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Academy Gets Seat at the NCCHC Table
Since the Academy of Correctional Health Professionals was formed in
2000, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care has been a
staunch supporter of the organization and its mission. In a position now
to reciprocate, the Academy has become a supporting organization of the
National Commission. NCCHC's board of directors approved the move at its
annual meeting in October.
"This decision reflects the prestige and expertise of Academy
members, as well as the organization's commitment to advancing the
profession by becoming an advocate on the board," says NCCHC board
chairman George Pramstaller, DO, CCHP.
It has always been an Academy goal to become a supporting
organization, joining the ranks of the American Medical Association,
American Nurses Association and American Public Health Association, to
name a few. But the Academy had to bide its time for five years before
it became eligible for supporting organization status. Once it reached
that benchmark, the Academy board unanimously and enthusiastically
approved chair Michael Adu-Tutu's wish to begin the application process.
"The Academy looks forward to working with the National Commission
and the opportunity to support its mission," says Adu-Tutu.
A Shoo-In
When it came to finding the right person to represent the Academy on
the NCCHC board of directors, it didn't take long to come up with a
candidate.
Jayne Russell, MEd, CCHP-A, has served on the Academy board since its
start-up and chaired it in 2003. "I am honored indeed and very proud of
the Academy for earning a seat on the board," she says. "I know the
Academy will continue to do great things and I am happy to be a small
part of that and continue the work for the Academy."
Russell has worked in the correctional health care field for 30
years, starting as a counselor and advancing to numerous administrative
positions with the Arizona Department of Corrections and the Maricopa
County Sheriff's Office. Today she is a manager for the California
Prison Health Care Receivership Corp. Russell also has managed several
federal grants in the
area of correctional health care.
Russell has actively supported NCCHC activities by presenting
seminars and workshops at conferences, achieving certification and
advanced certification through the CCHP program, and serving as a lead
surveyor in the accreditation program.
"I couldn't be more enthusiastic about an organization and team of
people who have made such a difference in elevating the standards and
quality of life for more than a million incarcerated individuals and the
staff who encounter them every day," she says. "NCCHC has played a
significant role in my chosen path of corrections and I am grateful for
an opportunity to contribute and reciprocate."
No Resting on Her Laurels
While Russell may have looked forward to a break after a position on
the Academy Board for five years, she won't get that chance. Already she
has been appointed to a three-year term on the CCHP board of trustees, a
perfect role for one who holds advanced CCHP certification.
"We can think of no better representative of the Academy to hold this
esteemed position and look forward to putting her many talents to work
for the National Commission," says Paula Hancock, NCCHC's director of
professional services.
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