This SIG discusses the issues and concerns of correctional educators working in short-term detention facilities. http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/list.php?8 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:31:39 -0400 Phorum 5.2.7 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,2276,2276#msg-2276 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,2276,2276#msg-2276
Sheboygan County, like other counties in Wisconsin, needs to address literacy of all kinds – reading, mathematics, written and oral communications, computer skills, and, yes, financial, family, health, and civics literacy. Over the last two decades, the average number of inmates participating in Lakeshore Technical College’s Adult Basic Education for the Incarcerated Project is 150 per year. Nearly 50% enter the program without a high school credential. Of the approximate 70 individuals pursuing the GED/HSED during any one year generally 25-30 will identify it as an achievable goal within the academic year. Of those entering the program without a high school credential as many as 90% will enter the program with less than a 9th grade ability in reading, mathematics, or both. The depth of need is exacerbated by the prevalence of limited English proficiency and learning disabilities.

Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) partners with Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department and the State of Wisconsin to provide on-site basic education services for adults incarcerated in the Sheboygan County Detention Center. These services include: GED/HSED, basic skills review, college preparation, and employment preparation. LTC provides a full-time instructor and equips the Detention Center classroom with textbooks, office supplies, and thirteen computers. LTC provides basic education to inmates of Sheboygan County at both 0-8 and 9-12 grade levels. Participation in the program is voluntary. Each participant sets individualized education and employment goals at registration and regularly evaluates progress towards those goals with the help of the instructor. The evaluation process includes, but is not limited to, pre- and post-testing. Most common goals include upgrade academic skills, obtain high school equivalency, prepare for college, and obtain employment.

Adult learners in LTC’s Adult Basic Education for the Incarcerated Project with support of instructional staff are expected to:
? Enter to learn
? Go forth to serve
? @#$%& attitudes, skills, knowledge
? Set measurable goals
? Evaluate progress towards the pursuit of chosen goals
? Participate in fundamental literacy programming such as career exploration, computer skills, reading, vocabulary, mathematics, written and verbal communication, parenting, health, civics, and personal finances
? Improve literacy levels/grade equivalencies
? Pass GED/HSED tests
? Earn GED and HSED diplomas
? Participate in the full cap and gown ceremony right alongside other students at the school-wide GED/HSED Graduation ceremony held each June at the main LTC campus in Cleveland, Wisconsin
? Prepare for and/or enroll in post-secondary education
? Obtain, retain, and upgrade employment
? Take responsibility for own actions and decisions
? Be respectful
? Be resourceful
? Peer-tutor in class and in the pods
? Behave responsibly and stay out of jail!

The program is open to any inmate requesting to attend unless there are disciplinary or safety and security issues. Jail administration denies only a small percentage of requests. When time and space provide, virtually everyone is allowed the privilege to attend educational programming. Thus, on any given day the Sheboygan County Detention Center classroom includes diversities of age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, medical condition, race, ethnicity, criminal record, socioeconomic status and background, employment status and history, educational level, religion, gang involvement, alcohol/drug use, and sexual orientation. Inmates also vary by custody level, escape risk, danger risk, legal status, and expected length of stay.

Length of participation in Lakeshore Technical College’s Sheboygan County Incarcerated Project is based on length of stay and ranges from less than one week to over a year, a two to five month average. As long as behavior meets the classroom Conduct Code and the Detention Center/Jail Rules and the inmate is making progress toward identified goals, the recognized duration of programming for said inmate is from point of registration to release or transfer. However, LTC Instructor Sharon Abel makes it a practice to follow up with her former students and remain an approachable resource for inmates/students post-release.

To supplement Lakeshore Technical College’s Sheboygan County Incarcerated Project, inmates are afforded a second opportunity through the recently formed Lakeshore Reentry, Inc. The non-profit volunteer Lakeshore Reentry team gives inmates a second chance to realize their potential and make a difference someday to the wellbeing of their community by "championing the cause" of successful reentry. They provide referrals, advice, and advocacy to former inmates and their families seeking services for a successful reentry into the surrounding lakeshore communities. For more information about Lakeshore Reentry, Inc., go to www.lakeshorereentry

by: Sharon Abel, Lakeshore Technical College/ Sheboygan County Detention Center]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:43:00 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,2275,2275#msg-2275 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,2275,2275#msg-2275
Teaching for 26 years in a variety of settings has shown Willa MacKenzie, “You can always learn no matter what your predicament is in life.” For the past six years, Willa has been employed by Western Technical College (Wisconsin) as an Adult Basic Education/ GED/ HSED instructor at the LaCrosse County Jail where she believes it is her job is to help people define their learning goals and then help them achieve those goals.

In nominating Willa for the 2013 Wisconsin Correctional Teacher of the Year award, Chad Dull, Western Technical College Dean commented, “Willa is an exceptional educator who takes student success as a personal challenge. In her time at the jail, she has built an exceptional program that not only helps inmates build a foundation for success, but also helps them build the pathway to better lives.”

In recognition of Willa’s innovation, dedication and tireless work, the CEA-Wisconsin Executive Board is proud to name Willa MacKenzie as the 2013 Wisconsin Correctional Teacher of the Year.

Willa holds an Associates Degree form Highland Community College, a Bachelors of Education Degree from Northern Illinois University and a Masters of Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. She also has an English Language Endorsement from Mesa Community College.

Prior to her employment at the LaCrosse County Jail, Willa worked from 1987-90 as an Elementary Education Teacher in the Freeport Catholic Schools, from 1990-91 as a K-8 Teacher at Dobson Montessori School, from 1991-2004 as an Elementary Education Teacher in the Mesa Public Schools, and from 2004-05 as a GOAL/ELL Teacher at Western Technical College.

During her six years of instruction at the LaCrosse County Jail, Willa has expanded the curriculum beyond the traditional Adult Basic Education and GED/HSED subject matter to offer classes that appeal to a variety of interests at different ability levels and are relevant to the inmate’s life while incarcerated and after release. Four innovative additions that Willa has made to the LaCrosse County Jail education program are:

Employment Class
Based on the books by Ron and Caryl Krannich, The Ex-Offender’s Job Hunting Guide and The Ex-Offender’s Interview Guide, Willa created a series of classes that deal with how to win the interview, how to be a good worker, and how to answer the “red flag” questions about the inmate’s criminal background.

The tone of the classes is one of encouragement, but is based on the premise that in order to get the job the inmate needs to do some serious background work on the company and the position for which he is applying. Willa believes they need to go above and beyond the normal applicant in the search for work. The class allows inmates to explore and @#$%& their work skills and talents so they can be more marketable in the workplace and help the company profit by their hire. Willa also helps her students develop an understanding of the soft skills required in today’s employment market.

For the past four years, Willa has involved a community volunteer in helping teach the Employment Class. The man-to-man discussion of work ethics provided by the volunteer is a highlight for students.

Personal Finance Class
In this class, Willa gives a brief introduction to financial issues from National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning Program that are modified to meet the needs of the particular financial problems and questions facing the inmates upon release.

The Personal Finance Class allows inmates to think about their values pertaining to money. They develop a budget and learn to define fixed and variable expenses that they will incur in real life situations upon release. The inmates have an opportunity to @#$%& their needs and wants for the money they earn, learn how to read a paycheck stub, understand types of credit, and learn about insurance. They also get a chance to play financial advisor to a set of fictitious incarcerated characters who have similar money problems.

Jail Newsletter
Willa created and oversees an inmate newsletter titled, “Around the Blocks from A to K, LaCrosse Co. Jail’s Newsletter.” This publication is a compilation of art, writing, puzzles and interesting articles contributed by inmates. It has evolved over the years to include canteen recipes, a job spotlight corner and a fun horoscope written specifically for the daily activities of the inmates. It is published once per semester and lists the names of the inmates who have completed their GED/HSED while incarcerated.

The Jail Newsletter is a creative endeavor with a seasonal theme that most inmates enjoy reading. It offers a creative outreach within a specific jail house community and gives inmates a chance to contribute to a published work.

A Hero’s Journey
Willa developed this class is based on the curriculum, The Hero’s Journey: A Guide to Literature and Life by Reg Harris and Susan Thompson. The curriculum explores the eight stages of the Hero’s Journey. The class serves as a guide to help inmates explore storytelling and creative writing about themselves and where they are in their life’s journey. Through the study of the philosophy of the Hero’s Journey, students engage in creative writing, character assessment, and pilot outlines as they watch a series of four movies and read short stories pertaining to common themes in life.

The Hero’s Journey class gives students who are beyond the GED/HSED level a chance to partake in a higher level thinking class. Through the use of reading, writing and discussion of movie plots, it encourages them to walk in someone else’s shoes. Inmates define problems that a character has and then they identify the stages of growth and evolving-self character traits that can block or transform those characters’ lives.

The class offers an introduction to an eight stage guide to problem solving and introspection into life challenges and temptations faced by ordinary men. Most inmates say the class fits nicely with the Thinking for a Change curriculum offered at the LaCrosse County Jail.

