Impact Georgia, Apr. 2009

April 2009 Newsletter

GDC'S QUARTERLY AWARDS CEREMONY

The Department held its 15th Quarterly Awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 17. Employees were recognized from Corrections Division, Operations, Planning, & Training Division, Administration Division, and Executive Operations. Unsung Hero Awards were given to individuals who went above and beyond their call of duty.

Faithful Service Awards were presented to employees who have been dedicated to the Department for five years to 30 years.
Special guests included former GDC Commissioner, Major General James E. Donald and former Corrections Division Director, Arnie DePetro.
The photos shown (from the top, to the bottom, to the right) Faithful Service Award winners in the 15 years catergory, Unsung Hero Award, Linda Graves, and Faithful Service Award winners in the 30 years category.
FORSYTHIA FESTIVAL
For the third year in a row, GDC employees showed their support for our new hometown by participating in the 22nd Annual Forsythia Fes-
tival. GDC's OneTeam-Run Team participated in the 5k Run and 1- mile Fun Run. Kudos are extended to Sheila Oubre, Warden, Phillips State Prison, for getting the largest team together to participate in the race. Other runners included staff from Burruss CTC, Central State Prison, Rutledge State Prison and Central Office.
Additional staff provided information to festival goers about upcoming vacancies as we transition to Forsyth.

In this Issue:
GDC's Quarterly Awards Forsythia Festival Guide Dog Graduation Equine Program Customer Service Champion Probation Conference Prison Braille Program Phillips State Prison

Engineering and Construction Services, in association with the architectural firm of Lord, Aeck, & Sargent, provided a walking tour of the campus renovations to the public. This free tour provided a historical look at the campus, as well as a preview of what is to come.

GDC's One Team-Run Team

METRO STATE PRISON'S GUIDE DOG TRAINING GRADUATION
The sixth guide dog class graduation was held at Metro State Prison on March 12. Inmates completing the class received 15 college credit hours and a Technical School Certificate from Middle Georgia Technical College.
The VISION Project at Metro State Prison is a 12 to 14 month Veterinary Assistant and Animal Caretaker class that provides inmates the opportunity to gain useful job skills and give back to society. The project also provides guide dog training to puppies that are supplied by the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind.
The guide dogs will be returned to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in New York, to undergo more intensive training, and ultimately will be matched with a visually impaired recipient, free of charge.
Photo: The graduating inmates each sit with their guide dog.

Upcoming Events:
April 2 - Pulaski State Prison's Faith & Character Based Dormitory Graduation.
April 7 - Rome Day Reporting Center Commencement
April 8 - GDC Staff Tour of Tift Campus
April 16 - Annual Law Enforcement Meeting

REMINDER: The 2009 application deadline for the Georgia Prison Wardens' Association (GPWA) Scholarship Award is April 15. Visit www.gpwainfo.org.

Did You Know?
According to the American Printing House for the Blind,
5,626 students in the U.S. are Braille readers.
* As of FY2007

EQUINE RESCUE PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS PULASKI STATE PRISON INMATES
The Georgia Department of Corrections and the Georgia Department of Agriculture have recently formed a partnership to provide an equine rescue program at Pulaski State Prison. The program operates without the use of tax dollars.The Georgia Equine Rescue League, the Georgia Horse Council and other organizations and individuals assist with financial support.
Risk Reduction Services and Workforce Development coordinated with Middle Georgia Technical College to offer veterinary assistant certificates to inmates involved in the equine rescue program.
The animals remain in temporary care until they're nursed back to health. Horses not returned to their owners are sold at auctions, which creates another source of funding. Thirteen inmates currently participate in the rescue program.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new partnership on March 26 at Pulaski, where 21 animals are currently housed.
Photos: top to bottom - Commissioner Owens and Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin cut the ribbon for the new partnership.
Inmates feed the horses and other animals.

A WORD FROM OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CHAMPION
In this economic climate, thinking outside the box to exceed our customer's expectations is a very practical solution. What are some ideas and solutions we can come up with to help our customers? We can acknowledge our customers and give them our attention. We can treat them with courtesy and kindness to gain their respect. We can listen and be responsive to their needs. We can use our talents and skills to create new ideas for interacting with our internal and external customers. We will know and implement our agency's resources and services. When we display knowledge, resourcefulness and utilize our talents we will be able to find solutions in our quest to exceed our customer's expectations with ideas that reside outside of the box.

Cathy Smith, GDC Customer Service Champion

GEORGIA PROBATION ASSOCIATION MID-WINTER TRAINING CONFERENCE
The Georgia Probation Association (GPA) held its 24th annual Mid-Winter Conference in Helen, Georgia March 18 through March 20. The theme for this year's event was "Teaming Up to Face the Challenge." Guest speakers included Commissioner Brian Owens, Dr. Alan Black, Rick Jacobs from GDC's Special Operations unit, Kimberly Jones on I.C.O.T.S., Administration Division Director, Becky East and Mitzi Richards of Administration Division's Consolidated Banking Unit, and Julie Harnage of Personnel. Stan Cooper, Director of Probation Operations, also spoke to the crowd about the importance of their work and sustaining high perfomance.

In addition to the training, the attendees had the opportunity to speak one on one with the featured speakers. There was also a cookout hosted by GPA. The conference also provided the attendees an opportunity to get to know others from around the state. The next conference will be on Jekyll Island in August 2009.

2009 Georgia Probation Association Executive Board

Commissioner Brian Owens
Public Affairs: Joan Heath, Director Sharmelle Brooks Kristen Stancil
Contact: 404-656-9772 GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us www.dcor.state.ga.us

SCOTT AND MEN'S STATE PRISONS CONSOLIDATE BRAILLE PROGRAM
The Braille Program at Scott State Prison in Hardwick, Georgia began in April, 2006 as an outgrowth of the Braille Program at Men's State Prison. In February 2008, the two facilities consolidated the programs and became one unit called the Georgia Braille Transcribers (GBT).
Twenty-nine men from the two medium security facilities participate in the Braille Program as students, trainees, apprentices, or program aides. Individuals selected for participation in the Braille Program complete vocational education units under the guidance of Middle Georgia Technical College (MGTC). Upon completion of 960 contact hours and course objectives, participants receive a certificate of achievement from MGTC.
In the first three quarters of FY 2008, GBT had transcribed 14 textbooks for Georgia's students. Scott State Prison will be hosting an open house for the program on April 29.
PHILLIPS STATE PRISON'S FIT CLUB
Phillip's Fit Club began July 2008 and was designed to fall in line with the Commissioner's mission toward promoting a positive lifestyle change that will increase overall health. Each individual participant developed their own weight loss regimen that incorporated healthy meals and working out regularly. Through staff facilitated physical fitness training, weekly weigh-ins, and support meetings, participants have lost a combined total of over 250 pounds in the first six months! Participants included Warden Sheila Oubre, Rhonda Billings (Mental Health Director), Tameka Leggs (Senior Mental Health Counselor), Sabrina Garror (Chief Counselor), Tyleia Thurmond (Dental Assistant), Kendia Peppers (Senior Mental Health Counselor), and Beth Carson (Mental Health Secretary).

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