Our Projects

Healing Trauma: A Brief Intervention for Women (Covington & Russo, 2016)

Healing Trauma: A Brief Intervention for Women is a 6-session trauma curriculum that is designed for women who have been abused or have experienced trauma. Based upon the positive finding from the women's peer-facilitated pilot studies, the program was added to the Security Housing Unit (SHU) for Women. SHU populations are typically considered non-programmable populations due to high risk of violence.

The Healing Trauma program was added as a Peer Led Model at the California Institution for Women with high need offenders and at the Central California Women's Facility in the Reception Center (funding from the CDCR).  All projects include an evaluation component contracted to EJS, assessing the pre/post changes of participants including reductions in PTSD symptomology; increased empathy and resiliency; and an increased knowledge about the lifelong impact of trauma (see Research page; Breaking the Silence and Healing Trauma for Incarcerated Women: Peer-Facilitated Delivery of a Brief Intervention).

Findings from over 1,113 Healing Trauma participants have shown improvement in 90% of the psychological, anger, and aggression measures (see Research page; Efficacy of a Trauma Intervention for Women in SHU). 

beyond violence for women (Covington, 2013)

Beyond Violence: A Prevention Program for Criminal Justice-Involved Women is designed to be used in prisons, jails and community-based programs to create a trauma-informed therapeutic environment containing the following core elements: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment.   

The Beyond Violence program is implemented at the California Institution for Women and at the Central California Women's Facility (funding from CDCR). A randomized controlled trial was funded by the Office of Violence Against Women.

The findings from the peer-facilitated model of program delivery have shown that participation in the program is associated with:

• Decreased Depression, PTSD, Current Traumatic Distress, and Anxiety

• Reductions in hostility, physical and verbal aggression, and anger

Exploring Trauma: Brief Intervention for Men (Covington & Rodriquez, 2016)

Exploring Trauma (a.k.a. Moving Beyond Violence & Building Resilience) was added to Level III and IV Yards at Corcoran State Prison, two Level IV Yards at Kern Valley Prison, a Level II Yard at the California Institution for Men, and a Level II Yard at Avenal State Prison (while still operating within the SHU at Pelican Bay and Corcoran).  

The program is a 6-session present-focused intervention that is psychoeducational and emphasizes skill-building. This is a new, innovative program for men who have experienced abuse and been abusive toward others.

To date, pre- and post-program data have been collected and analyzed from over 950 men. Collectively the findings provide strong support for the trauma-specific program using a peer-facilitated or program staff-facilitated model of delivery, and for all levels of risk classification (see Research page; Evaluation of a Violence and Trauma Prevention Program in SHU).

• Improvements in mental health included significant reductions in PTSD and Current Traumatic Distress

  All measures of Aggression showed significant improvements

• Overall mental health functioning significantly improved

• Significant reductions in anger and aggression

Results from the Randomized Controlled Trial confirm the findings of the pilot studies (paper in progress). 

The inclusion of Exploring Trauma within the male SHUs was the first time group programming took place in the SHU.  Results showed positive change for 100% of the measured outcomes!

Gender-Responsive Policy & Practice Assessment (Bloom, Covington, Messina, Selvaggi, & Owen, 2013)

The Gender-Responsive Policy & Practice Assessment (GRPPA) is a process designed to guide assessment of research-based, gender-responsive policies and practices in jails, prisons, and community corrections programs for women. 

The GRPPA is intended for agencies to conduct an internal analysis of what they have in place and whether it is gender-responsive, to identify gaps and to begin to develop strategies to meet their objectives in improving management of justice involved women.

We offer training, facilitation, and all related materials for the GRPPA. Additional information can be found on the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) website.

gender responsive community reentry protocol

The GEO Group, Inc., strives to offer evidence-based, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed policies, protocols, and programs that meet the unique needs of female offenders under their care. As such, EJS created a Gender Responsive Community Re-entry Protocol for the McFarland Female Community Reentry Facility outlining step-by-step instructions for appropriate staff training, client assessment, case management, community follow-up, and program quality assurance (fidelity and evaluation) with regard to women reentering the community from prison.