2026 ACA 156th Congress of Correction Pittsburgh_Program Book

WORKSHOPS Friday, July 31 ▼ 2–4:30 p.m.

Hope, Healing and Reentry: The Power of Peer Recovery in Corrections Room 315 Primary Community of Focus: Prisons Overview: This interactive workshop provides an overview of the implementation process for the Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) Program within Pennsylvania’s state correctional facilities. In June 2023, Pennsylvania began rolling out this training and certification program for incarcerated individuals across the state prison system. The CRS program offers participants the opportunity to earn a professional certification that can support successful job placement and reintegration upon reentry into the community. During this presentation, we will explore what the Certified Recovery Specialist credential entails and how it benefits the incarcerated population. We will also discuss the funding sources that support the training and certification process. Additionally, the presentation will cover key details about the certification itself, including the required training hours to qualify for testing, core topics addressed in the program, and the basic eligibility requirements for participation. Moderator: Cheryl Horner , Director, Bureau of Treatment Services, Pennsylvania

Department of Corrections, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Speakers: Angela Grannas , Chief of Institutional Treatment Program, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Jaime Rauch , Drug and Alcohol Program Manager, PA Department of Corrections, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Reducing Recidivism Through Commercial Driver (CDL) Training: The Roads2Work Model Room 319 Primary Community of Focus: Prisons Overview: Since 2015, Capital Transportation has partnered with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (ODRC) to deliver pre-release CDL training at Richland, Grafton, and Northeast Correctional Institutions, and post-release training with Alvis, Inc. clients. Over 600 trainees have earned CDLs and secured employment immediately after release, earning $50,000–$60,000 plus benefits, while cutting recidivism to single digits. This session shows how other states can replicate Ohio’s success through the Roads2Work model—a licensed framework combining transportation-specific career readiness, ELDT-compliant CDL instruction, and industry job placement to build sustainable

126 — ACA 156 th Congress of Correction | Pittsburgh