Corrections Connection

Corrections Connection Volume 33, Issue 4 June/July 2021 Corrections Connection June/July 2021 2 In this issue: Wellness Challenge 3 MDOC New DEI Officer 5 New Employee Spotlight 6 MDOC Sixth in Nation 7 PPPS Week 8 Strategic Plan Progress Report 8 C.O.P.S. Day 9 WCC Rescues Eagle 9 With Thanks 10 The Extra Mile 11 Corrections Quiz 13 MDOC Shooting Team 13 Corrections Quiz 13 Snapshots 14 Corrections In the News 14 Seen on Social Media 14 New Hires 15 Retirements 20 The image on the cover was taken at Hungarian Corrections Connection is a publication of the Falls in Calumet by Kendra Burton, record office Office of Public Information and Communications. supervisor at Saginaw Correctional Facility. For the Story ideas, feedback and comments can be chance to have your photo featured on the cover of submitted to Brianna Brugel at BrugelB1@ the newsletter, email a high-resolution version of michigan.gov the image and a description of where it was taken to Like MDOC on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Brianna Brugel at [email protected] Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success June/July 2021 2 Corrections Connection June/July 2021 3 Make the Wellness Commitment Make the Commitment The MDOC is asking The Wellness Unit has developed a multi-faceted, 60-Day Wellness Challenge to facilitate making wellness a priority in the daily lives of the department for your participation and community. From August 16 to October 15 the Wellness Unit is asking you to make the commitment in a 60-Day Wellness to your wellness as we recover from the pandemic. To participate in the challenge MDOC staff will voluntarily pledge to make wellness a priority for their families, Challenge colleagues and themselves by being intentional, steady, kind and courageous. This challenge gives participants the freedom to discover what wellness is for he Michigan Department of Corrections Wellness them and execute it for 60-days. Examples include: TUnit and MDOC Employee Engagement Committee • Increasing water intake recognize the mental toll the last 16 months have been • 10 minutes of mindful meditation on MDOC employees. While trying to survive through • Taking a Walk the COVID-19 pandemic, many have lost focus on their • Calling a friend wellness. In an effort to help kickstart our journey out • Opening a Savings account of survival mode, the MDOC is encouraging its staff to • Listening to Music on the way to work participate in a 60-Day Wellness Challenge. This challenge may look different for everyone, but the "In the last year and a half there isn't one person who key is to stay steady in your wellness direction, don't hasn't been negatively impacted in some way [by the quit. pandemic]," said Wellness Manager Lynn Gorski. "It is important for us to continue to stay healthy and positive to get to the light at the end of the tunnel." Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success Corrections Connection June/July 2021 4 ness to yourself and others. Saying things like, "I How it works am thinking of you," "thank you," or "you're making a difference." The most important thing you can do for This challenge gives participants the freedom to dis- your wellness is to stay committed to it. Don't quit. Set cover and execute their own wellness goals, however, out time every day to dedicate to wellness. each worksite will create its own challenge to engage "It's not about failing, it's about not quitting and and encourage 60-days of wellness at the workplace. A continuing to make strides in your wellness," said Gor- designated leader at each worksite will be responsible ski. "Stay the course and encourage others to stay the for developing the creative energy and providing re- course as well." sources for staff to successfully complete the challenge. Watch this video to learn more and inspire you to Make To measure the success of this challenge, the Wellness the Commitment! Unit asks that everyone who makes the commitment take a five-question anonymous pre-and post-survey. For completing the challenge and the surveys, the department will award participants with a "Make the Wellness Commitment" Challenge Coin to celebrate and acknowledge their commitment to wellness. The best part, the "Make the Wellness Commitment" Chal- lenge Coin will be designed by a fellow MDOC partici- pant. We are also asking challenge participants to get creative and submit challenge coin designs to be voted on by the department. The winning design will be depicted on the 2021 Wellness Challenge Coin. Designs can be submitted to the MDOC Wellness Unit email at [email protected] and must be submitted by September 15. During the next few weeks, more information will be shared on how you can take the survey and participate in this challenge Want to be featured in an upcoming How to be Successful in this edition of the Corrections Challenge Connection? We are looking for Having a partner or team is helpful to share your