 | The Community Family Life Services team is delighted to present the September 2020 edition of Community Conversations. Because of you, CFLS provides women and their families with the tools to regain security and stability, self-sufficiency, and self-actualization. Our e-newsletter features CFLS client success stories, staff spotlights, event information, and new engagement opportunities. We hope you and yours are staying safe and healthy. - Ashley McSwain, Executive Director | | | | CFLS SEPTEMBER PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS | |  | The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has nudged us to generate innovative ways to continue serving our clients, their families, and the community at large. We are proud of the multitude of comprehensive programming that we have provided virtually and in person while practicing social distancing. | | | | | | Women's Wellness Retreat The CFLS Women’s Wellness Retreat is a critical component of our Early Intervention Services, where we target justice involved women through a continuum of women's reentry programming. A period of incarceration has a tremendous impact on one’s ability to effectively manage their health, so we offer education, testing, and linking to wellness and health care. Our goal is to reach as many as possible, teach all who will listen, test everyone in need, link to services that will guide, and keep clients connected to care. We are committed to client engagement to ensure adherence to treatment. | | | | | | | | CFLS believes in the power of a shared vision, building a sense of commitment in a group setting by developing images of the future we seek to create, and the principles and guiding practices by which we hope to get there. We are looking forward to a series of comprehensive sessions that will leave participants equipped to fully implement the knowledge gained. | | | | | | New Episode: One in Four Podcast Our Speakers Bureau member Beverly Smith has co-produced the 3rd episode in our One In Four Season II Podcast partnership. Give this a listen and spread the word! | | | | Members of our Speakers Bureau are supporting One in Four Podcast's mission of humanizing, educating, and elevating conversations about the reentry process of individuals coming out of the U.S. prison system. If you would like to donate to our work, you can submit a tax deductible donation. Your contribution will go toward fair compensation, production costs such as sound editing and subscription services, and post-production. Together, we can do more to support justice-involved women in the District of Columbia. | | | | | | Women-Centric Criminal
Justice Discussion: September 16 Event Recap Topic: Health Impacts on Incarcerated Women and Their Care Providers This month’s discussion welcomed Dr. Gaston and Dr. Porter and our Speakers Bureau member Diane Carter, who covered the emotional and physical health implications for formerly incarcerated women and those who work with them. Dr. Marilyn Gaston is one of the world’s foremost experts on sickle cell disease, the first African American woman to direct a U.S. Public Health Service bureau, and the second to serve as Assistant Surgeon General. Dr. Gayle Porter was the first African American psychologist on staff of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Child & Adolescent Child Psychiatry Department. Both are working to improve health outcomes for Black women by implementing programs that address their emotional and physical wellbeing. | | | | | | Paint with MPD:
September 18 Event Recap In partnership with Sharon Daugherty of MPD, CFLS hosted a “Paint with MPD” event in collaboration with ArtReach GW. We worked with Aselin Flowers, Director and Rebeca Carvajal, Art Therapist to create a space where participants could relax and have a fun and meaningful experience. | | | | | | | | Safer Sex and Testing Party: September 25 Event Recap We hosted our September event with many attendees participating in HIV/AIDS risk reduction and prevention education, safer sex demonstrations, giveaways, and games! CFLS is dedicated to not only eliminating the HIV/AIDS stigma and promoting prevention, but also sustaining the lives of individuals living with HIV/AIDS. To learn more, visit www.cflsdc.org/quickie. | | | | | | | | Upcoming Virtual Event You’re invited to join us for our fourth and final fishbowl conversation with a member of our Speakers Bureau, happening October 9, 2020, from 1:00-2:00 PM. These interviews are an opportunity to get an in-depth look at one woman's journey through surviving incarceration, domestic violence, and reentry. See you there! This month's spotlight is on Sandra Johnson, a fighter of cerebral palsy and a survivor of incarceration. | | | | | | | | FEATURED CFLS INITIATIVES | | | | | | The Starter Kit includes items such as funding for a laptop computer, tablet, or kindle, prepaid mobile telephone, transportation stipend, hygiene items, Personal Protective Equipment (mask, gloves, hand sanitizer, etc.), business attire, CFLS brochures and informational flyers, and the like. On average, there are approximately a total of 100 women housed at DOC and Fairview Halfway House. In conjunction with our partners, CFLS will ensure each Starter Kit is appropriately customized to address each woman’s specific needs. It is important to highlight that the Starter Kits will equip clients with the necessary technology to participate in ongoing virtual programming. With this investment, CFLS will be able to expand our service offerings virtually on a more permanent basis. The ultimate goal is to serve clients just as we would in person. We are excited about our new initiative to provide Starter Kits to women returning home from DOC. The Starter Kit program will be an invaluable complement to our existing reentry programming. To support this initiative, please visit cflsdc.org/donate. | | | | | | Financial Literacy Housing Program Through the CFLS Women's Domestic Violence & Reentry Housing Initiative, women who have been a victim of domestic violence, trauma, or justice involved will receive rental assistance for 12 months as they transition to permanent housing. As part of the program, you will have the support of a case manager, who will guide you through learning money management techniques. You will have the opportunity to save money, and account for spending, with the goal of being positioned to pay your full rent within 12 months. | | | | Criteria for Eligibility - DC resident
- Victims of domestic violence, trauma, or justice involved women
- Employed full time or demonstrated consistent income
- Clean and sober with demonstrated support
- Receiving a strong recommendation from one of our community partners
To schedule an appointment, please call Joanne Langevin at 202-849-2302. | | | | | | Parent Education & Home Visitor's Program Offers the following online parenting classes/curriculums by certified facilitators. For more information or to schedule a group or individual session contact:
Bridget P. Robinson, MA, CAPM, DVACT, Program Manager, Parent Education & Home Visitor's Program brobinson@cflsdc.org • Office Number: (202) 864-6302 • Google Number: (202) 594-9457 | | | | | | | | SPECIAL RECOGNITION Lutheran Services in America has been sharing inspiring stories of front line workers since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and we were honored to be included in the release of their Summer 2020 Front Line Heroes collection. They have graciously highlighted our organization’s courageous work in the community by presenting us with this Lutheran Services in America Front Line Heroes certificate. Thank you for supporting CFLS and helping us achieve this honor! | |  | | | | | BOARD MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT We'd like to take this opportunity to thank our esteemed Board Members for their generous contributions to our mission. CFLS continues to make progress because of the work they do! | | | |  | Mannone A Butler, Esq.
