Field Days

Dr. Brian Lovins, is an assistant director for the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department in Texas. The Harris County CSCD supervises roughly 50,000 individuals throughout the year making it the third largest probation department in the United States.  Dr. Lovins talks about the future of community corrections and furthers the conversation on the role of parole and probation agents play in offender success. He encourages agents to supervise as coaches and not referees and urges the corrections system to move towards a winning model.

Darrick Alvarez, the department's veterans liaison, talks about our veterans support, recruitment and inclusion initiatives. He gives a special shout-out to Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, thanking them for their helpful resources! We have nearly 2,000 veterans working in the department, 13 who are currently deployed. We've stepped up our recognition of our veterans and we truly thank them for their service during Veterans Appreciation week. Listen to all our episodes SoundCloud: bit.ly/fielddayspodcast iTunes: bit.ly/FieldDaysiTunes

Recently, a Director's Office Memorandum (DOM) was sent to all staff stating, as of January 1, 2019, collective bargaining agreements will no longer contain Annual Leave scheduling provisions. The department has since developed a process for scheduling Annual Leave consistent with the new Civil Service Rules and Regulations. Jared Warner, labor relations manager, and Jonathan Patterson, human resources director, discuss how DOM 2018-27 Annual Leave Scheduling impacts leave scheduling.

We have several staff that wear many hats at work, but also in their communities. For a few their public servitude continues beyond their job at the department and extends to holding public office. In this special edition of  Field Days Podcast, you'll hear two interviews from department employees  Steve Gawron (Muskegon) and Scott Wittbrodt (Essexville), who are also mayors of there hometowns. Talk about doing double duty!  Chris and Greg also give a few shout outs to other staff that hold public office.  Let your voice be heard. Vote!

Happy Pumpkoween! Correctional facilities across the department have been growing pumpkins, small to nearly 800-pounders for decades -- either for fundraisers or community donations. This week on Field Days, Warden Cathy Bauman and Patti Hubble, acting RUM at Alger Correctional Facility, talk about their painted pumpkin fundraiser for the U.P. Honor Flight. Check out those pumpkins here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/142788094@N03/sets/72157701808674164/with/44363024864/ Also, Tim Buis, a CPC at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility shares a few insider secrets to growing giant pumpkins.

There were 1,941 opioid-related overdose deaths last year in Michigan, that's why Lt. Governor Brian Calley has chosen to speak out about the opioid crisis.  The Lt. Governor is focused on prevention and finding solutions to the opioid epidemic. "There are a lot of different reasons why people become addicted. You don't know another persons story, and it doesn't really matter." Lt. Gov. Calley wants Michigan to focus less on the stigma of addiction and more on providing treatment.  Hear more about what the state of Michigan is doing to end addiction in this episode of Field Days Podcast. October 21-27, 2018, has been declared by Gov. Rick Snyder as Opioid Addiction Awareness Week in Michigan to highlight some the state's initiatives and resources.   Join the conversation on social media using the following hashtags - #MiOpioidsAwareness and #EndAddiction Also, visit the new opioid awareness website for additional information and resources, Michigan.gov/opioid

In this episode, Director Washington touts the department's tremendous success over the last five years, recounting our accomplishments that are clearly laid out in the first-ever strategic plan progress report. Copies of the report were sent to all department worksites and can be found on the website here, bit.ly/MDOC-2018-strat-plan-report Also, an interview with a passionate woman driven to establish trauma-informed practices in state corrections operations. Toneir (Neen) Cain, is a former offender who had more than her fair share of trauma. Unfortunately, her past lead her to 83 arrests and 66 prison convictions, but she was able to turn her life around. Now, she travels the country to educate others about the importance of trauma-informed care. Tonier will be hosting the third Annual National Healing Neen Trauma Informed Care Conference, in Detroit, October 19-21, 2018. Five MDOC staff with be speaking at the conference, including Director Washington. More information can be found here, https://www.neencares.org/new-events/2018/10/19/third-annual-neen-cares-conference

Motivational Interviewing is a method of communication that helps people move beyond resistance to achieve long-term behavior change. Teresa Chandler, a training specialist, talks about how establishing Motivational Interviewing skills can lead to positive relationships and reduced stress at work, and even at home. There isn't a typical day for Governor Snyder's communications staff, says former press secretary, Anna Heaton. In her final days, Anna shares stories of what it was like to work for the Governor.

Denise Allsberry, assistant deputy director for the Office of Parole and Probation Services, who started her career with the department as a corrections officer in 1977 is retiring after over 41 years of service. In her final days, she shares one last piece of advice and tells a few stories about her time with the department. Denise's dedication has no doubt positively affected many offenders and staff. She will be missed.

Aside from enjoying pumpkin pie and then washing it all down with some apple cider our host's favorite Fall activity is squabbling over college football. Chris and Greg get to relive some of the glory days of college sports with Shane Jackson, warden at Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility and Darrel Stinson, corrections program coordinator at the Special Alternative Incarceration Both Shane and Darrel played college football in the early 90s for division I football teams, Shane at Eastern Michigan University and Darrel at Central Michigan University. In this episode, they get a chance to reminisce as CMU gears up for the big game against MSU this weekend, Go Green! Mike Brown, assistant deputy warden at Kinross Correctional Facility and president of the MDOC Shooting Team organization and Eugene Sebaly, corrections officer at Marquette Branch Prison talk about MDOC's success at the 81st Annual Michigan Police Pistol Match. Sheila Hamilton, prison counselor at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility, recently gains fame after being selected to sing in a gospel choir that performed at Aretha Franklin's Funeral.

Human Resources Director Jonathan Patterson provides an update on the bumping and layoff process for MDOC staff affected by the Ojibway Correctional Facility Closure. Also in this podcast, a brief memorial to remember Macomb County probation supervisor Larry McDonald, who unexpectedly passed away. Larry spoke on the podcast after he won Metro Territory Supervisor of the Year in 2017.

EPIC Employee Engagement team members, Lisa Marquette and Brittany Wahr talk about the importance of taking the 2018 Employee Engagement survey.

Tune in to this week's abbreviated episode of Field Days Podcast where hosts, Chris and Greg review topics from FOIA to football. Parole and probation agent Marty Jankowsky from Midland County, and prison counselor Hamilton from Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility receive shout outs!

The One Day With God camp, run by Forgiven Ministry, Inc., aims to provide prisoners with an opportunity to parent from behind bars. The camp Is a two-day program, which allows these moms and dads to enjoy a full day of special and meaningful moments with their children. Scottie Barnes, who founded Forgiven Ministry with her husband Jack, shares her stories about the children she hopes will not fall into the cycle of criminality their parents did.

The joy a dog brings to a correctional facility is not lost on the prisoners that train them in the 29 dog programs from various agencies or shelters, that operate in 21 correctional facilities across the state. Dogs trained and rehabilitated in these programs go on to become emotional support companions, therapy dogs, service dogs, and in some cases a well-behaved family pet. In a new episode of Field Days Podcast, Chris and Greg interview two MDOC staff who help facilitate the oldest and the youngest dog programs in the state. They both speak to the positive change they see at the facility, and in the prisoners themselves. Amy Houtz, an ARUS at Lakeland Correctional Facility, which is home to the longest running dog training program, The Greyhound Inmate Experience and Devyn Rodgers, a prison counselor at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility, which now operates two dog programs are today’s podcast guests.