Offender Employment : OWDS

NIC's 'Online/Kiosk Employment Application Simulation' Used in New York's Digital Reentry Programs

llinke — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:42:00 GMT

The summer issue of New York State Department of Correctional Services' quarterly newsletter, DOCS Today, includes a summary of their expanding use of digital reentry programming. See page 8. Computer labs (not internet accessible) are used to both deliver services and increase computer literacy for inmates nearing release. Nearly 12,000 inmates have used the labs for self-guided career tutorials, skills assessments, access to statewide job databases, and developing basic computer skills. NIC's simulated online job application also prepares inmates to apply online for jobs, or apply at automated kiosks. Watch for a related Information Bulletin, "Career Resource Centers: An Emerging Strategy for Improving Offender Employment Outcomes," to be released by NIC later this summer.

Gorczyk, Lucenti developed programs to help prisoners integrate into society

Scott — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:10:00 GMT

From the Rutland Herald:

"Nearly a year ago, on Leap Day, Feb. 29, two men whose innovations in the field of corrections turned Vermont into a national model quietly retired.

John Gorczyk, the state's longest-serving commissioner of corrections, and Bob Lucenti, the founder and superintendent of the Community High School of Vermont, brought Vermont national recognition with programs that translated the department's mission statement into reality.

As chief of the state's prisons, Gorczyk's No. 1 objective was to prepare offenders to play positive roles when they returned to the community.

"I wanted to have the best treatment programs in the country," he said, "and I wanted to ... (link) corrections more closely to the community."

He also improved health care and mental health services for offenders and oversaw the founding of the nation's first statewide high school system within a correctional system. Gorczyk also pioneered treatment programs that became national models and he created restorative justice programs.

The National Institute of Corrections is promoting his most recent innovation - a workforce development program that improved prisoners' employability and significantly reduced rates of recidivism, or reoffending - for replication on a national scale.

"John is considered a real innovator in the field of corrections," said John Moore, a division chief at the National Institute of Corrections who worked with Gorczyk for 25 years. "Because the Vermont correctional system is small," he added, "we've actually used it as a laboratory state."

Read the full article here.

2009 Defendant/Offender Workforce Development Conference

Scott — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:21:00 GMT

Go here for information about the 2009 Defendant/Offender Workforce Development Conference which will occur on April 5-8, 2009 in Pittsburgh, PA. See you there!

DOWD Conference Now Accepting Presentation Proposals

Scott — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:38:00 GMT

The National Planning Committee for the 2009 Defendant / Offender Workforce Development (DOWD) Conference is seeking proposals for the various presentations. The conference is scheduled April 5-8, 2009 in Pittsburgh, PA. All are welcome to apply. The deadline is Monday, September 15^th. Details about the conference and submitting a proposal can be found here.

New Mexico Class Completes Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) Training

Scott — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:02:00 GMT

On June 27, 2008 at the CNM Workforce Training Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 22 participants received certificates for completing the Offender Workforce Development Specialist Partnership Training program. The participants included representatives for U.S. Probation, the New Mexico Corrections Department, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, the New Mexico Probation and Parole Division, the New Mexico Aging and Long Term Services Department, and nonprofit organizations serving the reentry needs of offenders. We extend our congratulations to the class graduates!

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Albany, NY class completes Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) training

Scott — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:10:00 GMT

On June 19, 2008 at the headquarters of the New York State Department of Labor in Albany, New York, 24 participants received certificates for completing the Offender Workforce Development Specialist Partnership Training. The participants included representatives for community-based agencies along probation officers from counties throughout the state. We extend our congratulations to the class graduates!

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Upcoming OWDS and OES training

Scott — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:12:00 GMT

Upcoming Offender Employment Specialist (OES) Training

July 22 - 24* - Butner, NC. Contact: Zaneta Vaughn, 919-575-3900 ext. 5339, zvaughn@bop.gov

July 29 - 31* - Butner, NC. Contact: Mona Horton, mhorton@bop.gov

August 25 - 27** - Oklahoma City, OK. Contact: Dixie Becktold, 405-609-5810

September 16 - 18** - Howard College, San Angelo, TX. Contact Michael Laughlin, 972-709-6098 ext. 229

September 23 - 25* - Butner, NC. Contact: Mona Horton, mhorton@bop.gov

September 23 - 25* - Hazelton, WV. Contact: Mona Horton, mhorton@bop.gov

*Training provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons

**Training provided by U.S. Probation

Upcoming Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) Training

June 16 - 20 and Sept. 15 - 19 - St. Louis, MO. Contact: Pat Doherty, 314-244-6750

OWDS National Partnership Training Update

Scott — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:10:00 GMT

This information was contributed by guest blogger Patricia Doherty who is a Supervising U.S. Probation Officer with the Eastern District of Missouri.

