DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE NOMINEES EVIDENCE: FOR DEDICATED AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE BY A CORRECTIONAL HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL
Martha's nominators write: I am honored and pleased to recommend Ms. Martha Tadesse RN, to be provided the 2024 Distinguised Service Award. I have known Ms. Tadesse for approximately 20 years. She exemplifies strong advocacy tempered with cultural humility to ensure that clients within the carceral system are provided quality health care and HIV specialty care in Los Angeles County Jail. Ms. Tadesse has worked within the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department since 1997; focusing on HIV patients since 2000. For 24 years, Ms. Tadesse has been a point person to ensure that patients living with HIV can continue their life saving medical regimens within the jail system and upon release. She delivers this care to HIV positive cis and transgender men and women. She does it all from providing the difficult task of explaining a new diagnosis, to discussing medication regimens to educating persons beyond the patient: family and friends. She has cried with patients and family members and has been known to provide her business card, so that she can receive calls. Her reach extends beyond the jail system, to creating powerful linkages with community based organizations to create relationships that will benefit her patients upon their release. This is crucial to make sure that patients continue receiving their life saving medication upon release and have a warm hand off to a medical home. For these reasons and more, Ms. Tadesse's two decadesI enthusiatically submit her name for this recognition.
and:
"I am honored to recommend Nurse Martha Tadesse for the 2024 Distinguished Service Award. I was privileged to have worked with Nurse Tadesse for over 20 years at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, County Jail. I was a member of the Medical Staff from 1986 until 2015 and the Chief of Communicable Diseases from 1992 until 2015. I worked closely with Nurse Tadesse, a Public Health Nurse, who was responsible for servicing and educating the inmates diagnosed with Tuberculosis, Meningitis, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, outbreaks of Measles, STD's, MRSA and several other contagious diseases. In addition, she had the task of educating custody and nursing staff whenever these outbreaks occurred in the county jail and informing the public of potential community exposure. She would work beyond regular working hours to ensure a released inmate would be linked to care and receive their HIV meds before leaving the jail, maintaining continuity of treatment without interruption. Nurse Tadesse is also a distinguished member of the Los Angeles HIV Consortium, responsible for educating the medical community on the latest updates on HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis."
Establishing an Epidemiological Profile of Hepatitis C Viral Infection at the Los Angeles County Jail. N Qureshi; M Tadesse; et al Public Health Reports Vol 136 Issue 6
Martha is a committed WACHSA board member for over 15 years, infusing WACHSA with her passion for correctional health, through providing support, continuity, enthusiasm and presence for the organization and it's mission. The board is pleased the Awards Committee has acknowledged Martha for the Distinguished Career Award in 24. CONGRATULATIONS MARTHA!
INNOVATIVE PROGRAM AWARD
FOR A FACILITY OR AGENCY THAT HAS ADVANCED CORRECTIONAL HEALTH THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMMING THAT HAS EVIDENCED IMPROVEMENT OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR INMATES
Peer Support Specialist Program - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

The Peer Support Specialist Program (PSSP) is a crucial initiative within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), designed to enhance the department's transformation into a trauma-informed, normalized, and secure environment. This program focuses on supporting all aspects of the California Model, which aims to improve public safety and reduce recidivism by providing comprehensive training to both custody and non-custody staff, as well as the incarcerated population.
Key Achievements of the PSSP:
Trauma-Informed Care and Reducing Toxic Stress:
- The PSSP addresses the needs of underserved populations within CDCR, who often face challenges such as mistrust, disability, stigma, or a lack of understanding of the system.
- The program's training curriculum fosters a healthier work environment by reducing the stigma associated with seeking help and encouraging individuals to voice concerns or seek support before issues escalate.
Enhancing Dynamic Security:
- Participants in the PSSP are trained in emotional support, conflict resolution, effective communication, and crisis planning. These skills help prevent crises, reduce the need for disciplinary actions, and decrease the number of grievances, thereby lowering the workload on staff.
Professional Development and Conflict Resolution:
- Custody staff trained under the PSSP have developed skills in motivational interviewing, conflict resolution, and resilience, contributing to their professional growth and reducing stress and hypervigilance.
- A practical example of the program's impact can be seen at Avenal State Prison, where a Peer Support Specialist assisted an incarcerated individual in correctly filling out a healthcare request form, preventing the submission of a grievance and fostering a more supportive environment.
Current Status and Future Plans:
- The PSSP is currently being implemented or has completed post-implementation phases in nine CDCR institutions.
- A total of 55 CDCR employees, including nine custody staff, have been trained under the program.
- As of August 7, 2023, CDCR became California's first correctional organization to be recognized as a Peer Support Specialist training provider, ensuring that the PSSP aligns with community standards and supports long-term sustainability.
- The program is on track to be fully implemented across all CDCR institutions by the end of 2025, with a phased rollout approach that prioritizes institutions best prepared to support the California Model.
The Awards Committee acknowledged this program for the sheer effort, diligence, strength, and integrity required to instill culture change of this magnitude in a system as large as CDCR. The committee acknowledges that culture change is for the betterment of all the people working and living inside and those working toward returning home and contributing positively within their communities. A culture change inside can and will without doubt drive culture change on the outside.
This work significantly improves reintegration into society with new opportunities for growth and success.
CONGRATUALTIONS CDCR AND CCHCS!
CORRECTIONAL PARTNER AWARD
FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS THAT EVIDENCE IMPROVING LIVES, FOR CURRENTLY OR FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSONS
Roots Community Health

