CSSD Program and Staff Development Services

Program and Staff Development

Community Service Labor Program
The CSLP works with pre trial and sentenced individuals placing them in community service jobs that afford them a chance to “give back” and learn new skills. These projects have demonstrated to Connecticut's communities that offenders can be involved in community activities and produce positive results on a consistent basis.

Community service work can include maintenance of state parks, campgrounds and beaches, graffiti removal and removal of debris at illegal dumping sites, etc. CSLP volunteers are also well known throughout the state for their volunteer work on behalf of many well known foundations and charities, including the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association and The CT Special Olympics.

The Court Support Services Division’s (CSSD) Training Academy
The CSSD Training Academy was founded in 1999 and charged with providing professional training and development to all of the staff within the agency to expand the skills, knowledge and expertise that are required to achieve excellent and professional performance.

Since its’ inception, the Training Academy has grown in full time staff, who are representative of the major business functions within CSSD (Juvenile Probation, Juvenile Residential Services, Adult Services, Family Services). Assistant Director of Program and Staff Development James Greene has responsibility for the Training Academy, which is managed by Chief Probation Officer II Laura DiFelice.

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The Academy provides a range of coordinated training. There are three levels of training:

pre-service which is required for new hires and is comprised of a mix of instructor lead training coupled with on-the-job training that is intensive, sequential, and comprehensive,
in-service training which is mandatory for all veteran staff and CSSD policy prescribes the number of training hours that each staff member receives, and
leadership management training which is required for all personnel promoted to supervisory or managerial positions.

Each of the business units disciplines maintains a training advisory committee comprised of line and managerial staff, and representatives of CSSD’s Best Practices Unit, which researches evidence based practices for the agency and its’ network of providers. The training advisory committees assist in planning, oversight, and evaluation of training to ensure that curriculum is developed based on what research indicates is most effective and meets the needs of the staff.

Instructors are selected both from within CSSD and also outside. Adjunct trainers are recruited from the field because they best understand the problems and challenges of the job. In addition, the CSSD Training Academy contracts with, supervises and oversees content experts/consultants who train both staff from private non-profit agencies which service CSSD clients as well as supplement required training for CSSD staff.

CSSD training activities and efforts in Adult Probation were validated by accreditation from the American Correctional Association (ACA) in 2006 ensuring that CSSD met or exceeded all training related standards for Adult Probation staff. In April of 2009, Adult Probation achieved re-accreditation from ACA who commended the Training Academy for it’s progress in staff development.

For further information on Program and Staff Development
please contact Assistant Director of Program & Staff Development
James Greene at Deborah.Boutin@jud.ct.gov

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