 Save The Date! October 21st - 22nd, 2025 OCC Conference - Empowering Change
Dates: October 21st - 22nd, 2025
Location: Delta Hotels Denver Thornton 10 E 120th Ave, Northglenn, CO 80233, USA
More information to come!
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Welcome to the team - Kyle Estrada |
By Cara Wagner
OCC's newest PACE team member Kyle Estrada. Kyle joined our office on Monday March 3, 2025. We are so excited to have him join our team, and can't wait for you to meet him. Here is a little bit about Kyle.
"Hi everyone, I’m Kyle Estrada! I’m a Colorado Native and I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Go Buffs! Prior to joining the OCC team, I spent the last seven years as a Probation Officer with Denver County Court. Outside of work, I love golfing, skiing, trying new restaurants, and hiking with my wife and dog, Peppa (aka Pepperoni, Ms. Pig, and Wittle Pep depending on the day). I’m a huge sports fan as well! Thank you all for your warm welcomes. I’m so excited to start working with everyone!"
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Congratulations, Shawna, on your new role!
By Chrystal Owin
I am very excited to re-introduce you to Shawna Nichols, who, as of April 1st, has transitioned from her OCC Program Auditor & Quality Assurance Specialist role of 8.5 years to our office’s new position of Quality Assurance Specialist & Project Coordinator! She will now be managing (and re-imagining) several processes within our office, such as corrective actions resulting from audits/evaluations, critical incidents and complaints, and board technical assistance and contract compliance support, to name a few. You will still get the joy of working with her, just in a slightly different capacity.
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Sharing Success Stories: JoyBelle Phelan |
By Paula Vargas
Strong partnerships make second chances possible.
We have a team dedicated to supporting community-based programs that help individuals transition from the justice system back into their communities. But these programs don’t work alone, they rely on collaboration with local organizations, service providers, and justice partners to create structured environments, provide employment support, and offer counseling and behavioral interventions.
Meet JoyBelle, a mentor, entrepreneur, and advocate. After completing her sentence and working toward reentry, she found purpose through community corrections programs supported by these critical partnerships. With the right structure and resources, she built a new path and now, she is helping others do the same.
Her story is proof that when we invest in partnerships that strengthen rehabilitation efforts, we invest in safer neighborhoods, stronger families, and a justice system built for lasting change.
Watch her story and learn more about how we are shaping reentry success in Colorado.
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Quality Assurance Audit Tools
Coming Soon
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By Mindy Miklos & Shawna Nichols
The OCC has been working on building quality assurance audit tools to assist Community Corrections Boards with auditing Standards that are not reviewed during a PACE or Core Security audit. While some Standards are not included in the PACE or Core Security audit, these Standards still play an important role.
The OCC will be scheduling two or three virtual sessions to introduce you to these audit tools. A doodle poll will be sent out to the Community Corrections Boards to get input on some best times to hold these virtual sessions and ensure most of the Type 3 boards can be in attendance. Type 1 and Type 2 boards may also attend these sessions if they are interested.
We believe you will find these audit tools user-friendly and give you the opportunity to look at Standards not currently being reviewed. We hope to see you soon!
Good News To Share: Hilltop House in Durango
By Wendy Bacchi
 Skijoring: A winter sport where a skier is pulled by an animal or vehicle while skiing over snow or ice. The skier holds a tow rope and balances on skis while the animal or vehicle pulls them.
This is such a “Colorado thing” and Leadville hosts a competition every year down main street. This year, one competitor shined brightly and took 1st, 2nd & 4th place for speed, earning him a generous pot of money. That competitor was Bruce and he is a non-residential client from Hilltop House in Durango. He has been participating in skijoring competitions for 25 years and came to serve time at Hilltop House from Durango. Now that he is on non-residential supervision, he was able to compete in this year’s Durango event as he has many times before. He is two-years sober and was an exceptional competitor this year. Click this link to see the news story featuring Bruce (he is in the pink shirt) and other participants in this year’s event.
Congratulations to Bruce for this awesome achievement.
