifying Strengths in Challenging Clients:

Focusing on client strengths will yield more success.
Seek to understand the clients' styles and understand your own strengths and weaknesses.

From Probation Officer to Community Safety Officer:

Probation Officers should be out in the community where the clients are everyday.
Visit service providers that clients are involved with.
Get a signed release to speak with providers and family to see how the client is doing.

When the Offender is the Victim - Supervising those Victimized by Domestic Violence:

Statistics show an interesting number of women who are being placed on probation and have experienced intimate partner abuse.
Address the needs of the victims while still holding them accountable for their crimes. Become familiar with victim services in your area.

"I feel very fortunate that the Center for Creative Justice makes it a priority for staff to attend National Conferences such as the APPA. When you attend these conferences, it renews your energy and passion to continue this work. It is exciting to bring back new ideas you have learned from other agencies."

-Christy Boyer

United Way Golf Fore the Kids 2011

Once again this year, the Center for Creative Justice participated in Golf Fore Kids. Golf Fore Kids is an event sponsored by United Way of Story County and helps to benefit local children's charities through donations, sponsors, and an auction at the end of the event.