Code of Conduct & Champion Award
Winners Announced
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The Justice Center held its seventh annual Code of Conduct and Champion Award ceremony in September. The awards honor individuals and organizations that have tirelessly worked to improve the lives of individuals under the Justice Center’s jurisdiction.
This year, six direct care workers received a Code of Conduct Award. This is given to staff members who embody the ethical standards outlined in the Code of Conduct for Custodians of People with Special Needs and who have displayed exemplary service in the face of an unprecedented workforce crisis. This years recipients include: Tammy Anderson, OPWDD; Zalil Bacchus, Ohel; Connie Erdmann, Creedmor Psychiatric Center; Faith Howell, Opengate, Inc.; Beverley Walker, Camelot Counseling; Shonda Williamson, Heritage Christian Services.
Justice Center Executive Director Denise M. Miranda joined Advisory Council Chair Bill Gettman in congratulating this year’s award recipients.
“The job of a direct care worker requires them to be at their best every single day so they can support those in care. I am honored to be able to highlight these dedicated individuals who have left a lasting impression on their colleagues, the individuals they support, and all of us at the Justice Center. The care provided in New York is second to none thanks to their commitment to ensuring everyone lives self-directed lives free from abuse and neglect,” said Miranda.
Executive Director Miranda also presented four individuals with the agency’s Champion Award. Nominees can include individual staff members, community members, people receiving services or organizations that support the mission of the Justice Center. This year’s winners include: Geneva Genovese (Surrogate Decision-Making Committee), Keith Peterson (New York City Administration for Children’s Services), Sonny Provetto (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker), and Shannon Stockwell (Mental Hygiene Legal Services).
In addition to the awards presentation, the Justice Center also released a video thanking direct care staff across the state for their dedication to individuals with special needs.
Congratulations to all the winners!
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From the Desk of the Executive Director
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As an oversight agency, it is fair to say that at the Justice Center, we face our share of critics. We are often caught between the disappointment of doing “too little” or the unrealized expectations of doing “too much”. A Senator once commented during our budget hearing “if everyone liked the Justice Center, they wouldn’t be doing their job.”
As an agency that was created less than 10 years ago, we are continuously evaluating our policies and procedures to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of New York’s most vulnerable. Recently I had the opportunity to read an opinion piece in the New York Times titled “Can You Punish………………………..” The article features profiles from young adults receiving mental health services in residential treatment centers across the United States. According to numerous lawsuits and investigative reports, these children are often abused – mentally, physically and sexually. Thankfully a movement of brave individuals, many of whom are survivors themselves are seeking to reform this industry known as “the troubled teen industry.”
As I read the harrowing accounts of these survivors, I was struck with the lack of oversight, accountability, and best practices. Children receiving treatment in residential care deserve dignity but more importantly, safety and security. Here at the Justice Center, we serve as an independent state agency charged with investigating all allegations of abuse and neglect committed by staff against vulnerable populations like these children. Our work is not easy; it can be fraught with challenges and obstacles. But every day this agency commits to ensuring accountability and justice for victims. Equally important are our multi-disciplinary prevention efforts which seek to stop abuse and neglect before it occurs. This article is a stark reminder of why the Justice Center’s work is not only meaningful but absolutely necessary.
-Denise Miranda, Esq.
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Did you know? The Justice Center recently launched a LinkedIn page! This platform allows the agency to communicate directly with stakeholders not just about job opportunities with the Justice Center, but also about new prevention materials, training opportunities, and the work of Executive team members. In addition, the agency's LinkedIn page will provide a behind the scenes look at some of the internal initiatives happening at the agency. Be sure to connect with the agency page to stay up to date on all Justice Center news!
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Executive Director Denise Miranda and Executive Deputy Director Laura Darman, along with other Justice Center staff members, met in August with Tim Tausendfreund, a researcher from the ZHAW School of Social Work in Switzerland, as well as Michael Nunno of Cornell University to discuss the agency’s role in investigating and preventing abuse in child welfare settings. Tausendfreund presented information on his research and Executive Director Miranda presented an overview of the Justice Center’s role as well as its prevention work. Conversations with the team about how the Justice Center can help in this research project will be ongoing.
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Several free training opportunities are open for registration! The Justice Center is offering Investigation Basics Training on November 8-10. The three sessions provide staff with the information and resources to complete delegated investigations into allegation of abuse and neglect for submission to the Justice Center for final determination.
Spots also remain open for the Code of Conduct Train the Trainer program on November 9. The training is designed to assist organizations in teaching the New York State Justice Center’s Code of Conduct. The objective of the curriculum is to ensure that staff who support people served under the jurisdiction of the New York State Justice Center (custodians) understand the Code of Conduct as a framework of professional conduct.
Finally, you can also register for a training on injuries of unknown origin on November 17. This training will provide insights and best practices for investigating cases involving injuries of unknown origin.
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Justice Center team members believe the commitment to community extends beyond official agency duties. Pictured here are backpacks staff members recently donated to kids in need. They're full of folders, pencils, crayons and more, all supplies that are helping students as they navigate this school year. Just one example of how Justice Center staff members support our communities in big and small ways!
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