The CEA-Wisconsin Executive Board is pleased to recognize Willa MacKenzie as the 2013 Wisconsin Correctional Teacher of the Year. Willa will represent Wisconsin at the Region III & IV CEA Conference in Mason City, Iowa on April 22-23.]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:40:41 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1886,1886#msg-1886 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1886,1886#msg-1886
Waushara County Jail (Wisconsin) is one of Fox Valley Technical College’s jail sites. FVTC provides Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes in the Outagamie, Winnebago, Waupaca and Waushara county jails. Waushara County Jail is located in rural Wautoma. ABE classes are held at the jail for a total of 5 hours per week.

Up until last year, Waushara County housed not only county inmates, but also state inmates. Since the transfer of state inmates to state institutions, the Waushara County/FVTC Jail Literacy Program has changed dramatically, meeting fewer hours per week and serving fewer students.

The revolving door of a county jail makes it more difficult to have students complete a GED/HSED. Although FVTC has an Outreach Site located approximately 3 blocks from the jail, once students are released from jail the tendency is to NOT follow up on educational goals.

Typically the male classes have about eight students per session. The main focus is on GED/HSED prep, although enrichment students are welcomed to attend. Students complete and submit an application form. Upon review, the students are then given the guidelines for participation. Students must agree to attend class every session. No absences are allowed. If a student is truly ill, he/she can be excused; however, 100% attendance is required.

The female population is more transient. Typically two to three students attend class. More often than not, the women are enrichment students, having already obtained a high school credential of some sort.

GED Testing is offered once per month. Fortunately for the inmates testing fees are paid by Waushara County Jail. Students are given multiple Official GED Practice tests to ensure their successful passing scores. Since 2007, approximately 150 inmates have taken one or more tests and approximately 30 inmates have completed his/her GED/HSED.

Students attending class have access to a class library. This library includes multiple copies of books so that, if desired, an entire cell block can read and discuss a book. One favorite is The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls. Men and women alike are touched Jeannette’s story of living life in an extremely dysfunctional family. Other favorite authors include: James Patterson, Jodi Picoult, J.K. Rowling, and David Brown, just to mention a few. This library is made possible through donations from the classroom instructor and others that she has “in the loop.”

Laurie Jarvis has been the instructor at the Waushara County Jail for several years. Laurie represents Community Corrections on the CEA-Wisconsin Board of Directors. She has presented at several Jail Break sessions. She truly enjoys teaching at the Waushara County Jail and sometimes likes to surprise people she meets by saying that she is off to jail!

by: Laurie Jarvis, FVTC/Waushara County Jail]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:48:15 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1767,1767#msg-1767 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1767,1767#msg-1767
On Thursday Mayor Bloomberg visited the Belmont school of Passages Academy, one of 5 sites serving students as part of the Close to Home (C2H) initiative.

[www.youtube.com]


NYS C2H legislation passed in March and beginning September 1st teenagers convicted of juvenile delinquency offenses are residing in Administration of Children’s Services (ACS) contracted agency homes operated by 11 Community Based Organizations throughout the five boroughs.

This group of students (Non-Secure Placement) will no longer be sent to upstate facilities.
Thus they will remain within the NYC public school system receiving uninterrupted instruction within Common Core aligned curriculum and assessments.
Credits earned will be entered directly onto NYC transcripts. Educational reentry to home schools will be seamless with participation of families, ACS and home agencies.

This is just the beginning and we have many adjustments to be made. However, we are off to a great start!
I would like to recognize District 79 and the interagency organized collaborative efforts of so many people in getting the schools up and running in record time.

For more information on education within C2H or about education of NYC court-involved youth, please email me.
Thank you.

Timothy F. Lisante, Ph.D.
CEA Jails Education Chair]]> tlisant Jails Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:38:54 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1765,1765#msg-1765 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1765,1765#msg-1765
In just five short years, the Marinette (Wisconsin) County Jail has reached the 100 GED graduate milestone.

On July 23rd, 2012, Hailee Doucette became the one hundredth inmate at the Marinette County Jail to earn a GED certificate through the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) program doing so in grand fashion – scoring well enough to receive high honors. No one could have imagined five years ago when the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee pledged to reduce jail recidivism in part through education that we would achieve the goals that we have.

Marinette County is a relatively small jail with an average daily population of 110 inmates, so reaching the century mark for graduates says a lot about our program, staff, management, and educators. In addition to this latest success, the collaboration between the jail and both Marinette High School and NWTC earned Marinette County the Wisconsin Good Government Award in 2009 in the category of “County-Led Cooperative Initiative’s with Other Units of Government.”

Accomplishing this feat has been no easy task. The process all begins with Ellen Hanneman, Jail Program Officer. She is the front line contact with the inmates and is instrumental in reviewing the educational/program needs of anyone who enters the jail. She administers the required initial skills test (TABE) to establish a base line grade level for language, math, and reading. Inmates who test below the minimum grade level to enter our GED prep course are placed with a volunteer tutor where they receive one-on-one training until they reach the appropriate level for program entry.

Marinette County officials who are dedicated and supportive of our efforts have been essential to our success. This is evident by the fact that they approved the creation of a full time jail program officer and increased on-site GED preparation instruction by 100%. Teaming up with NWTC has been a key factor in generating results. NWTC instructors Gary Johnson, Roxanne Bowdin, and Kevin Hahn play a vital role by providing the instruction that prepares each inmate to test. Pair that with the fact that the jail is now an approved GED test site, and it all spells success. Teamwork is crucial to whether an operation is successful or not, and right now we have a great team.

One of the main goals of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee was to stop the warehousing of subjects and close the revolving door aspect of the jail. Through education and programming, we are doing just that. We have already seen several graduates who have gone on to higher education and are well on their way to becoming productive members of society with a pay-it-forward kind of attitude that builds communities. Single moms breaking the cycle of abuse and dead-beat dads who are now able to get a job to help raise their children are just two great examples of this success story. One person at a time can make a difference.

Since the fall of 2007, Marinette County has averaged just over 20 graduates a year, with an unheard of 70% completion rate. When you add that to the number of inmates who have partial completions or major advancements in skill level due to tutoring, we can’t help but be proud of what this organization has achieved.

Of course this is not a job which is accomplished by one or even two individuals. It takes the cooperation of many people, from the line staff to the business manager and from the program officer to instructors, administrators, and volunteers – all working in perfect harmony towards one common goal.

I think that I would be remiss in reporting this special occasion without personally thanking a few of the talented and dedicated individuals that helped make this all possible:
•Northeast Wisconsin Technical College – Dean of Education Pat O’Hara and Staff Gary Johnson; Roxanne Bowdin; Cindy Nieminski; Kevin Hahn; Kathy Mattson and Carl Krog
•Marinette County Jail Volunteer Tutors – John Shallow; Neal Gregersen: Martha Karbon; Wendy Karthius; Pat Hendricks; Mariel Carter and Laura Isaacson
•Marinette County Criminal Justice Committee – Chairperson Ellen Sorenson; Judge David Miron, District Attorney Allen Brey; and current members Bill Kowalski, Bobbi Christopherson, Bradley Schraven, Bryan Peth, Corina Dionne, James Morrison, Linda Dumke Marquardt, Paul Gustafson, Paul Hueter, Robert Majewski, Robin Elsner

Finally I would like to acknowledge former Sheriff Jim Kanikula, previous Jail Program Officer Stephanie Timblin and all of the former members of the Criminal Justice Committee for their contributions in getting this ball rolling.

We remain optimistic about the future of our jail educational program and the positive outcomes that will occur as a result of what is being accomplished. I am confident that we will meet any new challenges head-on with a dedicated team and a can-do attitude. NOW on to the next 100.

by: Jerome T. Sauve, Sheriff Marinette County]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:35:26 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1614,1614#msg-1614 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1614,1614#msg-1614
Teacher cited for commitment to aiding others

Ronnie VannBeets is a 17-year-old in jail and Lisa Anne Arneson is helping him get ready for adulthood. VannBeets is one of more than a dozen other inmates at the Sheboygan County Detention Center (Wisconsin) who attend Arneson's financial literacy classes, which last week included instruction on how to rent an apartment, especially how to delicately address their criminal history.

"Give the 'who,' 'what,' 'where' and 'when,'" Arneson told them. "Be brief, but don't hide anything. Knowing your (criminal) history — let's be real about it — you don't have much on your side."

"Just be honest," one inmate said.

"But not too honest," said VannBeets. "If you were my landlord," he said, turning to Arneson, "we'd be good."

"What gives you that impression?" Arneson fired back with a wink.

Arneson, a credit and housing counselor at Consumer Credit Counseling Services in Sheboygan, has been teaching inmates at the Detention Center and the Kettle Moraine Correction Institution for the last four years. She volunteers some of her time and some of it is paid for through a grant from the United Way of Sheboygan and Plymouth.