On March 14, 2008, Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) training was completed in Dublin, California. This training was a national partnership training hosted by the Northern District of California and FCI, Dublin. The 22 participants included staff from the Northern District of California - probation; Central District of California - pretrial; District of Hawaii - pretrial; District of Nevada - pretrial; local residential reentry centers; local one stops; Bureau of Prisons staff from the Western Regional Office, FCI, Dublin and FCI, Atwater; and Santa Clara County Probation Officers. Trainers included Pat Doherty, Scott Anders, and Dean Miller who are all from the ED/MO; Melinda Clark and Matt Elvin form the Bureau of Prisons and John Rakis from the National Institute of Corrections. Congratulations to all of the participants.

On April 18, 2008, Master Trainers Pat Doherty and Dean Miller provided OWDS Instructor Training to the following participants:

Elaine Kost, N.Y.S. Department of Labor; Cynthia O. Mendiola, U. S. Probation, Western District of Texas; Janis R. Lasswell, U.S. Probation, Eastern District of Missouri ; Belinda Marie Ashley, U.S. Probation, Eastern District of Missouri; Zaneta Carol Vaughn, Federal Bureau of Prisons - Federal Medical Center, Butner, North Carolina; Evey Wooten, U. S. Probation Office, Middle District of North Carolina; Benjie Pittman, Federal Bureau of Prisons/ Federal Correctional Center, Yazoo City, Mississippi; Mona Horton, Federal Bureau of Prisons/ Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, Federal Correctional Center, Butner, North Carolina; Tracy Longacre, Federal Bureau of Prisons/ Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, New York. Congratulations to these new instructors who will now join the national training team.

On May 9, 2008, OWDS training was completed in New York, New York. This training was hosted by the New York Southern District probation and pretrial offices and the Eastern District pretrial office. The 19 participants included staff from the Southern District of New York's probation and pretrial offices, the Eastern District of New York's pretrial office, Western District of New York, District of New Jersey - pretrial, Bureau of Prisons - MCC New York; and the CASH and Hope programs. Trainers included Pat Doherty, Ryan Wilke, Quincy Fountain, all from the Eastern District of Missouri; Scott Albert from Western District of Pennsylvania; Kathy Oakar from the Northern District of Ohio and Pamella Harris and Robert Walsh from the Southern District of New York. Congratulations to all of the participants.

To date, Federal Probation's Eastern District of Missouri has completed 13 OWDS trainings. 214 participants have completed the training and 134 of those were federal probation officers, probation officer assistants, or pretrial officers. The 14th training will be held in St. Louis in June and September.

Interview with Diana Bailey from inside the MDSE Mobile Unit

Scott — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:39:00 GMT

Maryland's Correctional Education Transition Mobile Unit was recently featured at the National Defender/Workforce Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The Mobile Unit provides transitional information and library services for inmates in the pre-release system in Maryland. The unit, which was designed and is operated by the Maryland State Department of Education, travels across the Maryland to prepare men and women for release from incarceration into the community and employment.

The video below is an interview with Diana Bailey, Workforce Development/Transition Coordinator with the Maryland State Department of Education, from inside the Mobile Unit.

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Duration: 4:36

Jefferson City, Missouri OWDS Graduation - April 29, 2008

Scott — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:28:00 GMT

On April 29, 2008, at the Department of Corrections Central Training Academy in Jefferson City, Missouri, 18 participants were recognized for successfully completing Offender Workforce Development Specialist Partnership Training (OWDS). They received their certificates of completion from OWDS program manager Susie Edwards. Assisting Ms. Edwards as instructors were Quincy Fountain, Steve Gibson, Lisa Johnson, Rodney Henry, Kevin Knickerbocker, Linda Wise, and Jennifer Williams.

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Podcast with Kansas Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz

Scott — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:10:00 GMT

In this three part podcast, John Rakis speaks with the Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) Program Manager for Kansas, Jim Chastain, and Kansas Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz. You can access the podcast by going to www.nicic.gov/owdpodcasts.

Jim Chastain and Secretary Werholtz discuss the impact of OWDS training on recidivism and the prison population, and a unique partnership with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Information about the upcoming Defendant/Offender Workforce Development (DOWD) Conference

Scott — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:55:00 GMT

The 2008 Defendant/Offender Workforce Development (DOWD) Conference will take place April 13 - 16 in Cleveland, OH. The National Career Development Association (NCDA) will partner with the US Probation Office - Northern District of Ohio, the National Institute of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, US Probation Office of Eastern District of Missouri, Offices of Probation and Pre-Trial Services; and the Administrative Office of the US Courts, to host the conference.

Click here for the 2008 DOWD Conference program.

Please visit NCDA's DOWD Conference Webpage for hotel and registration information.

CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE

Sunday, April 13, 2008:
3:00 - 6:00 pm Registration Open & Exhibitor Set Up
4:00 - 6:00 pm OWDS Master Trainers/Instructors Meeting
5:00 - 6:00 pm First timers Session
7:00 - 8:30 pm OWDS Reunion Reception

Monday, April 14, 2008:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration Open & Exhibits Open
9:00 - 11:30 am NIC Sponsored Pre-Conference Workshops (no cost)
12:00 - 2:00 pm Opening Luncheon/Keynote
2:30 - 4:00 pm Presentations Series A
4:20 - 5:50 pm Presentations Series B
6:30 - 8:00 pm Opening Reception

Tuesday, April 15, 2008:
7:30 - 8:30 am Continental Breakfast
7:30 - 5:00 pm Registration Open & Exhibits Open
8:30 - 10:00 am Second Plenary/Keynote
10:30 - 12:00 pm Presentations Series C
12:30 - 2:00 pm Awards Luncheon
2:30 - 4:00 pm Presentations Series D
2:30 - 4:00 pm Tours of Federal Facility
4:00 - 6:00 pm Exhibits Tear Down
6:00 pm Group Night Out (additional cost required)

Wednesday, April 16, 2008:
8:00 - 9:00 am Continental Breakfast
8:00 am - 2:00 pm Registration Open
9:00 - 10:30 am Closing Plenary/Keynote
10:30 am - 12:30 pm Regional Roundtables
1:00 - 5:00 pm Inmate Skills Development System Training for BOP Coordinators

Offender Workforce Development in the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office, Western District of Texas

Scott — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:26:00 GMT

Cynthia Mendiola is a supervising U. S. Probation Officer with the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office in the Western District of Texas. She graduated from NIC's Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) training held in New Mexico during the Spring of 2007. NIC asked Cynthia to tell us about what her and the Western District of Texas are doing in the area of offender workforce development. Cynthia writes:

"As the point of contact, I have trained a core group of officers on the concepts learned in the OWDS class. Then I and my team have trained all the Probation and Pretrial officers and support staff about the Defendant/Offender Workforce Development Initiative and how their roles fit into this program.

We have scheduled Offender Employment Specialist (OES) training in every division in the Western District of Texas starting with San Antonio, Texas, last week, Austin, Texas in partnership with Travis County Community Corrections this week, Temple, Texas 2nd week in September and Del Rio, Texas third week in September.

El Paso, Texas has partnered with the District of NM and will hold the class in Las Cruces, NM in Oct. 2007. The last OES training will be in Midland, Texas also in October2007.

We are very excited to have made some very productive partnerships as a result of this training. There are so many agencies excited about participating and have complimented us in a job well done.

Thanks to Francina Carter who helped us with the training; as well as Ann Felts out of Bastrop FCI. I have a feeling this is going to be a very important movement in the near
future.

Thanks as always to NIC's programs, research development, and excellent
consultants. I am not a stranger to your work. I have utilized the
programs in the past and they have been excellent and beneficial to the
field."

Cynthia Mendiola
Supervising U. S. Probation Officer

Thanks Cynthia!

Three Must Have Resources from NIC

Scott — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:22:00 GMT

The following NIC publications are must have resources for anyone working with the offender population. In addition, these publications compliment the Offender Workforce Development Specialist training and the Offender Employment Specialist training. Click on the title for each publication to be directed to the download page.

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment: A Review and Discussion for Corrections Professionals - Detailed information regarding the use and benefits of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in prisons and jails is provided. Chapters comprising this guide address: the increasing need for effective treatment services; what cognitive-behavioral therapy is; prominent CBT programs for offenders; measuring the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs; evaluating specific CBT curricula; and "real world" program applications.

Motivating Offenders to Change: A Guide for Probation and Parole - This publication "provides probation and parole officers and other correctional professionals with both a solid grounding in the principles behind MI [motivational interviewing] and a practical guide for applying these principles in their everyday dealings with offenders" (p.2). Seven chapters are contained in this guide: how MI fits in with evidence-based practice; how and why people change; the motivational interviewing style; preparing for change; building motivation for change; navigating through tough times--working with deception, violations, and sanctions; and from start to finish--putting MI into practice.

Gender-Responsive Strategies: Research, Practice, and Guiding Principles for Women Offenders - Guidance for those individuals "seeking to more effectively respond to the behavior and circumstances of the female offender" is offered (p. iv). An executive summary and the following four chapters comprise this manual: characteristics of women in the criminal justice system -- a descriptive summary; women offenders and criminal justice practice; the context of women's lives -- a multidisciplinary review of research and theory; and a new vision -- guiding principles for a gender-responsive criminal justice.

New York State Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives OWDS Partnership

Scott — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:28:00 GMT

For information on the New York State Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives Offender Workforce Develoment Specialist (OWDS) Partnership activities, go to their website at the following address:

http://dpca.state.ny.us/pdfs/employmenthelpstolowerrecidivismrates.pdf