Last Week's Meeting
In keeping with May’s theme of re-entry, Dave Stillwagon, CEO of Community Corrections Association (CCA) and past YoRo president, explained what CCA does for the individuals they serve and how what they do impacts our community. CCA was founded in 1974 as a private, non-profit 501C3 organization primarily for mental health services. The mission grew over the years, and now CCA assists people leaving the criminal justice system in becoming productive members of the community.
Dave started his career at CCA in 2011 as a case worker, and became CEO in 2013. CCA has a 10-member board of directors and 122 employees. The CCA campus consists of seven facilities, all located within a three block region on Market Street in Youngstown. The buildings have been completely renovated, reducing blight along a major corridor leading into downtown Youngstown. There is the Administrative Office, Graphics Department, Day Reporting Center, Community-Based Correctional Facility, Female Halfway House, State Halfway House, and Federal Halfway House. Several vacant lots have also been landscaped to bring beauty to this section of Market.
CCA offers a multitude of programs, from chemical dependency and relapse prevention to parenting and adult basic education, which help those convicted of crime get a second chance at leading productive lives. Programs include chemical dependency recovery, relapse prevention, anger management, domestic violence, parenting, sex offender education, vocational planning, job readiness and retention, community service, family reunification, and moving on, among others. Residents also perform community service, allowing them to take pride in making a difference while benefitting the community.
CCA is a licensed halfway house, and a licensed as a residential re-entry facility by the Bureau of Federal Prisons. CCA is also a state halfway house. CCA conducts post-release controlled supervision, day reporting, and treatment control for level 4 felony offenders.
CCA’s success is rooted in the dedication of its staff to its mission. While the Ohio recidivism rate in halfway houses is 33%, at CCA it’s 22%. Overall, 85% of those in CCA complete its residential programs. CCA advocates for its graduates in the job market, and explains the federal incentives to hire a formerly incarcerated individual.
CCA is a member of the American Correctional Association, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services – Residential & Outpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment certified, Prison Rape Elimination Act, licensed by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, and Federal Bureau of Prisons.