RECIDIVISM REDUCTION UNIT
C L A X T O N V I R T U A L F A M I L Y D A Y
COUNSELING
V I R U A L S E R V I C E S U P D A T E
June has been a busy month for the Recidivism
Reduction Unit and counselors across the state!
Beginning July 1st, DCS counselors have assumed
responsibility for our Substance Abuse Aftercare
Services (SAAS) program. Virtual training was
implemented using Google classroom and Q&A
sessions were held to address questions involving
implementation. With the recent deployment of both
the DRC programs module and the field programs
module, and the continued use of virtual programming
due to COVID 19, everyone has worked really hard to
learn the new systems in order to provide continued
continuity of programming for DRC, ITF, and RSAT
graduates. It has been exciting to see the benefits of
leveraging technology to work more efficiently and
effectively during the past few months.
P O S T E R C O N T E S T
Mountain GFDRC counselor Eric Jacobsen reports
that one of his participants in MRT had a wonderful
way of earning his “helping others hours.” Due to the
pandemic, he chose a “virtual” project; he wrote 10
letters to residents of the nursing home by his house.
He was glad to help bring a little joy into the lives of
these individuals who were unable to see their loved
ones during the shelter-in-place.
Claxton Day Reporting Center had its
very first Virtual Family Day on May 12,
2020. The event was a success and
absolutely made our participants very
excited and proud. Participants shared
phones and other devices with family
members who made appearances on the
Google Meet. Each participant
introduced their guests who were present
to support them. Family members gave a
brief heartfelt greeting to the virtual
audience. Family members supporting
participants were, mothers, one father
who was over 80 years of age, a
teenager, a cousin, a sister and a
daughter who was a very chatty 2 year
old toddler dressed in pink and wearing
lovely barretts in her hair, became the
youngest.
Claxton DRC Chief Deniese Hodges
was present to support the event and
shared an inspirational prayer.
Participants held a short program for
their guest. One participant joined the
Google Meet early in order to greet the
participants and their family members as
they joined in on the Google Meet. The
same participant gave the formal
welcome to the guest on the program.
One participant read an inspirational
poem titled, “TRUTH”, which she
authored. The poem was inspired by her
struggles with addictions, and she was
given a huge virtual applause from the
audience. Finally, another participant
provided COVID-19, CDC update and
demonstrated safety precautions by
wearing her mask during the Google
Meet.
Overall, the Virtual Family Day was
definitely one for the books. This event
will kick off future Virtual Family Days
and Staffings for Claxton DRC.