Corrections Connection Volume 31, Issue 5 May/June 2019 Corrections Connection May/June 2019 2 In this issue: Guardians of the Flame 3 Employee Wellness Program 5 Field Days Podcast 5 Strategic Plan 6 LARA partnership 7 Gulick named deputy director 7 Flag dedication 7 Employee Rec Day 8 Committed to community 10 Officer’s son goes pro 10 Family orientation 10 With Thanks 11 The Extra Mile 12 COPS Day 13 Thank You vets 13 Corrections Quiz 14 NCIA conference 14 Snapshots 15 Seen on social media 15 Corrections in the news 15 New hires 16 Retirements 18 Corrections Connection is a publication of the The image on the cover was taken near Onaway, Mich.- by Office of Public Information and Communications. Joe Crawley, a corrections officer at Saginaw Correctional Story ideas, feedback and comments can Facility. be submitted to Holly Kramer at KramerH@ For the chance to have your photo featured on the cover of michigan.gov. the newsletter, email a high-resolution version of the image Like MDOC on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. and a description of where it was taken to Holly Kramer at [email protected]. Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success Corrections Connection May/June 2019 3 Guardians of the FLAME MDOC staff are key and his family look forward to each year. “One of the most enjoyable things related to my supporters of the Law job is coming out to support the Special Olympics athletes,” said Fausak, who was planning to bring Enforcement Torch Run his son to help volunteer at the Special Olympics Summer Games. for Special Olympics Each year, dozens of law enforcement personnel, including corrections professionals, participate in Law Enforcement Torch Run events that provide tremendous support for Special Olympics athletes in t’s mid-morning and the overcast skies threaten Michigan. rain, but that hasn’t dampened the excitement of Last year, the Law Enforcement Torch Run raised Chuck Fausak, a corrections officer at Charles E. $1.7 million for Special Olympics Michigan. IEgeler Reception and Guidance Center, and dozens More than $108,000 of that came from Michigan of others positioned at the Capitol steps for this big Department of Corrections employees, who are moment. among the biggest fundraisers for the organization. Fausak stands beside his son as a Special Olympics “It’s a lot of fun,” said Haley Herbert, a corrections athlete lights the flame to kick off the annual Law officer at Parnall Correctional Facility, who Enforcement Torch Run. spearheads Special Olympics fundraising at For Fausak, participation in Torch Run events and the facility. “It’s a positive thing I can do and it volunteering with Special Olympics is something he Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success Corrections Connection May/June 2019 4 Correctional Facility Corrections Officer Consuelo Figueroa and Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility Prison Counselor Melissa West. Bunting said anyone interested in participating in the torch run shouldn’t hesitate to get involved. “You get more out of it than what you put in,” Bunting said. “It’s a great time and you won’t regret doing it.” Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center Corrections Officer Jason Duncan agrees. “What’s not to enjoy?” said Pictured: Corrections Officer Chuck Fausak talks to colleagues participating in the Law En- Duncan, who now also serves forcement Torch Run kick-off ceremony at the Capitol. on the management team for represents the department in a me and I thoroughly enjoy doing Special Olympics in Jackson and positive light. I tell colleagues this. Participating in the run is was instrumental in recruiting what a great cause it is to support.” my way of giving back to them. It colleagues like Fausak to get They are also instrumental gives me an overwhelming sense involved. “It’s uplifting and it gives participants in key events, like of j oy.” you perspective. It’s very positive.” the Law Enforcement Torch Run The run begins Sept. 9 Central Route - a 705-mile relay and each runner on the MDOC from Copper Harbor to Detroit. team will complete about 8 miles To donate to the MDOC’s The distance isn’t daunting for per day. Law Enforcement Torch Bellamy Creek Correctional In addition to Bunting, the Run Relay Team, click Facility Sgt. Mark Bunting. MDOC team includes: He has participated in the relay Cooper Street Correctional here. for four years and served as co- Facility Capt. Richard Drabek, captain twice. Wexford County Parole and To see more photos from The enthusiasm and courage of Probation Agent Luke Blaszak, the 2019 Law Enforcement Special Olympics athletes motivate G. Robert Cotton Correctional Torch Run Kick Off him to keep going, he said. Facility Office Assistant Lindsay “They are the real heroes,” Bunting Royalty, Outstate Territory Lead Ceremony, click here. said. “They are an inspiration to Agent Jason Perry, St. Louis Pictured left: Field Operations Administration Deputy Director Russ Marlan speaks to the crowd at the Law Enforcement Torch Run kick-off ceremony. Pictured right: A Michigan State Police trooper walks beside a Special Olympics athlete with the flame that signifies the start of the Torch Run while the MDOC Honor Guard shows support. Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success Corrections Connection May/June 2019 5 Lynn Gorski joins MDOC as leader of new Employee Wellness Program ynn Gorski has been named manager of the reliable services. LMDOC’s new Employee Wellness Program As manager of the Employee Wellness Program which was created to help support employee needs. she will oversee a Peer Support Program, Chaplain Gorski has a Master’s Services Program and Traumatic Incident Stress Degree in psychology and Management services within the department. has experience working The creation of the Wellness Program was a with criminal justice recommendation from the EPIC Wellness Team, professionals. formed by Director Heidi Washington in 2018. She previously worked The team’s goal was to identify resources and for the Berrien County programs that could be offered to employees to help Sheriff’s Department them deal with stress and other challenges. and for the Office of In addition to Gorski, the program will be supported Behavioral Science with by three wellness coordinators and a chaplain Lynn Gorski Michigan State Police. Her program coordinator. time at MSP was spent Once the unit is fully operational, a staff person working on programs and initiatives that promoted will be available 24/7 for confidential consultation, employee wellness, including organizing and leading crisis management, Peer Support Program critical incident debriefings, providing training and coordination and other support services. The support for the MSP’s Peer Support Program, and wellness coordinators will be licensed mental health partnering with outside resources to assist employees professionals and are in the process of being hired. and their family members in finding appropriate and CheckHAVE out the latest YOU episodes of HEARD?the Field Days podcast • FOA Assistant Deputy Director Warren Wilson shares his immediate plans and future goals for the Office of Parole and Probation Services. • 2019 Candice Dunn Agent of the Year, Jason Maue, discusses Motivational Interviewing, Offender Success and his moving speech at the recent Employee Appreciation Banquet. • Members of the EPIC Employee Engagement Committee share details on the upcoming 2019 Employee Recreation Day and plans for future events throughout the year. Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success Corrections Connection May/June 2019 6 MDOC launches newest four-year Strategic Plan he department has released its newest strategic comment. Tplan, which will serve as a guide over the next Director Washington and other department leaders four years. spoke with frontline staff around the state and This ambitious plan sets us on a course to make large surveyed managers and administrators. Those conversations helped shape this plan that will move the department farther down the great path it is on. The plan features a number of ways the department will invest in our staff and provide new forms of training and opportunities for employees. There are also objectives focused on ways to break down barriers between CFA and FOA and work together toward Offender Success more seamlessly. Several of these objectives will require the formation of an EPIC team. If some of these areas are of interest to you, please consider volunteering to join one of the teams, or feel free to provide your input to the EPIC Section. and fundamental changes to the way we operate, the Please share the plan and discuss it with your way we work with each other and assist those under coworkers and think of ways your office, or your our supervision. facility can contribute to accomplishing the Between now and the end of 2022, we will tackle the objectives. seven goals and 26 objectives contained in the new As we move forward through these next four years, strategic plan. we will keep you informed along the way on how we The ideas that led to this plan came from input from are all doing. Each year we will produce a progress department employees. report to show you where we are at and how we have Over the years, as department employees met these objectives. completed Employee Engagement Surveys and Copies of the plan should be available at your work made suggestions and comments, department sites. You can also see the electronic version of the leaders analyzed the results and read every written plan on our website here. Have an idea that can help us achieve our goals? Reach out to [email protected] to share your ideas on meeting objectives for 2019, or to offer your assistance. Please put the objective in the subject line.