This summer Arneson was recognized for her work by the Correctional Education Association with its Advocate Award for 2011 during the group's International Conference in Charleston, West Virginia.

"She is known for her unwavering commitment to help others accomplish practical financial literacy skills and her advocacy of all populations to achieve financial stability," said Sharon Abel in nominating Arneson. Abel is an adult education instructor at Lakeshore Technical College who helps oversee Arneson's work with inmates.

Arneson's students are all men and range in age from 17 to 57, with most being in their 20s and 30s. "We talk a lot about credit and learning about credit reports, correcting inaccurate information on there and putting together a plan for post release so they have a guideline once they get to that point," she said.

Other topics include how to budget, how to apply for an apartment and how to choose roommates or whether they should even have a roommate.
"I've learned a lot, mainly how to build my credit, because I don't have any credit," VannBeets said. "And how to get a house, and prioritizing what you want in a home. And how to organize my money, how to budget. She's helped me a lot. I'm into it."

He hopes to apply what he's learning as soon as he gets out of jail, which could be some time since he's scheduled to be sentenced on Monday on a felony drug-related charge, for which he was charged as an adult.

"My lawyer made a deal with (the district attorney) for two in (prison) and four out (on probation). I'm hoping I get nine months with credit for time served," said VannBeets, who's been in jail for the last six months.

Arneson said a big issue for inmates was identity theft, of which they often are victims. "They become prime targets," she said. "Sometimes people who don't know them or significant others, like a girlfriend who is ticked off, all of a sudden use their bank account or name and address.” Last year, 13 inmates in the county Detention Center were victims of identity theft, she said.

A regular feature of her class is to pull a credit report for each inmate, which most of them have never seen before, she said. In one instance, an inmate found out that his bank account had been drained of nearly $16,000. An investigation later showed that his parents had withdrawn the money. "He didn't know any of it until we pulled his credit report," she said.

Arneson doesn't pry into the inmates' criminal records, she said. "I never look them up. I don't know want to know. I don't want to judge," she said. "Debt is debt. People on the outside have debt and child support. The problems are exactly the same. It's just that these people have lived a lot more of life than the people on the outside."

What the inmates learn from Arneson is a key to helping them not come back to jail, she said.

"A lot comes down to finances. When people don't have the money, that's when they branch out — whether it's crime or other activity," she said. "Reaching out to them and helping them have a more stable life post release reduces the temptation to come back. As a taxpayer, I'd rather help them than complain about what they're not doing."

Sheriff's Cpl. Roy Kluss, director of the Detention Center's Director of the Huber and electronic monitoring program who helps oversee Arneson's programs, agreed. "I've come to realize once they get in the classroom, they're more open to how to treat their problems," Kluss said. "If these guys don't get this training, they won't be able to adjust or move on once they're released."

Arneson said she often hears from inmates after they are released. "I never follow up. But when they need help or have questions or they know someone who does, they call me," she said. "That's the best part for me."

by: Dan Benson, Sheboygan Press
reprinted with permission]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:20:45 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1613,1613#msg-1613 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1613,1613#msg-1613
Teacher cited for commitment to aiding others

Ronnie VannBeets is a 17-year-old in jail and Lisa Anne Arneson is helping him get ready for adulthood. VannBeets is one of more than a dozen other inmates at the Sheboygan County Detention Center who attend Arneson's financial literacy classes, which last week included instruction on how to rent an apartment, especially how to delicately address their criminal history.

"Give the 'who,' 'what,' 'where' and 'when,'" Arneson told them. "Be brief, but don't hide anything. Knowing your (criminal) history — let's be real about it — you don't have much on your side."

"Just be honest," one inmate said.

"But not too honest," said VannBeets. "If you were my landlord," he said, turning to Arneson, "we'd be good."

"What gives you that impression?" Arneson fired back with a wink.

Arneson, a credit and housing counselor at Consumer Credit Counseling Services in Sheboygan, has been teaching inmates at the Detention Center and the Kettle Moraine Correction Institution for the last four years. She volunteers some of her time and some of it is paid for through a grant from the United Way of Sheboygan and Plymouth.

This summer Arneson was recognized for her work by the Correctional Education Association with its Advocate Award for 2011 during the group's International Conference in Charleston, West Virginia.

"She is known for her unwavering commitment to help others accomplish practical financial literacy skills and her advocacy of all populations to achieve financial stability," said Sharon Abel in nominating Arneson. Abel is an adult education instructor at Lakeshore Technical College who helps oversee Arneson's work with inmates.

Arneson's students are all men and range in age from 17 to 57, with most being in their 20s and 30s. "We talk a lot about credit and learning about credit reports, correcting inaccurate information on there and putting together a plan for post release so they have a guideline once they get to that point," she said.

Other topics include how to budget, how to apply for an apartment and how to choose roommates or whether they should even have a roommate.

"I've learned a lot, mainly how to build my credit, because I don't have any credit," VannBeets said. "And how to get a house, and prioritizing what you want in a home. And how to organize my money, how to budget. She's helped me a lot. I'm into it."

He hopes to apply what he's learning as soon as he gets out of jail, which could be some time since he's scheduled to be sentenced on Monday on a felony drug-related charge, for which he was charged as an adult.

"My lawyer made a deal with (the district attorney) for two in (prison) and four out (on probation). I'm hoping I get nine months with credit for time served," said VannBeets, who's been in jail for the last six months.

Arneson said a big issue for inmates was identity theft, of which they often are victims. "They become prime targets," she said. "Sometimes people who don't know them or significant others, like a girlfriend who is ticked off, all of a sudden use their bank account or name and address.” Last year, 13 inmates in the county Detention Center were victims of identity theft, she said.

A regular feature of her class is to pull a credit report for each inmate, which most of them have never seen before, she said. In one instance, an inmate found out that his bank account had been drained of nearly $16,000. An investigation later showed that his parents had withdrawn the money. "He didn't know any of it until we pulled his credit report," she said.

Arneson doesn't pry into the inmates' criminal records, she said. "I never look them up. I don't know want to know. I don't want to judge," she said. "Debt is debt. People on the outside have debt and child support. The problems are exactly the same. It's just that these people have lived a lot more of life than the people on the outside."

What the inmates learn from Arneson is a key to helping them not come back to jail, she said.

"A lot comes down to finances. When people don't have the money, that's when they branch out — whether it's crime or other activity," she said. "Reaching out to them and helping them have a more stable life post release reduces the temptation to come back. As a taxpayer, I'd rather help them than complain about what they're not doing."

Sheriff's Cpl. Roy Kluss, director of the Detention Center's Director of the Huber and electronic monitoring program who helps oversee Arneson's programs, agreed. "I've come to realize once they get in the classroom, they're more open to how to treat their problems," Kluss said. "If these guys don't get this training, they won't be able to adjust or move on once they're released."

Arneson said she often hears from inmates after they are released. "I never follow up. But when they need help or have questions or they know someone who does, they call me," she said. "That's the best part for me."
by: Dan Benson, Sheboygan Press
reprinted with permission]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:37:27 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1557,1557#msg-1557 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1557,1557#msg-1557
Alcoholics Anonymous – AA meetings are held every other Wednesday evening for males and once monthly for females. Alcoholics Anonymous groups are provided by community volunteers.

Alcoholic Assessments and Evaluations – AODA evaluations and assessments are provided at the jail by Arbor Place. The assessments and evaluations are done at the expense of the inmate. Orders must come from probation and parole or from the courts and payments must be made to Arbor Place in advance.

Alcohol and Other Drug Education – AODA awareness/education classes are provided for the high number of inmates with identified AODA concerns. Education and counseling aids the inmate in becoming a more productive member in the community and also reduces future alcohol or drug related offenses. The program provides structured education in AODA, promotes positive recovery skills, develops relapse prevention plans, and increases understanding of the self-defeating nature of AODA, both personally and legally. AODA awareness/education classes are offered every other month and are contracted through Aurora Community Counseling.

Anger Management – Anger Management an educational and support group designed to teach participants how anger is learned, the negative effects of anger, and specific ways to control anger. The Anger Management group is offered every other month and is a contracted through Aurora Community Counseling.

Breaking Barriers – This cognitive reality model training series is designed is very effective at creating awareness in the participant that change is possible. It provides the tools to develop cognitive thinking skills so change can take place. This program is held every other month. Instruction is provided by the Dunn County Jail Program Director.

Parents Sharing Books Program
The Parents Sharing Books Program is offered in December and June to those inmates who will be incarcerated over the holidays or summer and have children under the age of 10. The goal for the class is to help the offenders continue their bond with their children while incarcerated. Inmates read a book on to CD and the book and CD are sent to the child before the holiday. The Parents Sharing Books Program is provided and funded by Literacy Volunteers – Chippewa Valley.

Computer Lab – There are four laptop computers available for use by the inmates for accessing Law Library materials, searching for employment, applying for admission to college, applying for financial aid, working on cover letters or resumes, and keyboard practice. The Computer Lab is directly supervised by the Program Director.

