By Danielle Tedesco, SCI Camp Hill Psychologist
Psychological Services Specialist Michelle Eckstein of SCI Camp Hill was selected as the recipient of this year’s PA Forensics Rights and Treatment Conference Award. It was presented at SCI Camp Hill by Deputy Superintendent Kendall and Acting Superintendent Nicklow in preparation of the virtual conference held Nov. 30-Dec. 1 by the DOC, community experts and Drexel University.
This is a statewide award given by the conference planning committee meant to recognize personnel working with justice-involved people at a grass-roots level with the focus on mental health. State employees, county staff and community providers are eligible, and a maximum of two people each year are honored. Despite multiple nominations, Eckstein was the only recipient of the well-deserved honor this year.
As part of the Diagnostic and Classification Center’s Psychology Department since 2014, Eckstein continuously provides quality mental health support to a largely transitional justice-involved population. In addition to her regular duties, Eckstein has provided advanced training on her areas of expertise, including death and dying. During the pandemic, Eckstein stepped up and ensured strict timelines were kept, despite the unpredictable caseload surges. Her continuous success has to do with her ideas for procedural streamlining, high ethical work standards and her love of unpredictable challenges. As a top-notch clinician, who is well-respected by her colleagues, Eckstein is genuinely approachable, which is an invaluable asset when providing clinical interviews. Camp Hill administration and staff are thrilled to see her receive the state-wide recognition she so clearly deserves.