wellness journey with. Ask your colleagues what they staff who have several generations are doing for wellness. During staff meetings, share working for the MDOC. If your family what you are doing and what progress you have made has three or more generations toward your wellness. Start intentional conversations about your wellness and be encouraging of other's working for the MDOC please email wellness journey. Show appreciation and thoughtful- [email protected] Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success June/July 2021 4 Corrections Connection June/July 2021 5 Welcoming the MDOC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer he MDOC is excited to welcome Elizabeth Collins' main goal in her new role is to normalize TCollins to the department as our new Diversity, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across state Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer. Collins comes government. to the MDOC from the Michigan Department “My main goal is to serve the MDOC in a way of Education where she completed a variety of that intentionally meets the MDOC specific DEI projects that focused on ensuring diversity, equity, goals while supporting the overall State of Michigan and inclusion. EIO mission,” said Collins. In her previous In this position Collins' role is to address diversity, role, Collins was equity and inclusion needs for the MDOC in the Michigan areas such as leadership; policy development and Department of service delivery; culture and climate; recruiting, Education's Title hiring and retention; and training and professional IX Coordinator development. and provided MDOC employees should contact Collins with technical assistance any Executive Directive 2019-09: Equal Opportunity to local education in State Employment, State Contracting and Grant agencies regarding and Loan Program or Executive Directive 2019-10: DEI Officer Elizabeth Collins implementation of Equal Pay for Equal Work complaints. Staff can also the requirements of contact Collins with any comments, concerns, or Title IX legislation and gender equity. questions about the DEI work culture. Collins hopes Collins holds a Master of Arts in Education degree to serve the MDOC in a way that is much bigger from Michigan State University and is a member than compliance. of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity “I envision my role as one in which people (NAPE) Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. can discuss DEI issues with me in a way that will As a former educator, Collins is passionate about bring about organizational change and highlight educating others and professional development. She any training and professional development needs,” is very passionate about DEI work and has spent said Collins. “I feel to create and operationalize most of her career working to ensure diversity, equity organizational change, people should feel and inclusion in education and employment. comfortable contacting me not only in a formal “I am very passionate about systems change,” said compliance capacity but also in an informal way.” Collins. “I look forward to working not only within Collins knows from experience that there will the MDOC, but also with the EIO’s from other State be MDOC staff who may be able to identify an area of Michigan departments to make a positive impact of DEI and work culture that needs improvement, within the MDOC and also across all of Michigan.” but that doesn’t necessarily rise to the level of a Collins is excited for her new role at the MDOC complaint. Collins explains that there is no DEI and knows that the work done within the MDOC problem too big or too small for someone to bring will have a significant impact on the SOM workforce. to her, even the smallest of changes can have a large “Working for a Department that is so dedicated to impact on the organization. If she is not the right DEI efforts, including fostering a diverse, equitable, person to address the issue, she will work to ensure and inclusive work environment is exciting for me people are connected to the right individuals. in the DEI/EIO role,” said Collins. “From day one, Collins is available to MDOC employees to I knew the MDOC leadership team was committed discuss any DEI and work culture issues via email at to DEI efforts. I am excited to learn more about [email protected] or phone at 517-241-0031. the MDOC and developing a core EIO team that represents all employees of the MDOC. This will be vital to meet the MDOC DEI goals and the goals of the State of Michigan Executive Office.” Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success Corrections Connection June/July 2021 6 New officer Felt Called to Public Service fter living in Arizona for six years, ACorrections Officer Ray McNeely was looking for the right opportunity to come back to Michigan when he found an opening for a Corrections Officer at the Michigan Department of Corrections.

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