Creative Writing – Creative Writing is a four week program meeting one hour a week and held bi-monthly. The format employed is to identify a topic and read it aloud. The facilitator then models a writing on that topic and reads it aloud. The class is instructed to write their own thoughts on the topic for ten minutes. They are allowed to read their writings aloud (optional). The facilitator picks those writings that she feels to be outstanding and sends them to The Sun magazine for publication with the permission of the author. Creative Writing contracted through Literacy Volunteers – Chippewa Valley.

Crisis Counseling and Mental Health Counseling – Mental Health counseling is provided by Aurora Community Counseling. They provide crisis assessments and suicide risk screenings, along with one or two follow up counseling sessions for incarcerated persons. This service is conducted through referrals provided by jail staff.

Education – Education classes are contracted through Literacy Volunteers - Chippewa Valley and are held on Monday and Wednesday. Inmates over 21 years old can participate. The goal is to increase the specific literacy skills of each participant. They may need to improve their math or vocabulary or computer skills. Ultimately, the goal is to prepare them for GED testing. To participate, the inmate is required to be in jail for a minimum of one month.

Exercise Program – The Exercise Program focuses on giving the inmates the opportunity to do a variety of exercises to allow them to physically exert themselves in a positive manner. It is held twice weekly for an hour. Offenders can walk, jump rope or participate in a DVD group which can be Yoga, Tae-Bo, or Cardio Fitness. The Exercise Program is provided by the Jail Program Director.

GED/HSED Testing – Testing is held at the jail during the school year, usually once or twice per month. Inmates must be enrolled in the Education or HSED class in order to take the tests. The county pays $12.00 for each test.

HSED – High School Equivalency Diploma class is held Monday through Friday for three hours every school day. The goal is for the participant to prepare for HSED testing. Inmates under 21 years old can participate. HSED classes are funded by the Menomonie School District.

Jail Garden – The Jail Garden is maintained by Huber inmates with work search privileges who have not yet attained employment and by those inmates that are working and want to volunteer on their day off from work. The Huber inmates are monitored by volunteers at all times. The proceeds from the garden are donated to the Food Pantry. The Jail Garden is overseen by the Jail Program Director and community volunteers.

Library Services – Inmates have access to library services every Thursday morning. The Dunn County Jail Library is supplied by inmate and community donations of books.

New Creations – New Creations is a biblically-based addictions program. This 14-week bible study focuses on the basic principles of salvation and growth in God's word. Participants study the Bible to find answers to overcome their addictions. New Creations is provided by volunteers from the Jesus Fellowship church.

Parenting From the Heart – (Coming soon) Parenting From the Heart is a resiliency based parenting style provided by Menomonie High School teacher volunteers and a grant funded program for the Dunn County Area.

Reformers Unanimous – Reformers Unanimous a weekly addictions program offered for males in jail. The focus is on a plan of salvation that is accomplished through stories of victory, motivational awards, and well-trained leadership staff. Reformers Unanimous offers a comprehensive discipleship curriculum and is provided by volunteers from the Baptist Church.

Spiritual Transitions – Spiritual Transitions is a ten-week course designed to help the incarcerated individual meet the challenges of living a Christian life upon release from the correctional facility. The goal is to teach a life of spiritual application in practical living situations. Spiritual Transitions is provided by volunteers from the Jesus Fellowship church.

Sunday Church – Jesus Fellowship and Gideons non denominational services are available to male and female offenders. The Sunday church services are provided by church volunteers from the community.

Vocational Literacy – The Vocational Literacy course provides vocational training, education, and job- seeking skills such as skills to develop resumes, improve interview skills, understand employer expectations and maximize opportunities for employment. Students are asked to complete applications, develop resumes, cover letters and thank you letters. The Vocational Literacy instruction is contracted through Literacy Volunteers – Chippewa Valley.

Other Services Offered at the Dunn County Jail –
•Electronic Monitoring
•HUBER Work Release
•Diversion Court Participation
•Workshops - AIDS Awareness, Sexual Assault Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness
•Inmate Worker Program
•Education Opportunity Center

If you are interested in volunteering your services please contact the following coordinators:
•Literacy Services – Laura Reisinger, LVCV Education Coordinator, lreisinger@lvcv.org
•All other services – Sherry Hanson, Jail Program Director, shanson@co.dunn.wi.us]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:16:42 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1509,1509#msg-1509 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1509,1509#msg-1509
You’re Invited! ! ! If you work or volunteer in family literacy, ELL, ABE instruction, inmate education, or community-based literacy program, or if you are a GED/HSED examiner, administrator, educator, workforce partner or disability specialist – this exciting educational opportunity is for you!

Again this year, the Correctional Education Association-Wisconsin has joined the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Technical College System, and Wisconsin Literacy to co-sponsor the 2011 Wisconsin GED/HSED & Adult Literacy Conferences.

Over 50 different workshop sessions are scheduled for those who teach or volunteer in ABE, ESL, or GED/HSED programs or are GED examiners or administrators. CEA-W Board members Jerry Bednarowski and Peggy Meyers have worked with the Planning Committee to include several sessions specifically highlighting concerns and programs of interest to educators working in correctional settings:

One of the workshops at the GED/HSED & Adult Literacy Conference will be a panel discussion hosted by Laurie Jarvis, Jail/Detention Center Representative on the CEA-Wisconsin Board. Comprising panel will be Linda Galko, teacher, Waukesha County Jail/WCTC; Ellen Hanneman, Inmate Education and Programs Officer, Marinette County Jail; Rick Karnowski, teacher, Milwaukee County Correctional Facility –South/Franklin Alternative Youth Program/MATC; Willa MacKemzie, teacher, LaCrosse County Jail/WTC; and Carol Seichter, teacher, Rock County Jail/BTC. The workshop will give teachers and program directors who work in county jails and detention centers the rare opportunity the meet with their colleagues who work in other counties.

Teaching while “locked up” brings a new perspective to teaching and learning. Join other county jail instructors from around the state as we plan a “Jail Break.” Bring your concerns, questions, best practices, and your stories to this session designed to allow for creative networking. Come prepared to share. This is no time to spend in the “seg” unit. Bring your wealth of knowledge and spend time with others that truly understand teaching behind bars.

Laurie will moderate this workshop, but the agenda will be set by you. Hope to see you there!

The Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education is serving as managing partner for the conference. You will find more information, an online registration form, and an online housing form at their website: www.wacteonline.org. Questions? - Call (608) 833-5858 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday or email wacteorg@chorus.net.]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:02:54 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1407,1407#msg-1407 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1407,1407#msg-1407
One of the many innovative endeavors that have marked the career of 2011 Wisconsin CEA Teacher of the Year Marianna Ruprecht is her creation of the Holiday Book Project at the Marathon County Jail (MCJ) in Wisconsin. Marianna is a Northcentral Technical College (NTC) teacher who works full-time at the Marathon County Jail.

Since its founding in 1997, the Holiday Book Project has proven to be very valuable to both inmates and their families. Inmates participating in this activity are audio recorded reading books for their children. The goal of the Holiday Book Project is to reinforce inmates’ sense of responsibility as parents and to develop a closer relationship between the inmates and their children.

Ronda, an NTC adjunct career instructor and a jail programs coordinator, sends out flyers to the inmates and verifies their eligibility to participate in the project. The staff works hard to ensure all inmates are aware of this unique opportunity. Besides speaking regularly of it in class and posting flyers, the project is written up in MCJ’s biannual newsletter, “Hard Times . . . For Now,” with articles written by inmates and published by Marianna.

The project allows children to hear their parents’ voices. It fosters a love of reading and gives the children a chance to listen to good books being read by their parents. The children can listen to the CDs as often as they want. In addition, the parents are able to write a card for their children and send the book and CD home as a Christmas present.

If an inmate is a low level reader, Marianna, another basic education instructor (Mari), an instructional assistant (Jenny), and Marathon County Literacy Council volunteers practice with the inmates until they are able to read the children’s books by themselves. This activity increases the reading ability of the students and improves their self-image.

In 2000, the Marathon County Jail doubled in size resulting in hiring a basic education adjunct instructor for the second classroom. This year, Marianna and Mari had 25 inmates read 39 books for their children. In 2008, the Marathon County Literacy Council (MCLC) saw the value of this project and increased their funding to cover the additional costs of children’s books, CD’s and postage. The increased funding strengthened the Holiday Book Project and brought public awareness to the inmates’ needs.

This past year, however, the literacy council experienced reduced funding. Through discussion with the Jail Advisory Council, committee members from Probation and Parole organized a book drive for new children’s books while NTC funded the purchase of the CD’s and paid for the postage to help alleviate some of the costs for the MCLC council. The literacy council remains an important part of the project by providing the volunteers to help in the classes. This project also highlights the interagency connections that the Marathon County Jail has been able to establish to benefit its students and the community.

