Field Days

It's part two of our two part series with Dr. David Chinsky, founder and CEO of The Institute for Leadership Fitness. In this episode, Dr. Chinsky discusses telework and shares tips for both employees and supervisors on how to work and collaborate from home using virtual communication tools. A longtime Friend of the Pod, Dr. Chinsky, is a leadership trainer who has worked with thousands of MDOC employees. Listen now!

On the latest episode of Field Days, founder and CEO of The Institute for Leadership Fitness Dr. David Chinsky discusses the great pause we are all experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how we can focus on adopting a growth mindset despite these challenging times. This is part one of a two part series with Dr. Chinsky, a long time Friend of the Pod and a leadership trainer who has worked with thousands of MDOC employees.

On the latest episode of Field Days, Chris and Greg interview the 2020 Corrections Officer of the Year, James Sims, a corrections officer at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility. Officer Sims has been with the MDOC since 1997 and has provided exceptional service to the State of Michigan. Officer Sims is also dedicated to serving his community through a variety of organizations and charitable efforts. He is an active member of the LGBTQ community and has attended numerous LGBT Criminal Justice Professionals conferences across the country and abroad. He regularly participates in and coordinates fundraising events through the Special Olympics Michigan Law Enforcement Torch Run, Shop with a Hero, Harvest Gathering, State Employees Charitable Campaign and Relay For Life, and is a charter member of the Jackson Lions Diabetes Service Club. He is also a U.S. Army veteran, who served in Operation Desert Storm and in Somalia.

On the first of two very special end of year episodes of the Field Days podcast, Chris and Greg are looking back on one of the highlights of 2020; Candice Dunn Parole/Probation Agent of the year, Ahmed Bazzi. Agent Bazzi, an Oakland County probation agent, began his career with the MDOC in 2013 as a Corrections Officer and currently works with the Adult Treatment Court. He has served as a mentor to newer staff and has embraced new methods of supervision, such as Motivational Interviewing. He has made a lasting positive impact on those on his caseload, earning their respect and the respect of his partners in the courts and law enforcement. He has also focused on helping remove barriers to employment for those under his supervision and more than 80 percent of those on his caseload are employed.

On the latest episode of Field Days, Chris and Greg speak with Jeff Anderson and Cathy Evenson for an update on the Corrections Offender Management System (COMS) roll out. This update episode is all about change, as Jeff and Cathy share details on an activity essential to a successful roll out, Organizational Change Management. Organizational Change Management, or OCM, is a well-established set of processes that help people and organizations prepare for large transitions. Listen now to learn more about what the COMS team is doing to ensure MDOC staff can successfully incorporate the use of COMS into their daily tasks.

On the latest episode of Field Days, Chris and Greg are joined by Ava Attari, the Director of Future for Frontliners, a state scholarship program that pays for frontline workers to attend their local community college tuition free. Coordinated through the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the program is for Michiganders without college degrees who worked in essential industries during the state COVID-19 shutdown in spring 2020. Listen now to learn more on the eligibilty requirements and the application deadline date. As an added bonus, don't miss the return of a lifelong Friend of the Pod, as well as a very special shout out to Field Day's own, Holly Kramer.

On the latest episode of Field Days, we're celebrating Veterans Day with Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) Director Zaneta Adams! Director Adams was medically discharged with honor after serving eight years with the U.S. Army, National Guard and Reserve, and now leads the MVAA in their mission to provide support, care, advocacy and service to veterans and their families. Director Adams joins Chris Gautz and Greg Straub to talk about the MDOC's status as a Silver Veteran Friendly Employer, and what we can all do to help support veterans and active duty service members. To learn more about Director Adams and the MVAA, visit: https://www.michiganveterans.com/

On the latest episode of Field Days, the Michigan Department of Correction's Chief Medical Officer, and Friend of the Pod, Dr. Carmen McIntyre Leon discusses the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids, including brand name versions like K2 and Spice, are a group of man-made chemicals often misleadingly called synthetic marijuana. Dr. McIntyre Leon shares the danger and unpredictiability of K2, how MDOC staff are working to keep it out of prisons, and what behavior and symptoms both field and prison staff should look for if they suspect K2 use by offenders.

After a seven month hiatus, the Field Days podcast returns from a new, virtual studio. Director Heidi Washington joins Chris Gautz and Greg Straub for a discussion on COVID-19, the hard work and incredible dedication MDOC staff have shown throughout the pandemic, and what staff can expect going forward in a year that was nothing less than unexpected.

On the latest episode of Field Days, Chris and Greg sit down with Calvin University Professor Dr. Todd Cioffi. Dr. Cioffi is the Director for the Calvin Prison Initiative, a unique program that provides a liberal arts education to prisoners at Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility. Each year, 20 students from prisons around Michigan are selected and enrolled in the five year program. This spring, for the first time, prisoners will be graduating from Calvin University with a Bachelor's Degree in Faith and Community Leadership. Learn more at: https://calvin.edu/prison-initiative/

On the latest episode of Field Days, Chris and Greg have the pleasure of announcing the Master of Ceremonies for the 2020 MDOC Employee Appreciation Banquet, Crissa Blankenburg! Crissa is the acting manager for the Office of Community Corrections, a previous Professional Excellence Award winner, and a dedicated MDOC and State of Michigan employee.

Governor Whitmer proclaimed February 24 - 29, 2020 Opioid Use Disorder Awareness Week in Michigan. Opioid use disorder is a chronic health condition that affects tens of thousands in Michigan, many of whom are housed in our prisons or on parole or probation. MDOC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carmen McIntyre Leon sat down with Chris and Greg to talk about the science behind substance abuse, the department's Medication-Assisted Treatment program, and why changing the way we think about addiction is key to solving the nation's opioid crisis. Also in this episode: Addiction Neuroscience 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwZcPwlRRcc Marquette Branch Prison History: https://soundcloud.com/field-days/marquette-branch-prison-history

On the latest episode of Field Days, Deputy Warden Karri Osterhout joins Chris and Greg to discuss gender responsive programming and services at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility. In 2018, the MDOC launched a Gender Informed Practice Assessment at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility and put it's focus on the unique needs of female offenders. That work led to the creation of the WHV Strategic Plan. The plan is designed to make sure the facility offers programs and care that is gender responsive, trauma-informed and evidence-based. Review the WHV Strategic Plan at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/corrections/WHV_Strategic_Plan_2019_2022_665149_7.pdf

Trauma is a costly public health problem occurring as a result of violence, abuse, and other emotionally harmful experiences. The Michigan Department of Corrections realizes the impact of trauma on both staff and offenders and is taking steps to become a trauma-informed department. On the latest episode of Field Days, Chris and Greg sit down with OPT Psychologist Adriane Foster, one of three employees leading the department's training on trauma and ACEs: Adverse Childhood Experiences. Learn more about the Michigan ACE Initiative at https://www.miace.org/

On the latest episode of Field Days, Chris and Greg are joined by Friend of the Pod and Field Days fan favorite, Lieutenant Charles Levens. This past weekend was a busy one for the Lieutenant's Absconder Recovery Unit. ARU was hard at work searching for MDOC prisoner Talleon Stephon Brazil, who was improperly released following a court appearance in Ohio. Mr. Brazil is now back in custody and "L.T." is back on Field Days to share how they tracked him down. MDOC Strategic Plan 2019 Progress Report: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/corrections/STRATEGIC_PLAN_Progress_report_2019_FINAL_680120_7.pdf