Field Services Staff Recognized by Local Media
By Brian Rubenstein
The following article appeared in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal.
The local Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC) office located in Fergus is part of the district that was awarded first place for the Employee Recognition Award: Project Recognition by the MN DOC Commissioner recently.
This year’s award was presented to the districts of Detroit Lakes which include Otter Tail, Becker and Mahnomen Counties and St Cloud (Wright and Benton Counties).
District supervisor, Brian Rubenstein, explained the award and its significance.
“The small WAI-SR (Working Alliance Inventory - Short Revised) pilot and the small DRI (Dual Relationship Inventory) pilot tested two client facing surveys to see how clients view our working relationship with them during their period on community supervision (Probation and/or supervised release). Each agent in the Detroit Lakes and St. Cloud district offices sent out three separate surveys to their clients. After review and lessons learned to improve the process, it was decided to proceed with the 14 question WAI-SR in a large pilot, expanding beyond just the district office to the entire district and to all clients on community supervision,” stated Rubenstein.
Rubenstein and his colleagues Jennifer Johnson (MN DOC research analyst) and Deb Anderson (St Cloud district supervisor) shared the survey results with their local corrections agents which, in turn, encouraged agents to continue to hand out and follow up on surveys both electronically and/or via paper.
Rubenstein said the result was spectacular. 585 clients returned their surveys, with 246 for the Detroit Lakes district and 339 for the St. Cloud district.
Rubenstein also mentioned while everyone did amazing work on the project, there were a few standouts including Tony Bergen, a Fergus Falls corrections agent, for receiving 91 surveys from her clients.
“Not only were the surveys returned from each client and for each agent, but we also saw the results we were hopeful to see. Our corrections agents work tirelessly to connect with clients and help them on their life changes which betters their chance of success while on supervision but most importantly, when they are finished with supervision,” said Rubenstein.
Rubenstein shared a few examples of some of the actual client comments that were included in the survey results:
“She really went above and beyond what any other probation officer has ever done to help me succeed. I intend to go to law school in this next phase of my life. Thank you – you are a hero!”
“My agent made me feel like I had a chance to be different and just made my supervision comfortable by being consistent and guided me throughout this process of rehabilitation into the community and gave me respect and trust, only to do the same in return.”
“At first, I didn’t have any goals and he’d ask what my plans were. Not knowing it was pushing me to work towards success. Today I’m employed, certified in peer support, in a (new to me) vehicle and from unfavorable to good credit. A lot of the thanks goes to (my agent).”
“This supervision has actually given me a real kick in the butt to want to work for myself with my past issues.”
“Best probation officer I’ve ever worked with. He does a great job and I am honored to be one of his clients.”
Rubenstein said the data itself is unprecedented information about how the MN DOC Field Services Unit can continue to support clients, as well as find many areas of opportunity for growth.
“We cannot thank this team of corrections agents for their vision and work on this project."
Hearing and seeing these results, which were submitted completely anonymously by individual clients, is a true testament to the great work our corrections agents do each and every day within the communities they serve,” said Rubenstein.