To find out more about the Holiday Book Project, contact Marianna Ruprecht at ruprecht@ntc.edu.]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:41:44 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1406,1406#msg-1406 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1406,1406#msg-1406
“It has been my experience that when you lecture inmates on the importance of being a responsible person, the best you get is a bored look. But when you talk about what it takes to be a responsible parent, they sit up and listen.”

These are the words of E. Kent Hayes, an internationally recognized authority on the care of pre-delinquent, neglected and other troubled children. His award winning books, Why Good Parents Have Bad Kids, Broken Promise and Find a Safe Place have been translated into many languages. Two novels he wrote about at-risk kids were made into TV movies for CBS. He’s traveled the world telling audiences about what he has come to know about the principles of good parenting.

Kent’s 1995 video “Effective Parenting: It’s Never Too Late” has been shown in prison parenting and life skills classes across America. Despite having no particular focus on offenders or their unusually complex parenting issues, Kent kept hearing positive feedback from inmates. One of the most beneficial consequences of viewing the video, many reported, was how much it helped them recognize, often for the first time, some of the most important skills they had never learned while growing up. Many seemed to “get it” that until they can put into practice in their own lives those things that were missed, they can’t reasonably hope to become an effective parent.

According to Shannon Murphy, Reentry Director at the Douglas County (Kansas) Correctional Facility, since Kent Hayes came out of retirement and began conducting Parenting Groups for their inmates, “I wish to emphasize the importance of this program in our facility and the vital role it plays in our overall inmate reentry process.”

Shannon goes on to say, “We knew that his original parenting tape was being used in other correctional facilities and we received input from those programs emphatically stating that the inmates not only learned parenting skills, but also real insights into their own behavior. As our parenting groups progressed, we saw this process evolve. Inmates began to realize that they grew up without the skills necessary to function appropriately in society, including being a good parent. They started to ask how they could gain these skills. They began to realize that they could not be a good parent if they didn’t fix what’s broke.”

“When we decided to create a parenting group tape specifically designed for inmates, we had two objectives: to keep it simple and to design a program that could be led by any senior officer or program specialist within any facility. The study guide for the group leader and the study guide for the participants are easy to follow, but more importantly, you will discover that each group will take on a life of its own.”

“I have discovered that this program allows inmates to let down their guard and gain new insights into their own behavior. Without that insight, inmate reentry programs have little value.”

What would motivate inmates in correctional facilities to spend four to six hours discussing ways to improve their capacity to function in this complicated world? Kent reports, “We have learned from experience that inmates want, above all else, to do whatever possible to make sure their children become productive, happy, successful citizens, and are willing to spend the time, energy and concentration to achieve this goal. This training speaks to the fact that you can’t teach what you don’t live. You cannot create healthy families if the parent does not understand and live by some basic principles that will foster a productive and responsible citizen.”

When inmates at correctional facilities viewed the initial Effective Parenting: The Art of Teaching Life Skills video, responses began to sound universal:
• They began to realize why they were the way they were, gaining insight into their inability to function appropriately in society.
• They wanted to know how old you can be to learn these life skills and how to begin that process.
• They understood they could not contribute to or lead the development of a healthy family without making these all important changes.

The Effective Parenting: The Art of Teaching Life Skills parenting curriculum was designed to answer each of these all important questions. It is designed specifically for incarcerated parents.

The curriculum is a dynamic tool for use as fits best for each individual facility. Some may incorporate an inmate group discussion into their structure; some may focus on the 13 principles only. The 80-minute videos may be presented once weekly for 13 weeks, or 2 principles may be presented at a time, twice weekly – however it fits the institution’s needs.

A 29-minute inmate group discussion segment from the Douglas County (Kansas) Correctional Facility may be utilized at your discretion. A Group Leader Guide has been developed to help users modify the curriculum to meet the needs of their facility and participant population.

Kent Hayes summarizes why the Effective Parenting: The Art of Teaching Life Skills program is effective. “When you relate how their thinking affects their children—how this thinking helps or hinders what the child will need to learn if they are going to survive in this complicated world—inmates begin to ask questions about the skills they never learned, but more importantly they ask how they can learn these life skills now."

To find out more about the Effective Parenting: The Art of Teaching Life Skills curriculum, contact E. Kent Hayes at kginhayes@sbcglobal.net. For information on how the program is used at the Douglas County Correctional Facility contact Reentry Director Shannon Murphy at smurphy@douglas-county.com.]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:40:37 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1405,1405#msg-1405 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1405,1405#msg-1405
CASTLE (Child Abuse Services, Training, & Life Enrichment), an organization for the prevention of child abuse, operates the Strong Fathers/Strong Families program in the four Florida county jails of Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Indian River.

Based on the program's ability to demonstrate a positive impact on families, the Strong Fathers/Strong Families program was selected as a "Promising Practice" by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The CASTLE program joins an elite group of 16 chosen for this distinction out of 226 programs reviewed nationally. The review process included a thorough evaluation of the success of the program during its first two years of operation, and a site visit from a consulting team wherein program practices and outcomes were scrutinized.

The Strong Fathers/Strong Families program is designed to teach these fathers about the responsibilities of being a father and the importance to children of having a responsible father in their lives. There is no cost to the family. The program has four main components which involve the entire family:
• Fathers' Group – Incarcerated fathers participate in twelve weekly group sessions learning about the importance of their roles as fathers in the lives of their children. The skills of being a responsible father are taught and practiced.
• Mothers' Group – Mothers participate (before the release of the father) in twelve weekly group sessions learning about responsible parenting and separation/reunification issues. Parenting skills are taught and practiced.
• Children's Group – Children participate in a support group that helps them deal with separation and reunification issues that arise due to their fathers’ incarceration. Children are encouraged to
learn about and express their feelings as well as learn about self esteem, problem solving, and anger/frustration management.
• In-Home Parenting – Upon the release of the fathers, families wanting to reunify receive a home based continuation of the program’s services with the addition of case management services to help the family gain and keep stability.

Projected to serve 150 fathers each year, the program is seeing almost three times that number of fathers. “There is a lot of interest in this program from the men in jail. The response has been overwhelming," said Doug Borrie, Ph.D., who helps to oversee the project. "We also work concurrently with the families of these incarcerated men, so that as parents, mothers and fathers are on the same page. When these men are released, we want them to be ready to fully assume their role as fathers."

Harriet Ostertag, MA, manages the program. She sees the changes in the men first hand as a co-leader of the training groups. "As the program progresses, fathers begin to understand their roles better. We’ve had a dramatic increase in the number of contacts these men have with their children, as they reach out to try and establish a bond. We have men who, for the first time, are working cooperatively with the mothers of their children to provide consistency as parents."

While CASTLE takes the lead in the operation of the program, it is the partnerships with the Sheriffs’ Offices and the Public Defender’s Office that make the program work. "Getting access to the jails and getting time set aside to work with these men is key to the program’s success," said Ms. Ostertag.

For more information on the Strong Fathers/Strong Families program contact Doug Borrie at dborrie@castle.org.]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:39:05 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1402,1402#msg-1402 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1402,1402#msg-1402
“Marianna is a teacher to the core,” says Bethany O’Day, Northcentral Technical College Associate Dean, ABE/ELL. “She applies her expertise as a teacher with a delicate balance of loving care and high expectations that spurs her students on to achieve what they often thought was impossible.”

The CEA-Wisconsin Executive Board is proud to recognize Marianna Ruprecht, a Northcentral Technical College (NTC) teacher at the Marathon County Jail as the 2011 Wisconsin Correctional Teacher of the Year.

As a full-time instructor at the Marathon County Jail (MCJ) for 21 years, Marianna’s efforts have improved the educational program and enhanced the well-being of thousands of students. Her innovation and pioneering spirit have been evident throughout her career.

