Blog

by

It is not enough to just talk about ViaPath Technologies’ commitment to transforming the incarceration experience into a rehabilitative journey — we must cultivate partnerships and offer resources that actually do so. With a focus on Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize that incarcerated individuals are often left behind.

For this reason, we have continued to invest in our exclusive partnership with Dr. Christian Conte, a mental health specialist in the field of anger and emotional management, to provide unique content on ViaPath Technologies tablets.  With 18 years of experience working with the justice-impacted, Dr. Conte empowers individuals to understand and manage their emotions in a productive non-violent manner to facilitate successful reintegration.

This is about life and how every one of us, incarcerated or not, gets better from this moment forward.

As the creator of “Yield Theory,” Dr. Conte advocates for meeting people where they are without judgment. Connecting with others leads to understanding—understanding the person and the choices they have made but also understanding ourselves. Yield Theory has seven main components: Acceptance, Authenticity, Compassion, Conscious Education, Creativity, Mindfulness, and Non-Attachment. As of 2021, all new individuals incarcerated in Pennsylvania must go through Yield Theory training.

“The path to rehabilitation comes with challenges, but the reward is well worth the effort. By partnering with Dr. Conte, we can provide incarcerated individuals access to tools and resources to improve their mental and spiritual wellbeing,” said Deb Alderson, ViaPath Technologies’ President and CEO.

“At ViaPath Technologies, we believe a healthy life starts with a healthy mind,” Alderson added. “Our tablets and content allow correctional facilities to transform into more rehabilitative environments, placing incarcerated individuals on the best possible path forward to reintegration upon their release.”

As part of this partnership, Dr. Conte’s programs are available for free on ViaPath’s tablets with new content added regularly. Currently, topics cover anger management, domestic violence, parenting from behind bars, co-parenting, mindfulness, healthy relationships, and boundary setting. Any individual with access to a ViaPath tablet can access Dr. Conte’s content to help turn their lives from one of incarceration to one of successful reintegration and personal fulfillment.

“This is about life and how every one of us, incarcerated or not, gets better from this moment forward,” concluded Dr. Conte. “That is the reason why I am so grateful and ecstatic about the partnership with ViaPath—we can get these ideas out to so many more institutions, so the programs and videos I have created can lead to making prison a place of personal growth, setting individuals up for a better life and for success. That is a huge part of why I do what I do and why I partnered with ViaPath Technologies.” 

Next time you connect with your incarcerated friend / loved one, be sure to ask them about Dr. Conte’s programs. In addition, individuals outside of the correctional environment can also access several of his videos, programs, discussions, and more at the links below:   

 

The information provided in this post is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions or diseases. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have if you are experiencing depression or any other medical condition. ViaPath Technologies does not control or take responsibility for the content or information on any external website not managed by ViaPath.
About ViaPath Technologies

ViaPath provides advanced communications and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for 1.6 million incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit www.viapath.com.

by

At ViaPath Technologies, we continue to emphasize the importance of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We want to take the opportunity to recognize another group of people who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success.   

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month – recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The annual recognition began in 1992, and the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese individual to the U.S. on May 7, 1843.   

It’s a great time to explore the history, traditions, and culture of Asian and Pacific Islander citizens in the U.S. Following is a list of resources that can provide additional information on the importance of this month:  

To celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, we’ve highlighted a few leaders whose contributions still make an impact today. 

Jaden Kim – Marine Corps Pilot 

Jaden Kim

The first time that Marine Corps Captain Jaden Kim rode in a military aircraft, she nearly fell out of it in her excitement. Her passion for aviation led her to train as a “backseater” – a weapons system officer who coordinated target locations. During her first deployment in 2002, she took part in Operation Enduring Freedom, flying missions over Afghanistan for six months; and deployed again in 2003 to assist in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In her interview, she discusses her sense of profound obligation and dedication to the ground troops she was supporting. 

Learn more. 

Derald and Stanley Sue – Brothers and Founders of Asian American Psychological Association  

Derald and Stanley Sue

The two Chinese American brothers were influential figures in ethnic minority psychology, a subfield of psychology concerned with the science and practice of psychology with racial and ethnic minority individuals and groups. In 1972, the Sue brothers founded the Asian American Psychological Association. Dr. Derald Sue is best known for his work on multicultural counseling and racial microaggression, and Dr. Stanley Sue is best known for his work on cultural competence in psychotherapy with Asian Americans and ethnic minorities. 