(Vice Chair)
Organization Affiliation: Criminal Justice Coordinating Council | | |  | Derek Ford
(Treasurer)
Organization Affiliation: Washington DC Economic Partnership | | |  | Jacquelyn Bengfort
(Secretary)
Organization Affiliation:
JACIB | | |  | Wolfgang Schaefer
(Member at Large)
Organization Affiliation:
Georgetown International | | | |  | Deema Tarazi
(Member at Large)
Organization Affiliation: March of Dimes | | |  | Ashley McSwain, LGSW, MSOD
(Executive Director)
Organization Affiliation: Community Family Life Services | | | Ronald Morgan (Chair)
Organization Affiliation:
RDM Associates Jim Hines
(Member at Large)
Organization Affiliation:
General Electric (Retired) Gary Randolph
(Member at Large)
Organization Affiliation:
Business Consultant | | | | | | | | | | READY TO GET INVOLVED? Together, we can do more to support justice-involved women in the District of Columbia. Whether you're interested in volunteering with us or making a donation, we'd love to connect with you. Please don't forget to follow us on social media at @cflsdc. | | | | | | Support CFLS with AmazonSmile Every time you shop through AmazonSmile, 0.5% of your eligible purchases will be donated to CFLS. Simply select CFLS to receive donations from your eligible purchases before you begin shopping. | | | | | | | |  | Become a Volunteer CFLS continues to thrive and grow - thanks to a vibrant and compassionate volunteer community. We invite you to consider this new opportunity to get involved with CFLS as a Virtual Clothing Closet Coordinator! In this role you will: - Organize donations
- Take photographs
- Post online
- Prepare orders
- Manage pick up
If you're interested in this volunteer opportunity, please call us at 202-347-0511. | | |  | Your Donation Matters We are honored that you believe in our mission of supporting women who are returning home following a period of incarceration. Your donation to CFLS helps us provide reentry services to justice-affected women and families, bring hope to survivors of domestic violence, and lift homeless residents toward permanent self-sufficiency. If you would like to make a contribution to our work, please submit your tax deductible donation via www.cflsdc.org/donate. | | | | | | | | | |  | Donation Deadline: November 17 If you wish to participate, you can donate: - $25 gift card for a turkey
- 2 boxes of mashed potatoes
- 2 packets of gravy mix
- 1 turkey tin
- 1 packet of bread rolls
- 1 lb. of green beans
- 2 cans of cranberry sauce
- 2 sticks of butter (1/2 lb.)
- 1 LG or 2 SM packages of stuffing mix
- 1 pumpkin pie mix
- 1 Pie crust
Baskets can be delivered to CFLS (305 E Street, NW). For more information, contact Alexma Alvarado at Aalvarado@cflsdc.org or (202) 864-6295. | | |  | Donation Deadline: December 11 Help brighten this holiday season for all of our families at Community Family Life Services! If you wish to donate, you can choose to: -
Adopt-a-family and gifts will be mailed to us and distributed to our families -
Donate a $50 Visa gift card -
Buy a gift through the registry provided and mail directly to CFLS For more information, contact Alexma Alvarado at Aalvarado@cflsdc.org or (202) 864-6295. | | | | | | Thank you for your continued support, it makes a tremendous difference in the lives of women, children, and families. Thank you for being a part of the CFLS family and for taking the time to read our e-newsletter. Stay tuned for our next issue. | | | |  | | | | | Community Family Life Services
305 E Street NW | Washington, District of Columbia 20001
202-347-0511 | development@cflsdc.org | | | | | | | | | |