Many firsts and notable accomplishments have highlighted Marianna’s career. Marianna was responsible for founding and expanding much of NTC’s jail program. Marianna . . .
• Served as NTC’s first ABE instructor for incarcerated students and one of the first in the state
• Secured NTC’s initial funding for its first correctional education program
• Developed the initial program into a successful model and helped replicate it in four other county jails and a tribal detention center in the NTC district
• Enabled district-wide participation by establishing the first ITV correctional education advisory committee meetings in the state
• Doubled services to incarcerated students at MCJ through a Department of Justice Grant secured in collaboration with jail administration
• Provided facilitation of the district-wide program; coordinated incarcerated youth and jail agreements with record keeping and invoicing; participated in program scheduling, budget development, and grant writing and reporting
• Developed student pride and confidence, provided real-world context for learning, and promoted participation in education by establishing an incarcerated student newsletter
• Connected incarcerated students with their children while increasing reading skills by creating a Holiday Book project conducted in collaboration with the Marathon County Literacy Council
• Motivated students and developed pride and confidence by establishing formal student recognition ceremonies, including caps and gowns, attended by college administration, city and state government representatives, and educational leadership

Marianna is devoted to students, passionate about correctional education, and unceasing in her efforts to support learning among incarcerated students. Garnering resources for her students is a constant focus of Marianna. Over the years, she has recruited more than 12 volunteers to help in the classroom. Her contributions to supporting her students include:
• Removed financial barriers to education faced by incarcerated students by personally establishing an NTC foundation grant
• Secured on-site GED testing and test-fee assistance for incarcerated students
• Provided students with educational materials and bus tokens through a partnership with NTC’s foundation building a relationship with Sunrise fund donors and administering the funds
• Ensured educational continuity and appropriate instruction for incarcerated youth by working closely with the public school system
• Advocated for NTC to provide updated computers and technology and incorporate the jails in their overall computer update cycle for the entire college
• Enabled incarcerated students without Huber privileges to complete post-secondary courses by collaborating with instructors and students
In addition to supporting her students, Marianna has been a leader and mentor with her colleagues. Ways in which she assisted her colleagues include:
• Mentored new correctional education instructors and existing adjunct instructors
• Conducted regular meetings with NTC instructors
• Enhanced correctional instruction across the state and beyond through numerous presentations, the publication of articles; development of resources; and service on curriculum, advisory, and scholarship committees

Because Marianna’s innovations have been so exhaustive, it is impossible to give details on all of them in this article. Instead, details on some of them will be published in future issues of this newsletter and the Parenting Connection newsletter.

Marianna believes, “The primary goal of education is to promote growth – not only academic, but also personal growth. As an instructor it is my job to help students to set goals with high expectations and to provide these students with respect and support to reach these goals. Many incarcerated students have never experienced success. If students feel that an instructor believes in them and treats them with respect, they will work harder to accomplish their goals. Many students have come to me in later years and have said that if it had not been for my belief in them, they would have given up and not have achieved their goals.”

When complimented on her achievements, Marianna often shifts the focus of attention to her students and her community. “It takes a village” is the prevailing theme of her 21 years inside the county jail.

Marianna believes, “Without classroom volunteers, community activists offering the spiritual/ psychological component, NTC support staff of counselor/advisor and employment specialists and NTC and jail administrators who provide financial support dollars for programming, I could not accomplish my goals …What I know is that it takes many devoted and committed individuals to share their time and talent and resources in order to help our inmates break the pattern of decline, and honor who they are as contributing human beings. I value working as a team to turn good ideas into action benefitting students.”

The CEA-Wisconsin Executive Board is pleased to recognize Marianna Ruprecht as the 2011 Wisconsin Correctional Teacher of the Year. Marianna will represent Wisconsin at the Region III & IV CEA Conference in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on May 2-3.]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:29:28 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1355,1355#msg-1355 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1355,1355#msg-1355
Among the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) projects approved for funding in Wisconsin in 2010 is a Dane County Library Service grant for Outreach to the Dane County Jail System. The $7,622 grant will address the diverse literacy needs of those incarcerated in the Dane County Jail.

The objectives of the grant are:
1. To encourage literacy among the inmates in the Dane County Jail System by purchasing a collection of high interest/low level reading books and magazines in English and Spanish for a targeted population of 805.
2. To provide a monthly book discussion group for a targeted population of 100 inmates.
3. To increase the awareness of public library resources for reading and independent learning by providing a targeted population of 150 Dane County Jail residents with LINKcat online catalog training sessions and access to library information and card applications.
4. To increase staff understanding and sensitivity to inmates by attending the Returning Prisoner Simulation Workshop sponsored by the Madison-Area Urban Ministry.

The grant will provide the Dane County Library Service with a framework of training and materials that will support the literacy needs of inmates incarcerated in the Dane County Jail System.

Because many of those incarcerated at the Dane County Jail struggle with learning disabilities, it’s important to provide access to literacy material tailored to a variety of abilities. The current jail library holdings consist entirely of random donated materials which fail to meet the needs of the diverse jail population. The LSTA grant will increase the number of high interest/low level reading materials available to inmates. The grant will also address the lack of Spanish language materials available for inmates. By providing materials that are tailored specifically to meet the diverse needs of inmates, the grant will make literacy accessible for a larger population of those incarcerated in the Dane County Jail.

Dane County Library Service will collaborate with the Jail Library Group and the Madison Metropolitan School District to provide a monthly book discussion group at the Dane County Jail. Book Discussion groups will provide motivation to read and allow inmates a chance to sharpen their literacy skills. Book Discussion Groups provide a sense of community as they allow inmates a chance to relate with others through the exchange of opinions and ideas.

LINKcat online library catalog training will be offered to inmates who are currently working on receiving their high school diploma from the Madison Metropolitan School District. These students will be offered an opportunity to apply for a library card and a library information packet.

The grant will provide inmates at the Dane County Jail a wide array of literacy materials and educational support. Literacy skills are a key component in determining inmate recidivism. Studies have consistently shown that the risk of recidivism diminishes incrementally with the amount of education that inmates receive while incarcerated. The LSTA grant will support educational achievement through collaboration with Madison Metropolitan School District. The grant will also provide an overview of free public library resources that are available to inmates to take advantage of upon their release back into the community.]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:44:57 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1353,1353#msg-1353 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1353,1353#msg-1353
The Rock County (Wisconsin) Education and Criminal Addictions Program (RECAP) began in 1993 with a goal to provide education and rehabilitative services to Rock County Jail inmates. RECAP is a cooperative program among Blackhawk Technical College, Rock County Sheriff's Office and CESA #2.

Clients are sentenced to the program by the Court or referred to the program by the Department of Corrections. Inmates may also be accepted into the program on a voluntary basis as space permits. To date, over 2140 inmates have participated.

RECAP is a 5-month treatment program focusing on chemical abuse, cognitive skills programming, restorative justice, academic and vocational education, in addition to preparation for release into the community. Each individual receives extensive hours of group programming along with individual counseling. Inmates graduate from the program after satisfactorily completing all program requirements. Completion times vary based on individual ability, effort and behavioral issues.

In a 2001 study completed by the University of Wisconsin, the recidivism rate for RECAP completers was 17.2% lower than the normal jail population.

Staffing
• Program Administrator (Rock County)
• Treatment Counselor (CESA)
• Site Supervisor (CESA)
• Education Staff – 1 full-time, 3 part-time (BTC)
• Probation Liaison (DOC)

Program Components

AODA
All RECAP inmates with suspected or known alcohol or drug related issues attend a minimum of 22 AODA classes designed to enable the offender to achieve lasting abstinence from substance abuse. Offenders learn the necessary skills to function independently in their community while managing their recovery from addiction.

Cognitive Interventions
This 15-lesson program is designed to restructure offenders thinking patterns. Offenders discuss the “vicious cycle” of behavior that resulted in their incarceration. They acquire knowledge about the beliefs/thoughts -> feelings-> behaviors -> consequences cycle. The goal is to discover the pattern of thinking that leads to inappropriate behavior, and develop alternative reactions that will bring desirable results.

Anger Management
Anger Management is a 12-lesson course with the goals of prevention, containment, and problem-solving. The course is designed to help clients understand and gain control of their anger by understanding the connection between feelings and ultimately their actions.

Education
All RECAP participants, regardless of diploma status, enter Adult Basic Education to strengthen skills. All students participate in 8 hours of ABE classes per week including math, reading, writing, parenting, employability skills, computer basics, and financial literacy. Achieving a diploma equivalent is a program requirement, if the student is academically capable. GED testing is done by BTC. Over the past five years, an average of 50 students per year completed their GED/HSED.

Financial Literacy
Financial Literacy is a 13-week course designed to provide students with the knowledge to make informed decisions in financial matters. Topics include budgeting, goal setting, banking basics, and understanding credit. Financial Literacy is taught by a credit counselor certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. In 2007, the instructor received the Governor’s Financial Literacy Award.

Employability Skills
This is a 13-week course focusing on skills needed to procure employment. Offenders learn how to search for employment, complete job applications, write a resume, successfully interview, and retain a job. The course includes a field trip to the Rock County Job Center

Parenting
The parenting curriculum encompasses ten units of instruction focusing on parenting from a distance and other family issues. RealityWorks Baby Simulators are used to give the students hands-on experience caring for an infant.

Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice is a rehabilitation program that encourages offenders to take action to repair the damage done by their crimes. This is done through community services projects, volunteerism, and course work. Offenders spend time reflecting on their crimes and how their actions affected their victims and society. Through this program offenders spend time in the community “giving back” and they also learn numerous trades to enhance their employability. Each RECAP participant is required to complete a minimum 85 hours community service, but inmates often achieve 200-400 hours during the busy summer season. In 2009, 62 non-profit organizations throughout Rock County were served and 13,821 hours of community service were completed.