Learn more. 

Dalip Singh Saund – First Asian American Congressman

Dalip Saund

In 1954, Dalip Singh Saund became the first Asian American elected to the U.S. Congress. He was born in India in 1899, and he came to the United States to study math in 1920, eventually earning his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. Saund moved to Southern California during the Depression, where he worked as a farmer for more than 20 years before starting his own fertilizer business in the early 1950s. Though he became politically and socially active, Saund was unable to run for office because federal law prevented him from becoming a U.S. citizen. After working to overturn that policy, he became a citizen in 1949 and soon ran for office as a local judge. He served four years as a judge before being elected to Congress in 1954. 

Learn more. 

Victoria “Vicki” Draves – First Asian American Olympic Medalist

Unlike many Olympians who began practicing their sport from a very young age, Victoria “Vicki” Draves didn’t start diving until the age of 16. Only six years later, she earned her first national diving title.  

Draves truly rose to prominence in 1948, after participating in the London Summer Olympic Games, where she won gold medals from both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform; the first female diver to achieve that feat. She was also the first Asian American to win an Olympic medal. After the Olympics, Draves toured the United States and Europe performing in a water extravaganza show and ended her career teaching children swimming and diving. 

Learn more.  

The information provided in this post is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions or diseases. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have if you are experiencing depression or any other medical condition. ViaPath Technologies does not control or take responsibility for the content or information on any external website not managed by ViaPath.

About ViaPath Technologies

ViaPath provides advanced communications and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for 1.6 million incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit www.viapath.com.

by

THE FORGOTTEN CANDIDATE NEEDS OUR SUPPORT IN APRIL – AND BEYOND

Since 2017, April has been designated “Second Chance Month” – shining a spotlight on the belief that the best strategy to keep individuals out of jail after they serve their time is to give them opportunities to fully reintegrate into society. But I’ve always believed that these forgotten candidates deserve more than 30 days on the calendar.

At ViaPath, we walk the walk, encouraging successful reintegration not only through life skills and job placement programs for the incarcerated, but through our own hiring of the formerly incarcerated. We’re even partnering with other organizations around the country to magnify our impact.

We also see this issue from every angle, as we help transform corrections facilities and processes in the US and abroad, while working to decrease the chances that individuals will end up re-incarcerated. This is done through education, training, and technology. Our country’s record-breaking incarceration rates are nearly matched by exceptionally high recidivism rates—a seemingly unbreakable cycle due to lack of employment opportunities that we need to help change.

That’s where we can all truly make a difference in April, and beyond.

Many companies have been hesitant to “take a chance” on formerly incarcerated individuals, when they should see it as “giving a chance” to those formerly incarcerated to reach their goals.

Thankfully there’s been hope and progress. For example, since the “Ban the Box” campaign was launched in 2003, a large number of corporations have stepped up and removed the question “Have you ever been convicted?” from their hiring applications. In addition to ViaPath, other corporations include Starbucks, Facebook, Walmart, Target, and Uber to name a few. This simple change to employment applications is making a big difference in increasing opportunities for individuals with a criminal record to be seen as qualified candidates and ultimately, get hired.

Which brings us back to that word: “chance.” It’s not risk or luck. It’s actually an opportunity, that starts with supporting these often forgotten candidates. In this case, the opportunity for individuals to reunite with their families, restart their futures, re-gain their dignity, re-enter society on solid footing, and re-engage with their communities in a positive way.

For companies, it’s an opportunity to diversify their teams and replenish a workforce that’s been shaken over the past two years. But like the “Ban the Box” campaign – it takes time. It also takes action and effort on our part.

Whether you’re a family member, friend, or prospective employer, starting over starts with you.

So, while we kick things off in April by shining a light on second chances, I firmly believe that we should do all we can to break the cycle of incarceration and foster these opportunities all year long. Because second chances – like any life-changing events – can happen at any time.

Deb Alderson
CEO, ViaPath Technologies

ABout Viapath

For over 30 years, ViaPath has worked side-by-side with correctional facilities and government agencies to provide imperative technology solutions to over 1.2 million incarcerated individuals across the globe. These solutions facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, enable successful reintegration, and strengthen operational efficiency. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America and was recognized as a 2021 Top Workplace USA by Energage.

Learn More