DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Page 1 News and Facts to Keep You Informed - February 2006 Mission The Georgia Department of Corrections protects and serves the public as a professional organiza- tion by effectively managing offenders while helping to provide a safe and secure environment for the citizens of Georgia. Vision The Georgia Department of Corrections is the best corrections system in the nation at protect- ing the citizens from convicted offenders and at providing effective opportunities for offenders to achieve positive change. We are a leader and partner in making Georgia a safer, healthier, better educated, growing and best managed state. Core Goal A Safer, Healthier, Better Educated Growing, and Best Managed Georgia Core Organizational Principles Value Based: Stewards of the Public Trust Embrace Change: Change, Transformation is inevitable Business Acumen: Better Business Practice A Learning Organization: People are the Centerpiece Corrections recently received statewide a fitness instructor who teaches aerobic recognition for two of its newest initiatives. classes in The state publication, the Twin Georgia Statement, Towers". . . highlighted news about --The Corrections in an Georgia article on employee Statement fitness. A second arti- cle featured employee college courses. See excerpts below. A HEALTHY LIFE- COLLEGE CLASSES AT TWIN TOWERS STYLE FOR A HEALTHIER YOU: Organizations who help their employees get fit often improve their bottom line The Georgia Department of Corrections (DOC) is one step closer to offering academic core classes at the James H. "Sloppy" Floyd Building (Twin Towers). Faculty at Georgia According to Mercer Human Resource Consulting, health care coverage cost continues Perimeter College have agreed to provide academic core college classes at the Towers starting in January 2006 if DOC and other to outpace general inflation. Let's face it, rising agencies have enough employees to partici- health related costs have A significant impact pate. The classes would be held Tuesdays on the purse strings of both the employer and employees. Today, employers are recognizing the benefit of helping employees lead healthier and Thursdays evenings beginning in January. lives. Not only does productivity increase when Great Information to Assist in Furthering employees are happier and healthier, but Your Education or the Education of Your results have also been realized in a healthy Children or Grandchildren! bottom line. Many preventable diseases occur when employees choose to live unhealthy lifestyles. Many of these conditions cost businesses billions of dollars each year in health care premiums, sick leave, and life and disability insurance. Unhealthy and absent employees affect business productivity. Take obesity for instance. Although it is a preventable disease, obesity affects more than 59 million Americans. Obesity affects the health care and productivity costs of businesses by close to $13 billion annually. Experts estimate that stress is even costlier in medical bills. In fact, lifestyle choices contribute 50 percent to 70 percent of all diseases. As a result, more and more employers are getting involved in promoting the health and wellness of their workforce. . . "Currently, a few state agencies, such as the Department of Corrections (DOC), encourage employee fitness by offering onsite exercise programs. DOC provides If you are looking into going back to school (either for yourself or a family member) and are in need of financial aid to offset the costs, go on-line to fill out the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (otherwise referred to as "FAFSA") at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You may also want to look at the following websites to gather more information (that may assist you in your educational endeavors and finding additional avenues for financial aid or assistance:) www.gsfc.org (HOPE Grant and Scholarship programs) www.finaid.org (Financial Assistance information) www.Gacollegesavings.com (Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan) www.sdvs.georgia.gov (Veteran's Services) www.gsu.edu/eoc (Educational Opportunities Center) www.gacollege411.org (Information to assist in getting into college) Continuation . . . COMMISSIONER: JAMES E. DONALD Page 2 Tour Time at Tift College News and Facts to Keep You Informed - February 2006 Page 2 DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AT TIFT COLLEGE On the morning of January 10th, Governor Perdue announced plans to move the Department of Corrections headquarters from Atlanta to the vacant Tift College in Forsyth by 2009. The move will position Corrections in the geographical center of the state and closer to the majority of its facilities. Corrections is hosting an opportunity for employees to tour the site of Tift College, the city of Forsyth and meet CULINARY ARTS AT PULASKI SP government and business leaders. The first tour will take place on Friday, Chef Jim Basting (pictured left) February 17th. The Culinary Arts Program at Pulaski State Prison is a six to twelve month program. The Visit our website at www.dcor.state.ga.us students receive twenty-two credit hours for the course from Middle Georgia Technical College. Commissioner: James E. Donald During the course, the students learn the history of the cooking profession, are required to create their own restaurant, design menus, Public Affairs Director: Yolanda E. Thompson recipes and inventories. They learn basic cooking skills as well as preparation of regional and classical cuisine. Managing Editor: Camille Y. Cunningham Please direct comments or questions to: During the Food Safety course, students receive the National Restaurant Association SERV-SAFE Food Managers Certification recognized at the national level. The American Culinary Federation (ACF) recognizes the course as meeting the educational requirements for apprenticeship certification. The course is instructed by Executive Chef Jim Basting. Basting recently held the title of Executive Vice President of Food and Beverage. This Corporate Chef has been inducted into the Commanderie Des Cordons Bleus and is President of the ACF Middle Georgia Chefs Association. Currently, four graduates and ex-offenders are enrolled as apprentices in the ACF Program and will become certified Culinarians. Georgia Department of Corrections Office of Public Affairs 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. East Tower, Suite 864 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-656-9772 Fax: 404-656-6434 Email: GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us