Education Staff Contact Information
• Carol Seichter, Lead Instructor – csiechter@blackhawk.edu
• D.W. Hahn, Parenting/Reading Instructor – djailtchr@yahoo.com
• Erica Svejda, Employabilty Instructor – esvejda@blackhawk.edu]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:41:04 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1164,1164#msg-1164 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1164,1164#msg-1164 murray ellison Jails Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:10:38 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1152,1152#msg-1152 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1152,1152#msg-1152 murray ellison Jails Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:55:12 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1118,1118#msg-1118 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1118,1118#msg-1118 * Adult might encompass Parenting, Transition & Re-Entry, Adult Research,
Post Secondary Education, Student Affiliations and Female Offenders.
* Youth might encompass Juvenile Education, Literacy, Arts, Special Education...
* Administrative might encompass state and school administrators, reaserch and
legislation.
Please provide feedback whether you are a SIG Chair or CEA Member. I will need to provide recommendations to the CEA Executive Board by June 15 and the President's Council at the upcoming July conference.
Also, please note a change in my home email to: bluemur@verizon.net
Thanks

Dr. Murray Ellison
CEA President's Council Chairman]]> murray ellison Jails Wed, 12 May 2010 08:37:34 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1088,1088#msg-1088 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1088,1088#msg-1088
Sheboygan County's efforts to closely work with Lakeshore Technical College and the Consumer Credit Counseling Service has resulted in Sheriff Michael Helmke and his Department's partners receiving statewide and national recognition for "setting the bar" regarding adult inmate educational programming in county facilities. A number of state officials regularly express the opinion that the Sheboygan County program is the "gold standard" for such programs in Wisconsin.

The support (safety and security) and autonomy (trust) that Sharon Abel of Lakeshore Technical College and Lisa Anne Arneson of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service are granted by the entire Sheboygan County Corrections Division makes this endeavor to reach and teach the adult inmate population possible.

The successes of their joint effort have been significant. As of the mid-point of this current academic year alone, 107 inmates (incarcerated students) have been provided resources and direction concerning where to go, whom to contact, and what to ask regarding repairing bad credit and establishing and maintaining good credit. Educational assistance included access to user-friendly information; receipt of objective points of view; help with building vocabulary, reading related literature, filling out forms, writing formal letters; and lessons on self-advocacy.
 92 inmates received copies of their credit reports and each had individualized assistance with interpreting their credit history as well as assistance with setting goals aligned with the information gathered from the reports
 33 had child support issues and received literacy services specifically on that topic
 13 inmates had cases of identity theft identified; assistance and advice was provided on what steps to take to repair their credit and how to generally deal with the matter
 8 post-release inmates with no other viable options available to them received rental assistance
 4 have been accepted as residents in the Tee Box (transitional home)
 7 post-release individuals have continued to participate in personal/familial finance sessions with the same credit/housing counselor they originally met on-site at Sheboygan County Jail facilities
 4 inmates had family members who self-disclosed they came to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service for services based on their connections with incarcerated participants

The financial effect that the partnership has on each person who chooses to participate in financial/ economic literacy services has not been statistically quantified but is generally considered to be significant. The economic and social benefits on their families and our overall community are also very likely consequential.

Primary partners:
• Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department Corrections Division
• Lakeshore Technical College
• Consumer Credit Counseling Service

Supporting collaborators include but are not limited to:
• Eastern Shores Library System
• Family Resource Centers of Sheboygan County
• Sheboygan County Job Center
• The Lakeshore Technical College Foundation
• The Salvation Army
• Good News Jail & Prison Ministry
• The Tee Box
• Friends of the Mead Public Library
• Various volunteers and mentors from our local community

Financial/economic literacy has become a priority within Sheboygan County's adult inmate educational programming. Other counties could replicate this multi-agency effort to help prepare inmates for reentry into the greater community.

by: Sharon Abel, Lakeshore Technical College/Sheboygan County Detention Center]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:12:41 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1087,1087#msg-1087 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1087,1087#msg-1087
The Northeast Wisconsin Technical College/Marinette Campus offers a unique program for incarcerated students at the Marinette County Jail who are seeking their GEDs. It began in February 2005 when the Marinette County Criminal Justice Advisory Council asked Pat O’Hara, Marinette Campus Dean, if there was an opportunity to offer some type of educational programming at the jail. Dean O’Hara suggested that the most urgent need might be basic education because so many individuals who are incarcerated lack basic academic skills and do not have high school diplomas. With budget constraints in mind, Dean O’Hara formulated the video conferencing idea. The concept was to connect video cameras between a room in the county jail and the Basic Education Skills Lab at the Marinette Campus.

In January of 2006, skills lab instructors Roxanne Bowdin and Gary Johnson began with 10 hours of instruction using the ITV connection during regular lab hours. There were many challenges during the next three years. Some of the challenges included disruptions (extra noise) to the campus skills lab classroom, the inability to see exactly what the inmates were doing (math problems or just doodling on the paper), coordination efforts with jail staff to get the inmates to the ITV room on time, and the unknown duration of time in jail for individual students. Results from the video conferencing were modest at best. Ten prisoners were successful in getting their GEDs, while four others obtained partial GEDs.

In the fall of 2007, three hours of onsite instruction at the jail were added with Gary and Roxanne alternating weeks at the jail. In the fall of 2008, an additional 3 of hours of instruction were added with both Gary and Roxanne going to the jail for 3 hours each week. Video instruction has decreased and has assumed a supplemental role since the addition of the onsite instruction at the jail. Approximately 4 hours of video instruction now occurs.

When the onsite instruction was added, results substantially increased. As of February 2010, 32 inmates have received their GEDs and another 20 inmates have completed partial GEDs. Approximately 75% of the students have raised reading, math, or language TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) scores, and a few have taken college courses. A future goal of the program is to coordinate efforts with NWTC to assist inmates with their pursuit of a post-secondary education after completing their GEDs.

A comfortable connection between NWTC and the jail staff has been established. This collaborative effort has been essential to the success of the program. Stephanie Timblin, a corrections officer, was the first education coordinator at the jail and now Ellen Hanneman has stepped into that role. The education coordinator recruits inmates for the program and administers the TABE tests. The instructors require that students have a minimum score of 8 on the TABE reading test in order to enroll in the program. Anyone with a lower reading score works with a volunteer tutor at the jail.

Roxanne and Gary gave a presentation at the Wisconsin GED/HSED & Adult Literacy Conference in Appleton this past November. They will do a more involved presentation, along with Ellen Hanneman, at the CEA-Wisconsin State Conference on May 3, 2010 at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake.

by: Roxanne Bowdin and Gary Johnson,NWTC-Marinette]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:10:02 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1049,1049#msg-1049 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1049,1049#msg-1049 murrayellison Jails Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:18:14 -0500 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1003,1003#msg-1003 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1003,1003#msg-1003
Again this spring, the Wisconsin Technical College System and the Correction Education Association–Wisconsin collaborated to bring Wisconsin jail educators a day to focus on jail education and advancement.

Jail Break 2 was held on April 24, 2009 at Pine Ridge in Wautoma, Wisconsin. Twenty-three county jails were represented by 43 people who work in various capacities in Wisconsin county jails.

The night before a twilight event was held. Waushara County Sheriff David Peterson and Lieutenant George Peterman greeted participants at the Waushara County Jail for a jail tour. Conference attendees met in the Multipurpose Room for a question answer session facilitated by Laurie Jarvis Fox Valley Technical College Jail Instructor and George Peterman Jail Administrator. A tour of the jail followed this informative session. The group then had a pizza party at Christianos.

The Jail Instructor Training Day featured speaker Joseph J. Marchese, of J.J. Marchese & Associates, Inc. His presentation Surviving Crisis Situations focused on bringing correctional staff personnel home safely at the end of each work day. His major focus was helping all of those in attendance to recognize a crisis situation in a correctional facility such as a hostage incident or jail riot. These incidents are one of the most critical situations that any staff member might face. For this reason it is important that staff be trained in facility safety and survival skills and in particular on how to survive a crisis/hostage situation.

In this workshop, participants gained information that gave them an understanding of the dynamics of a jail crisis and provided them with some methods and techniques they can use to enhance their survival skills in such a situation.

An extremely informative was session held in the afternoon. Rich Norenberg presented a workshop on Recognizing Mental Illness and Strategies that Encourage Student Cooperation and Learning. Rich is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Teacher and Social Worker. He facilitates Relapse Prevention, Understanding Mental Illness, and Follow Your Dreams classes at the Wisconsin Resource Center.

His workshop provided an overview of Depression, Schizophrenia and Bi-Polar Disorders, as well as typical behaviors associated with these illnesses. Participants were introduced to strategies and techniques used to connect with, understand and effectively instruct students with mental health issues. Expressing empathy, awareness of non-verbal communication, patience and individual instruction were emphasized. Helping students to develop and maintain a Relapse Prevention Plan was discussed.

