The NCJFCJ is proud of our judicial wellness initiatives. Personal wellness and self-care have emerged as critical core value of judicial leadership. Engaging in beneficial practices that develop positive physical and mental states of being increases self-awareness, connection with ourselves, and a deeper sense of community in all aspects of life. The goal of NCJFCJ’s Judicial Wellness-Connection-Leadership Initiative is to promote judicial well-being and to help court professionals develop strategies to mitigate the impact of stress that is inherent in the work.
One way we do that is by offering a member benefit with BetterHelp for one month of free wellness resources and ongoing discounts. The NCJFCJ also hosts in-person events dedicated to wellness, and the organization offers free monthly Monday Morning Moments wellness webinars.
The NCJFCJ’s wellness-connection-leadership programs will enhance knowledge of personal wellness and self-care in a supportive and compassionate environment. We all share the NCJFCJ’s mission, vision, and the confidence that there are thousands of us in the court system who are working, in the best way we can, on behalf of children, families, survivors, and victims of violence.
We encourage you to participate in our programs below!
Applications are Now Being Accepted for the 2nd Annual NCJFCJ Symposium –Centering Ourselves for Leadership
Following the success of the NCJFCJ’s first wellness symposium last spring, the NCJFCJ presents an innovative training opportunity focused specifically on enhancing judicial leadership and well-being skills to be held at Beltane Ranch in the California Sonoma Valley, on April 10 – 13, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to complete the application above. Chosen participants will have the opportunity to engage in honest conversations about what it means to be a judicial officer while developing the practical tools necessary to avoid burnout and nurture personal resilience. The program is designed to support the process of increasing a judge’s quality of life on and off the bench.
To enrich the experience and create an environment which stimulates discussion and reflection, this training will be limited to six judicial officers. Beltane Ranch is a rustic setting offering quality lodging/meals where disconnecting from electronic devices is encouraged.
To apply, please click the button down below. Feel free to share with anyone in your network.
Apply for the Symposium Here!
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2024 (Season 6)
All sessions are at 8:00 a.m. PDT
Monday, November 11: Blue Space/Green Space-Finding Your Own Wellness with Dr. Melissa Piasecki
Monday, December December 9: All Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go with Roger Hall
PAST SESSIONS
Jen’s Green Smoothie & Berry Smoothie Recipes
The health benefits of drinking a green or berry superfood smoothie are that it is chock full of greens and whole foods that are medicinal. Leafy greens such as chard, spinach, and kale provide many vitamins and minerals along with omega 3 fatty acids, iron, calcium that help regulate blood sugar levels in the body making it a great food choice for those who are challenged with diabetes or blood sugar issues.
Centering Ourselves to Serve
Hon. Janice M. Rosa (New York, Ret.) will provide a high altitude view of where we find ourselves in the pandemic challenge: focusing on an acknowledgment of what is occurring; accepting the impact the disruption has on our individual and collective experiences; and choosing a response, both individually and outward.
Yoga & Breathwork
Jen Donovan, RYT, RCYT, RPYT, a registered yoga practitioner and teacher for more than 20 years, leads you in simple yoga exercises and breathwork practices that have been proven to reduce stress buildup.
Physical Wellbeing
Hon. Anthony (Tony) Capizzi (Ohio), past president of NCJFCJ, addresses the value of physical wellbeing during this challenging time and how to accomplish that when your usual routines and facilities are not available.
Sound & Healing
Rebecca F. Bailey, Ph.D., will lead us on a journey of how sound is profoundly effective in creating a sense of safety needed for calm and wellbeing.
Meditation & Grounding
Hon. Victor Reyes (Colorado, Ret.) guides a short meditation he’s relied on in stressful situations both on and off the bench, focusing on quickly calming the body and settling the mind. Judge Reyes has recently led these sessions at NCJFCJ national conferences.
Kindness & Connections: When Words Are Not Enough
Hon. Berryl Anderson (Georgia) shares her experience creating a virtual environment to promote kindness and connectedness for the DeKalb County Magistrate Court staff who “gather” weekly to check in with each other, creating a virtual reunion filled with laughter—and sometimes silence—to promote court family wellness and self-care for all.
Self-Compassion aka Kindness
Hon. Victor Reyes (CO, Ret.) | Being kind to yourself as a means of bettering your life and enhancing your innate ability to be kinder to others. Applying research-based tools, we will begin the process of substituting self-judgment with positive self-awareness.
The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades: History as a Gateway to Hope in the COVID Pandemic
Roger Hall, Ph.D. | In the midst of difficult times, it’s hard to see hope for the future. By looking back at the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, we can look forward, with hope to our future. Because of our biology, the “new normal” will look a lot like the old normal.
Sound Healing Meditation
Jen Donovan, RYT, RCYT, RPYT | Join Jen, a registered yoga practitioner, and teacher/sound healer, for a deeply relaxing session of breathing techniques and sound healing meditation. She will be playing the quartz crystal and metal singing bowls, along with an eclectic array of musical instruments.
Companion Animals & Wellness
Jamie Contreras, Esq. | There are proven mental and physical health benefits of sharing your life with a companion animal, which we innately know to be true. We invite your pet to join in this session as well! This session is in partnership with the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Humor, Me?
Hon. Katherine Tennyson (OR, Ret.) | “We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” -Joseph Campbell
A Collective Grieving
Frank Davis, Ph.D. | Grief is a complicated emotion and made more so as we see most everyone struggling with losses resulting from the pandemic challenges. How do we help ourselves, and how do we better understand others?
Voice & Leadership
Rebecca Bailey, Ph.D. | Research tells us that the most effective voice is a compassionate one. How do we access our higher levels of managing safety and stress for ourselves and those we serve?