The Roots Program has been committed to its mission of uplifting those impacted by systemic inequities and poverty and to fostering well-being among all of the marginalized communities they serve. Recognizing the significant health, social, and economic challenges that individuals released from incarceration face, Roots has been implementing an all-encompassing model of service to enable the transition and integration into the community. Today, Roots offers comprehensive reentry services within the jail facilities in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, in the Santa Rita jail parking lot, through Roots mobile clinic, and at all Roots brick-and-mortar locations. Roots services include physical and behavioral healthcare, care management and housing support; Coordinated Entry housing assessments; benefits enrollment; and supplies distribution. In fiscal year 2023-2024 alone, Roots held close to 9,000 visits with formerly incarcerated individuals, many of whom required numerous navigation encounters
Although this award goes to a program, acknowledging Noha Aboelata, MD, is important. As the founder and CEO of Roots Community Health Center, Dr. Noha has devoted her career to eliminating health disparities and improving the health of marginalized communities. Dr. Noha, is the recipient of the 2022 James Irvine Leadership Award, and is the founding CEO of Roots Community Health Center, where she has pioneered the provision of a community-based, community-driven and community-empowering model for improving wellness that Roots calls "Whole Health."
CONGRATULATIONS ROOTS COMMUNITY HEALTH!
This year, WACHSA received two nominations for the awards program that the committee wanted acknowledge, although both fell out of the precise definitions for our existing award categories.
Due to the seriousness of the events and the sustained long-lasting impact on facilities and personnel, the committee deeply considered these nominees. The nominees managed difficult events professionally, under tremendous pressure in smaller facilities with limited resources. All involved on the committee understood that suicides and overdoses are problems all facilities face today. Although this quickly becomes "part of the job," staff's efforts to save lives are essential to acknowledge. These awards exemplify and highlight health care heroes found inside our jails and prisons.
CUSTODY FIRST RESPONDER - MEDICAL LIAISON
NOMINEES PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF CONSISTENT AND SUSTAINED RESPONSE MEASURES THROUGH ACTION OR POLICY, THEREBY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP FOR OTHER FACILITY STAFF, BUILDING TOWARDS IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR BOTH THE INCARCERATED AS WELL AS THEIR PEERS AND CO-WORKERS. THIS AWARD GOES SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE CUSTODY STAFF WHO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR FACILITY THROUGH EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSIVENESS TO INMATE HEALTH NEEDS WITHOUT MEDICAL STAFF ONSITE
Sergeant Cathy Thomas, Park County Detention Center, Cody Wyoming

Park County Detention Center is a small facility with an average population of 40 inmates. The facility does not have 24-hour medical staff on duty. We rely heavily upon our officers to recognize and respond to medical emergencies. We appreciate officers responding and providing emergency care for our patients until EMS arrives.
Recently, our facility has had one attempted and one completed suicide. In the past 18 years, there have been very few attempts or suicides, making these events irregular. Sergeant Thomas was the shift supervisor responsible for both responses this year. She and her team provided the type of response we dream of.
In the first event, Sergeant Thomas noticed something tied around the inmate's neck. She was able to access the inmate immediately, remove the ligature, check vital signs, noted there were none, and immediately started CPR. She did not hesitate for a moment or wait for medical staff to respond to initiate life-saving measures. This individual was revived after about a minute of CPR and sustained no long-term complications.
Sergeant Thomas and her team were at minimum staffing levels during the second event. While making rounds and checking on inmates, Sergeant Thomas noticed this inmate was no longer lying in their bunk as they had been only 8 minutes prior. While checking the cell, Sgt. Thomas noticed legs sticking out from behind a half-wall. Again, Sgt. Thomas jumped into action and initiated life-saving measures. Unfortunately, this individual did not survive.
Sgt. Thomas always responds when needed and utilizes the training she has received. We often remind and thank her for her diligence. She deserves recognition for her exemplary response and ability to assess situations, lead her team, and take action during life-threatening situations.
Sgt. Thomas exemplifies custody staff essential to the health and safety of those under her watch. She is attentive responsive, and does not hesitate when moments are precious to saving a life.
OUTSTANDING TEAM COLLABORATION
Adams County Detention Nurses
Sonya Barrera, Jane Schoenecker, Michelle Collins, Allyssa Finamore, Danielle Killen, Janice Marshall and Liza Patterson
WACHSA commends the response nurses at The Adams County Detention Facility for their quick action and teamwork during a multiple fentanyl overdose, saving lives and demonstrating exceptional dedication.