Networking with other jail education workers and supporters is essential for quality programs to continue. Plans for Jail Break 3 are being made. Watch for information in the January/February 2010 newsletter.

by: Laurie Jarvis, FVTC/Waushara County Jail]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:47:52 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1002,1002#msg-1002 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,1002,1002#msg-1002
With support from a highly competitive Adult Education & Family Literacy Act grant, Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) partners with Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department to provide on-site basic education services for adults incarcerated in the Sheboygan County Detention Center (SCDC). These services include General Educational Development Certificate/High School Equivalency Diploma, basic skills review, college preparation, and employment preparation. LTC provides a full-time instructor and equips the SCDC classroom with textbooks, office supplies, and computers. LTC and Sheboygan County share in the expenses to supply a part-time Instructional Assistant. Instructional services are provided year round, generally four afternoons and two evenings per week. Participation in the adult basic/secondary education program is voluntary and is considered a privilege. Each inmate participating sets individualized education and employment goals at registration and regularly evaluates progress towards those goals with the help of the instructor.

LTC provides fundamental literacy programming in the areas of reading, vocabulary, career exploration, employability, mathematics, written and verbal communication, computers, civics, health, parenting, and personal finances for a very diverse inmate population, diverse as per: age, ethnicity, race, physical and cognitive ability, medical condition, criminal record, socioeconomic status and background, employment status and history, educational level, religion, alcohol/drug use, sexual orientation, custody level, escape risk, danger risk, and expected length of stay.

In an effort to meet the challenges posed by a wide range of learning needs, LTC and SCDC partner with a variety of community agencies including but not limited to: the Literacy Council, Family Resource Centers of Sheboygan County; Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Family Service Association; Friends of the Mead Public Library; Eastern Shores Library System; Sheboygan County Job Center; Sheboygan Area School District; Good News Jail & Prison Ministry; and the LTC Foundation. Literacy volunteers, certified credit & housing counselors, and guest speakers encourage cooperation between on- and off-site services and offer familiar reference points to inmates post-release, increasing the potential for successful reentry.

Length of participation in LTC’s Sheboygan County Incarcerated Project is based on length of stay and ranges from less than one week to over a year, with a two to five month average. As long as behavior meets the classroom conduct code and the detention center/jail rules and the inmate is making progress toward identified goals, the recognized duration of programming for said inmate is from point of registration to release or transfer. However, LTC Instructor Sharon Abel has made it a practice to follow up with her former students and remain an approachable resource for inmates/students post-release. She can be reached by e-mail at sharon.abel@gotoltc.edu or voice mail at 920.693.1747.

by: Sharon Abel, Lakeshore Technical College]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:46:17 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,992,992#msg-992 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,992,992#msg-992
We are asking Conference presenters to summarize their presentation for 2009 JAILS SIG newsletter.



Timothy F. Lisante, Ph.D.
Jails SIG Chairperson
tlisant@schools.nyc.gov]]> tlisant Jails Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:23:09 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,942,942#msg-942 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,942,942#msg-942 Thanks
Murray Ellison]]> murrayellison Jails Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:24:01 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,935,935#msg-935 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,935,935#msg-935 Thanks
Murray Ellison
CEA President's Council Chairman
email: bluemur@comcast.net
and additional new email: mellison@edaff.com]]> murrayellison Jails Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:17:00 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,915,915#msg-915 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,915,915#msg-915
There are new sounds in the RECAP (Rock County Education and Criminal Addictions Program) units at the Rock County (Wisconsin) Jail. The sounds of babies crying, cooing, and students making tending noises are becoming the new normal. There is also the occasional, “Can’t you keep him quiet so a guy can get some sleep?”

The RECAP Parenting Curriculum has been expanded to include five computer babies purchased from RealityWorks™ of Eau Claire, WI. We are proud to introduce our babies: Winona-Native American girl, Marie-Hispanic girl, Aran-Asian boy, Barack-African American boy, and Kenneth-Caucasian boy.

These five infants have the uncanny ability to accurately simulate real infant behavior and needs. Each will cry to be fed, changed, burped or rocked if feeling fussy. Each of these babies is specifically programmed and assigned to a parent for about three days and two nights. The babies are electronically identified to their parent from the onset of care. At the end of the experiment, the babies offer up a computer printout of care, missed care, and mishandling. Every baby requires neck support and tender care at all times.

The RECAP team and Rock County Jail officers have been supportive of this effort. Sgt. Sprecher led the way in getting this advanced teaching tool into our hands. Every effort has been made to accommodate and include all in our attempts to educate and rehabilitate our students. People have made room for us, our car seats, and other things. Officers have been patient and vigilant of the needs of the students with infants.

Everyone seems attuned to the possibilities here. If we can cause a moment of thought about bringing an infant into the world, if we can make the life of an existing child more positive, if we can raise awareness about the commitment of parenting; we are all so successful.

by: D.W. Hahn, Blackhawk Technical College Instructor
Rock County Jail]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Thu, 14 May 2009 02:38:03 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,914,914#msg-914 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,914,914#msg-914
In the past few years, I have been the recipient of several awards – most recently from Wisconsin Governor Doyle’s Council on Financial Literacy. All very nice, but none of it possible without first being nominated! A shout out to Cpl. Roy Kluss and Sheriff Michael Helmke of Sheboygan County, Kevin Mueller of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and Lisa Anne Arneson of Family Service Association for bringing my name to one selection committee after another.

There are many teachers throughout the pre-K to adult education systems who are conducting marvelous learning activities with their students every day; they could just as easily be applauded for their efforts. I am very fortunate to have co-workers from partnering agencies who have nominated me for awards – honors resulting in local, state, and national recognition of Lakeshore Technical College’s Adult Inmate Education program in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. I encourage you to search for opportunities to recognize your colleagues and counterparts for their outstanding work. An award nomination validates the employee and employer, strengthens partnerships, expands the professional network, and provides opportunities for positive publicity.

Over the years, I have nominated various people for service and professional awards; I must say it is extremely gratifying to see a co-worker, particularly one whose name you personally brought forth, be the recipient of public honor.

If you have thinking about nominating a colleague for an award, consider the Correctional Education Association, the American Jail Association, the American Correctional Association, and get it done! If you have never considered doing so, please start looking for a way to make it happen!

by: Sharon Abel, Lakeshore Technical College
Sheboygan County Detention Center]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Thu, 14 May 2009 02:35:09 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,913,913#msg-913 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,913,913#msg-913
Lakeshore Technical College (Wisconsin) Adult Basic Education Instructor Sharon Abel is one of six individual recipients honored with the statewide Governor’s Financial Literacy Award 2009. The award recognizes excellence in promoting financial literacy among Wisconsin citizens. The winners were selected by Governor Doyle’s Council on Financial Literacy. The evaluation of nominees was based on four criteria: innovative implementation, demonstrated measurable results, collaboration with partners, and scope.

Sharon Abel was nominated for the Governor’s Financial Literacy Award by Lisa Anne Arneson, Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor of the Family Service Association, for successfully facilitating the learning of financial/economic concepts by her students – adult inmates at the Sheboygan County Detention Center. Abel’s work in this field is based on her participation in the National Institute of Financial & Economic Literacy, her extensive review of professional literature on the subject, and her active response to the longitudinal follow-up study she conducted with inmates/students regarding participation in financial literacy learning activities and influence of such on attitude, decisions, and behavior. Arneson had this to say about Abel and her work:
Over the past year alone, we have pulled credit reports for and assisted in the preparation of financial goals for over 140 inmates/students. Being that Ms. Abel is totally committed to giving her students a foundation of resources, these inmates will now know where they can go to get help with their finances upon release.
Sharon, through her commitment to financial literacy, has helped discover that three inmates have been victims of identity theft during their incarcerations. Two of which were their parents who were using their identities without permission. Ms. Abel has also helped place five of her past students into housing. These one-time inmates of the county jail facility now have a stable place to live and they can focus on their schooling to becoming more productive members of society.
If we can so much as give one person the tools to make a difference in his/her life, we had a good day. Sharon does this day in and day out tirelessly with all who have the pleasure of coming in contact with her. Her students have a respect for her that reaches an all time high. However, they achieve not because of the respect for her but because of the respect she gives them.
Her classroom is a two-way street with a few U turns. Given time most find their direction largely because of her continued guidance.
First Lady Jessica Doyle and Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Lorrie Keating-Heinemann presented the 2009 Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards to six individuals and ten organizations on Wednesday, March 18, at a ceremony at the Executive Residence in Madison.

“I congratulate the individuals and organizations for their contributions to financial literacy,” said Governor Jim Doyle. “They are enhancing Wisconsin’s economy by making people more knowledgeable about their own money. We all benefit from that.”

For more information about the Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards and the National Institute of Financial & Economic Literacy contact David Mancl, Director, Office of Financial Literacy, at (608) 261-9540 or david.mancl@dfi.state.wi.us.]]> Jerry Bednarowski Jails Thu, 14 May 2009 02:32:41 -0400 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,860,860#msg-860 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?8,860,860#msg-860
Please email any articles of promising practices within jails education to tlisant@schools.nyc.gov by May 15, 2009.

Let me know if there are any questions/concerns.

Thank you,
Tim Lisante
JAILS SIG Chairperson]]> tlisant Jails Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:43:28 -0400