Community Assisted Restoration Services (CARES)
is a state of Ohio not-for-profit organization that was created to promote successful reentry into society for returning citizens. CARES was created in 2016 to address the rate of recidivism in the state of Ohio. After completion of a needs assessment in 2018, which included survey data collected from 100 participants with current or previous legal involvement, it was discovered that there was a direct correlation between recidivism rates and unemployment rates.
When creating the organization, the founder looked at the impact that those with previous criminal offenses had on the community. The reality that many of the criminal offenses were a result of substance use became evident. There were blighted neighborhoods and broken homes. The thought of how people who had major impacts on destroying the community could be the very same individuals to restore those communities began to take root.
Additional research determined a relationship between systemic racism, traumatic exposure, legal involvement and substance use. This finding prompted the organization to focus on equitable services, while prioritizing trauma informed programming, educating participants with positive alternatives and empowering the participants who sometimes struggle with interpersonal and external
Rochena Crosby
Rochena Crosby is the founder / CEO of Community Assisted Restoration Services (CARES) and I CARE services, LLC. Rochena founded CARES to provide the participants of the program opportunities to obtain employable skills in home renovation, remodeling and repair by turning the eyesores of the community into livable dwellings. Participants of CARES are required to have current or previous legal involvement. The goal is to decrease recidivism in the state of Ohio.
Rochena is a graduate of Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State University, she earned her Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work.
Rochena is a licensed independent social worker with Supervisory Designation and a licensed independent chemical dependency counselor with 13+ years of experience in the social work field. She previously held positions as the Social Services Director for the City of Cleveland, the Sr. Director of Shelter Services for the YWCA/ Norma Herr Women’s Center and the Site Director for ORCA House Residential Drug Treatment Center.
Rochena is certified to train facilitators of Trauma Informed Care as well as being certified to provide treatment to sex offenders. Rochena is also in the process of being certified in the provision of EMDR therapy. Rochena recently discontinued her volunteer work with women in the Northeast Pre-Release Center where she co-facilitated a group for women who are diagnosed with Chemical dependency and/or MH disorders.
Mrs. Tara D. Foxworth-Reese, MPA
Tara Foxworth-Reese is currently employed as a Program Director for Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana at the Homeless and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Program at the Wade Park Domiciliary for Veterans in Cleveland, Ohio where she works in partnership with the Veterans Administration. In this capacity, she oversees the supportive services, including case management, housing, transportation, and recreational activities and day to day operations of the 122 bed co-ed facility.
Tara is a long-time advocate and champion of Cleveland’s most underserved and underrepresented populations. Prior to joining Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana, she was the Outpatient Treatment Counselor and Client Rights Officer at Hitchcock Center for Women, where she developed policies for their Recovery Housing program, facilitated psychoeducation and addiction treatment through a trauma-informed lens. She also worked with the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland providing supportive services to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Tara is currently involved in her organization’s DE&I initiative as an ambassador, a newly commissioned Minister, and recently earned a master’s degree in Social Work from Cleveland State University where she also earned her master’s in public administration in 2018. Additionally she is various impact areas withing her organization in Trauma-Informed Care and Person-Centered Practices. She is expected to test for licensure in the very near future and begin working with her organization’s Suicide Prevention Initiative. Tara believes, wholeheartedly, that if she can help another individual, she obligated to do so and makes it her mission to leave people in need, better than she found them.
Michele Princeton White
Ms. Princeton has recently transitioned to the Social Support Service Specialist Unit with the
City of Cleveland in 2021 providing Trauma Informed care to the Patrons who use the recreation
Centers throughout the city. Ms. Princeton also holds a part-time position as a Clinical/Therapist
for Kindred Harbor, LLC.
Ms. Princeton previously worked for the Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana at the Veteran
Resource Center in Cleveland, Ohio in 2019 as a Community Case Manager she was promoted
to the position of Supportive Services for Veteran Families Healthcare Navigator in 2020. The
Healthcare Navigator position provides services that include connecting Veterans to VA health
care benefits or community health care services where Veterans are not eligible for VA care.
This position provides case management and care coordination, health education,
interdisciplinary collaboration, coordination, and consultation, and administrative duties. SSVF
Healthcare Navigators work closely with the Veteran’s primary care provider and members of
the Veteran’s assigned interdisciplinary treatment team. Prior to working for the VOA Ms.
Princeton worked for the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland for 13 years.
Ms. Princeton’s background includes Community Case Management, Housing Case
Management, Prevention Education, and Program Management. She has been repeatedly
recognized for her excellence in leading program development, service implementation,
advocacy, and supportive counseling. Ms. Princeton has experience with providing guidance,
assessment and treatment for diverse patient populations combined with her ability to manage
programs and build alliances.
Ms. Princeton received her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Master of Social Work (MSW) a
Master of Education degree in Adult Learning and Development (ALD) at Cleveland State
University and is currently enrolled in the Master of Education (Community Health Promotion)
Program at Cleveland State University. Ms. Princeton is a Licensed Social Worker currently
under supervision to obtain her (LISW). Ms. Princeton received the MSW Spirit Award of
Outstanding Advocacy for the graduating class of 2017.
In my opinion strengthening the DEI program will help every employee show up each day
without fear of being their true selves. This will also, nurture a higher degree of engagement,
productivity, and innovation that will contribute to an increase in organizational revenue. Also,
the morale of employee’s is lifted when DEI programs are made a priority, and the benefits are
seen at every level of the organization.
Dr. Taj
Dr. Taj is a bilingual, passionate social services innovator and strategist, as well as a licensed independent social worker with legal training.
She has 11+ years of experience working with people facing mental wellness challenges, addiction, poverty, and homelessness.
Dr. Taj is the co-founder of Kindred Harbor Behavioral Health where she serves as the clinical director, and supervises the clinicians who serve our clients. She also provides psychotherapy and case management to our clients.
She practices universal positive regard for all beings, with a strong belief in the inherent beauty and worth of all life. She specializes in “seeing the person” and his or her unlocked potential regardless of current conditions or the past. She is a certified clinical trauma professional and EMDR trained.
Dr. Taj has served members of the LGBTQ+ community in various roles and currently co-facilitates the Trans Wellness Group at the LGBT Center of Cleveland.
She is a proud graduate of Cleveland State University (CSU), where she received a Bachelor in Social Work and Juris Doctorate. She also graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Master’s and Doctorate in Social Work, as well.
