Date: Wednesdays,

July 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7

(5 sessions)

Time: 7:00 - 8:30 PM (CT) / 8:00 - 9:30 PM (ET)

 

Facilitators: Prof. Dr. Kutzen & Jay

 

Topics:

Session 1 : Psychological Challenges

Session 2 : Social Challenges

Session 3 : The Reality of Survival

Session 4 : Building Confidence and self esteem

Session 5 : Recap & Discussion

 

Course Objectives

 

Session 1 : Psychological Challenges

  •  What is PICS?

  •  Sensory and Environmental Triggers Post Incarceration.

  •  Anxiety and panic

Solution

  •  Coping strategies

 

Session 2 : Social Challenges

  • Social challenges isolation and ostracism and trust
  • Dealing with others judgment
  • Dealing with your own inner voices.
  • Rebuilding relationships

Solution

  • Role plays finding ways to communicate

 

Session 3 : The Reality of Survival

  • How to prepare yourself to face reentry challenges and obstacles? 
  • How to deal with the disappointment and finding resources and services.
  • Get a “Head start” and develop a and tool kit.

Solution

  • Build a survival tool kit – what do you need

 

Session 4 : Building Confidence and self esteem

  • Negative self-talk: Who are you?
  • Have you failed?
  • Can you repent?
  • Can you love yourself?
  • What’s your next step?

Solution:

  • Positive self-talk
  • Create a strategic plan

 

 

Session 5 : Mastering PICS Challenges  

  • To continue assessing personal emotional/feeling obstacle s to assertive communication.
  • To establish measurable realistic steps to confront reentry challenges. .

 

 

Prof. Dr. Kutzen is Founder and Director of Employee Consultation Services, a comprehensive human resources firm specializing in designing and managing occupational health services.
Her background and experience focus on guiding organizations in policy evaluation and developing practices related to corporate social responsibility, specifically their relationship between corporate activity and social issues. Additional services include implementing and managing workplace Employee Assistance Programs, trauma /critical incident debriefing, conducting programs in human resource development and family business consultation.

Dr. Kutzen is a cum laude graduate of the University of Chicago. School of Social Service Administration. She received her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams College of Social Work.

Nationally recognized as a pioneer in the delivery of social services in the workplace, she is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, the National Association of Social Workers and its Illinois Chapter.

She is Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams College of Social Work and the Dominican University, River Forest, IL Graduate School of Social Work.

Her academic and teaching interests are in the areas of addiction, crisis intervention and skill development for graduate student interns. Dr. Kutzen is also the Employee Assistance Program Area Clinician for the Chicago Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a contract position she has held for sixteen years.

 

Jay has an associate degree in social sciences and will graduate this year with his bachelors degree in psychology and sociology from Ohio University. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Jay has firsthand experience with incarceration at the county, state and federal Level and its effects on the individual.

His casework specialty is in issues regarding parole, probation and the SO registry. His expertise in these areas helps our clients as they navigate significant obstacles in employment, housing, and community reintegration following incarceration.