CBHJ team welcomes new staff, celebrates promotions
The Center for Behavioral Health and Justice (CBHJ) at the Wayne State University School of Social Work is excited to welcome several new staff to our team. Additionally, we are excited to celebrate the growth of staff on our data team who have been promoted into a new senior role. Meet our new team members and check out recent staff promotions.
Allison Gorine, opioid treatment ecosystem project coordinator.
Prior to joining the CBHJ in March 2023, Allison led the reentry team at the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office, developing comprehensive reentry plans and providing case management services for people getting out of prison. She is also a licensed clinical social worker with a passion for providing therapy to individuals who were incarcerated and have co-occurring mental health disorders.
Kat Layton, juvenile justice project coordinator
Before joining the CBHJ in January 2023, Kat worked for various public defender organizations, including Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit and Ingham County Office of the Public Defender, as a Criminal Defense Social Worker. Kat's interest and passion to change the criminal legal system took root through personal experiences but is sustained by dedicating her career to working with communities to promote positive social change.
Julia Stewart, assisted outpatient treatment project coordinator
Julia started as an intern at the CBHJ in 2022 before being hired on as a Project Coordinator in 2023. Julia is currently working towards an MSW with a concentration in Innovation, Policy, Community, and Leadership. Julia's interest in helping to create systems change in the criminal justice arena was born through a volunteer position as a prison literacy tutor.
Raven Thomas, crisis response program assistant
Raven joined the CBHJ in March 2023. She graduated from Tiffin University in May 2020 with her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. Prior to joining the CBHJ, Raven worked in the clinical field as a counselor for runaway and homeless youth then moving into the role of clinical outpatient therapist for those suffering from substance use and co-occurring disorders.
Rahni Cason, jail diversion manager
Rahni joined the CBHJ in 2019 and has served multiple initiatives as a project coordinator since then. She has been a steady force on the jail diversion and OTE team, greatly contributing to writing and engagement with community partners. She has filled the jail diversion manager role for the last several months and will officially be beginning the new role on June 19. Congrats Rahni!
Phillip Huynh, senior data analyst
Catherine Zettner, senior data analyst
Philip and Catherine both joined the CBHJ data team in Fall 2019. This year, their contributions warranted the creation of a new role on the data team. As senior data analysts, their primary role is the cleaning, conditioning, managing, and analysis of multiple data sets from jails, courts, and state-level agencies and developing evaluation plans. In addition to these data responsibilities, they also assist in the writing of manuscripts and government reports and have a leadership role in proposal development. Great work, Phil and Cat!
About the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice: The Wayne State University School of Social Work Center for Behavioral Health and envisions communities in which research, data, and best practices are used by multiple stakeholders to enhance the optimal well-being of individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal/legal system. Learn more