Thanks to Sally Frey, Hilltop House Director, for sharing this story with our office.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
April 2025
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Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. This class will introduce participants to the basic principles and skills (OARS) of Motivational Interviewing with opportunities to practice.
This training will focus on community supervision strategies and build an understanding of the adult sexual offending population. Learners will become familiar with offender characteristics along with static and dynamic risk factors to inform case planning. Denial will be discussed as well as a general overview of sex offense-specific evaluations and treatment. We will delve into safety planning and roles of the team.
This training will teach participants the components of an effective behavioral intervention (BI) aimed at addressing problematic or risky client behaviors. Topics covered include identifying behavioral intervention opportunities, active listening, demonstrating partnership, identifying underlying criminogenic needs, and using the TEACH and STEER approach to turn mistakes into learning opportunities by increasing motivation or doing skill training with clients. *It is strongly encouraged that staff attending this training have completed the SOA-R training or have had training about the Risk - Need - Responsivity Principle, and have had training in active listening or Motivational Interviewing.
Skills obtained during our 2-day Motivational Interviewing (MI) 101 will be reinforced in this session. A Community of Practice (CoP) provides an opportunity for participants to practice key concepts and skills learned in prior training. CoP’s are facilitated by an Office of Community Corrections trainer and allow participants to build on shared knowledge and expertise in a fun and informal learning environment. All CoP’s will be virtual. Requirements: Prior attendance of formal classroom training in the CoP topic (MI 101).
Skills obtained during our 1-day Behavioral Interventions (B.I.) will be reinforced in this session. A Community of Practice (CoP) provides an opportunity for participants to practice key concepts and skills learned in prior training. CoP’s are facilitated by an Office of Community Corrections trainer and allow participants to build on shared knowledge and expertise in a fun and informal learning environment. All CoP’s will be virtual. Requirements: Prior attendance of formal classroom training in the CoP topic (B.I.).
For More Trainings, Please Visit: OCC Training Calendar
For Training Questions: Joe Maes (joe.maes@state.co.us)
For Technical Assistance & Security Code: Kellen Lemos (kellen.lemos@state.co.us)
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CIT Training around the corner! |
By Kellen Lemos & Tahnee Santambrogio
Registration for the CIT Training is now closed, and both April and May sessions have a waitlist. If your name was selected for the training, you will receive a confirmation email with details. If you have not received an email, it means you are on the waitlist. If a spot becomes available, we will contact you. Thank you for your interest.
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Correctional Treatment Fund (CTF) and SOS Funds |
By Wendy Bacchi
CTF and SOS funds can be used to help pay for treatment services for clients who meet the criteria for these funds. CTF and SOS funds cannot be used for treatment being provided through a specialized bed. For example, if there is a client in a specialized SXO bed, they cannot receive funds to pay for SXO treatment. They may be eligible to receive funds for mental health or substance use treatment if it is indicated by their assessments. Below is a quick guide for determining if your client is eligible to receive either CTF or SOS funds to assist with treatment costs.
CTF Fund Criteria:
- TXRW must be Level 3 or Higher
- Diversion & Transition Clients
- IRT and RDDT Clients cannot use this fund for their bed specific treatment
- Substance Use Treatment is allowed
- Mental Health Treatment is allowed
- DUI 4+ is allowed
- Can be used sparingly for Non-Res (although they should be learning to pay for their treatment themselves when they are out on non-res.)
SOS Fund Criteria (Specialized Offender Services (SOS) Funding Guidelines):
- Diversion Only
- SXO Clients in a specialized SXO bed cannot use this fund for offense specific treatment
- Must submit a request to OCC (Specialized Offender Service Funding Application-Fillable PDF Form)
- No Substance Use Treatment
- Mental Health Treatment Allowed as long as there is no Active Substance Use Treatment
- Domestic Violence Treatment Allowed
- Anger Management Treatment Allowed
- Cognitive Behavioral Groups Allowed on a limited basis
- Can be used sparingly for Non-Res (although they should be learning to pay for their treatment themselves when they are out on non-res.)
Please reach out to our office if you have any questions regarding these funds and your client’s eligibility to use them.
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