Impact Georgia, Oct. 2009

GDC HOSTS QUARTERLY AWARDS CEREMONY

October 2009 Newsletter

The Department held its 17th Quarterly Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, September 16th. Employees were recognized from the Corrections Division, Operations, Planning, and Training Division, Administration Division, and Executive Operations. Kimberly Gregory of Telfair State Prison received the CO of the Quarter Award and Cory Beggs of the Blairsville Probation Office received the PO of the Quarter Award.
Selected individuals received Customer Service Champion Awards for delivering exceptional customer service, and others were presented with the Unsung Hero Award for going above and beyond the call of duty. Faithful Service Awards were presented to dedicated employees with service ranging between five and 30 years. Speakers included Commissioner Brian Owens, Assistant Commissioner Derrick Schofield, Director of Engineering & Construction Services, Larry Latimer, and Director of Personnel, Cindy Schweiger.
Photo 1: CO Kimberly Gregory, Photo 2: Ceremony Attendees, Photo 3: PO Cory Beggs
THE DEPARTMENT KICKS OFF THE STATE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS PROGRAM (SCCP)
The State Charitable Contributions Program officially began September 1, 2009. Central Office staff have been participating in several fundraisers, and field staff have been taking advantage of the Blue Jean Wednesdays. Plans are currently underway for our Inaugural Motorcycle Ride. The cost is $20 for pre-registration and $25 for walk-up registration. To register for this event, contact Brad Patterson at 404-463-0149 or send an email to patteb00@dcor.state.ga.us.
Our goal this year is to raise $100,000. What better time to show we care when so many of our fellow citizens have been impacted by the devastating floods. Numerous charities will benefit from our donations.
RE-ENTRY HOLDS PARTNERSHIP HOUSING RECRUITMENT MEETINGS
The Georgia Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles are hosting a series of community briefings to recruit community housing service providers for offenders upon their release from prison. A total of 22 meetings will be held statewide through February 2010. The briefings will educate potential housing providers about the joint initiative. The program is important to both agencies because 95% of offenders return to the community and 28% recidivate within three years.
Within the group of returning offenders, there is a high demand for specialized housing. This specialized housing includes those which can accommodate sex offenders, violent offenders, those requiring electronic monitoring and those with medical and mental health needs. There is also a need for providers with resource based facilities able to meet the needs of offenders with multiple demands, nursing homes, personal care and assisted living.
Pictured left to right: Major General (Ret.) James E. Donald, LaTrese Schofield (Residential Coordinator), B.J. Blair (Re-entry Coordinator), and A.J. Sabree (Director of Re-entry Services).

In this Issue:
GDC Quarterly Awards Charitable Contributions Re-entry Partnership Housing Bostick State Prison LASP "Locks of Love" Athens Probation Office Georgia Probation Association Employee Assistance Program
Upcoming Events:
October 7 - Mock Jail (SCCP Event) October 12 - Columbus Day (Holiday) October 16 - GDC Family Day in Milledgeville, Ga. October 17 - Monroe Co. Motorcycle Ride (SCCP Event) October 28 - Annual Statewide Human Resources meeting at Middle Georgia Technical College (Warner Robins, Ga.) October 28 - Silent Auction (SCCP Event) October 29 - Halloween Contest (SCCP Event) October 29 - Statewide Warden/ Chiefs Meeting

BOSTICK STATE PRISON JOINS OTHERS TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER
In an effort to fight the battle against childhood cancer, Dr. Tony Willoughby, Warden Alexis Chase, Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment, Sandra Abrams, Chief of Security at the Bostick Unit, Capt. John Cooks and other volunteers participated in Alex's Lemonade Stand on August 29th. The event was held at the Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville, Ga., and the Bostick staff raised $100 in three hours.
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) first began in 2000, when a then 4-year-old cancer patient named Alex voiced a simple wish she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help "her doctors" find a cure for all kids with cancer. ALSF is committed to finding a cure for all children with cancer.

Did You Know?
Since the founding of Alex's Lemonade Stand, the organization has raised more than $25 million to
help find a cure for children with cancer.

LEE ARRENDALE STATE PRISON CREATES "LOCKS OF LOVE" PROGRAM
Lee Arrendale State Prison has recently completed a community service project involving their inmates and detainees to benefit "Locks of Love." "Locks of Love" is a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces to children between the ages of six and 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss.
There were over 150 ponytails collected, which will go to make up to 20 hair pieces for the children that qualify with "Locks of Love." This will become an annual event at Arrendale
ATHENS PROBATION OFFICE HOLDS CHANGE OF RESPONSIBILITY CEREMONY
The Department held a Change of Responsibility Ceremony for William Driver, who has been appointed Chief Probation Officer of the Western Judicial Circuit. The Western Judicial Circuit supervises approximately 1,120 offenders in Clarke and Oconee counties.
CPO William Driver began his career as a Probation Officer with the Elberton Probation Office in May 2000. We congratulate him on his promotion.

Commissioner Brian Owens Public Affairs: Joan Heath, Director Sharmelle Brooks, Editor Kristen Stancil, Contributor Contact: 404-656-9772 GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us www.dcor.state.ga.us
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GEORGIA PROBATION ASSOCIATION HOLDS ANNUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE
The Georgia Probation Association 52nd Annual Summer Conference was held August 12-14. The theme for this year's conference was "Exceptional is the Standard." Presenters included Wally Marchant of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center Police Academy, Director of Training Thalrone Williams, Bill Blackburn and Rob Lamotte, Administation Division Director Becky East and Jessica Cannon of DHR.
On Friday morning Commissioner Brian Owens met with the attendees and Scott Johnson presented persuasive communication. Chief Freddy Pulliam of the Northern Circuit won the Lee Broome Award and Kyle Shelton of the Paulding Circuit won the GPA Impact Award. GPA awarded a $1000.00 educational scholarship to Chief Billy Bearden. There was a firearms competition that was won by Jay Sanders, POM Hearing Officer.
NEW EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COUNSELING PROVIDER
GDC has contracted with Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Consultants, Inc. to serve as our contract counseling provider. EAP Consultants, Inc. operates statewide, making these services available and accessible to all GDC employees and their immediate family members.
GDC continues to provide employees information and resources that may assist in times of need through our in-house Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Central Office employees can access GDC's in-house EAP by contacting the Central Office coordinator, Julie Harnage, or another local or nearby EAP coordinator. These coordinators are located in every facility and probation circuit across the state.
Please don't hesitate in exploring and taking advantage of the EAP services both offered in-house and contracted by GDC, should you find yourself or a fellow employee in need. Please contact Julie Hanage, GDC Statewide Employee Assistance Program Coordinator, at 404-463-6623.