Category Field Services Show all
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Field Services Thank You
By Al Godfrey
Field Services staff, July 16-22nd is Probation and Parole week—an opportunity to reflect and honor your work to transform lives and keep MN a healthy place to work and live. While this is one week, the ongoing feedback directly from our clients throughout the year on how you support and help them in living a better life is our true testimony that speaks to the value of your work.
This past session was historic—from increased funding for supervision to policy change. While exciting, we have now committed ourselves to implementing what is known to be effective when working with both persons under supervision and the victims and communities impacted by crime. For Field Services, more than ever we need to focus and continue to remind ourselves on the “why” of the work. At the end of the day, how we have assisted our clients in having a better understanding of what has led to their involvement in the justice system and how we are jointly working together on a plan to give them better tools to proactively manage and avoid high-risk behaviors. How we have helped victims in their healing process and feeling safe in the community where they chose to live.
Long-term change can be attributed to two main themes: A desire to discontinue behaviors that no longer support positive self-change, and having the right tools where persons have the ability followed by hope they can change. Interesting enough, this is true for all of us. Change is difficult and at times anxiety producing. Shifting from behaviors that are comfortable to behaviors that are new require having a mindset we are open to change. Letting go of all the excuses of why change is not feasible to fully embrace and commit ourselves to change recognizing that barriers and failure is part of the process. Each time you have a setback, you pick yourself up, you learn from that experience, and you move forward.
For us as staff, that means we need to be more than ever a learning organization. One that continues to adopt and change overtime, just as much as the lives we are dedicated to helping change. This means trying new interventions to better equip clients in making the right decisions and rewarding new behaviors when they are moving in the right direction. Affirmation is a powerful tool and even simply acknowledging positive change, even the smallest step, can be a powerful motivator for all of us. In addition, we need to track our success and have the data to support it. Through data, we have a powerful tool that helps us reflect “are we moving in the right direction”? We are better able to tell our story on why community supervision and your work is important. Lastly, the work we do has an impact on us and others who we care about. We commit to live healthy lives as staff and not being afraid or unwilling to ask for help when we need it. We all need support and care.
So, for us, this is a word of thanks. Thank you for your work and trying out new behaviors as we learn and grow regardless of if you work directly with clients and victims or the staff supporting the work. We are all focused on one goal of positively transforming lives.
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2023 Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week
The 2023 Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week (PPPS Week) is celebrated from July 16-22. This year's theme is "Stronger Together," which highlights the importance of collaboration between community corrections professionals, incarcerated people, and the community as a whole to provide support and resources. By working together, we make a real difference in their lives while also making Minnesota communities safer.
PPPS Week salutes and celebrates the valuable efforts of over 100,000 community corrections professionals across the country that help supervise close to 6.4 million individuals. The 2023 theme of Stronger Together break down walls bring people together to learn, talk, work, and celebrate so that America may flourish.
This week is an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of all of you who work to keep our communities safe and help people to turn their lives around. You are professionals who play a vital role in the criminal justice system, and your work is essential to public safety.Thank you to all of our Field Services professionals who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and help people to turn their lives around. You make a difference!
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Marshall District Office Receives New Highway Look
By Kurt Hoehne
After 27 years, the Marshall District Office received new MN DOC highway signage. You can view the before and after photos below.
Before updated sign
After updated sign -
Shout Out: ISR Supervisor Kelley Blake
By Shannon Van Alstine
I'd like to give a shout out to Supervisor, Kelley Blake.
I was in a time-crunch to get an important document to the courts. My supervisor was on vacation, and her coverage was also out of the office. Kelley is the ISR supervisor, so she doesn't work directly with me. Kelley was able to get the approvals I needed so I could get my document to the courts in a timely fashion. She offered to help, knowing it wasn't her responsibility.
Thank you Kelley for going above and beyond, being kind and quick to action! You made my day!!
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Shout Out: Marlana Balk and Sandy Hand
By Rebecca Fratzke
It was just another Tuesday at Goodwill Easter Seals-St. Paul, prepping for a busy night of working with recently released individuals from MCF-Stillwater, when the true measure of living the mission was humbly demonstrated.
A man came into Goodwill in state-issued grays, released just that morning from another MN Correctional Facility and looking for help. He remembered working with the Opportunity for Change (O4C) Program during a previous incarceration and needed to get connected with some resources and assistance with managing his mental health. I watched Marlana Balk and Sandy Hand jump into action assisting this man with getting a decent lunch, connection with MNSURE to ensure that his benefits were active, multiple community resources in the area of the shelter he would be residing in and a ride to the shelter to ensure he got there safely. They also assisted him with contacting his agent and connecting with his agent to ensure that he was aware of what options existed for the individual and to help bridge those resources between the individual and supervising agent.
The interaction with Marlana, Sandy and this individual was only about 45 minutes, but it truly depicted our values within the DOC of Safety • Dignity • Honesty • Service • Equity • Fairness • Respect. I am so grateful to work amongst people who live the mission every day, in a million small and impactful ways.
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Career Agent Lindsey Ternes Earns Transforming Lives Award
ByJanelle Cheney
Career Agent Lindsey Ternes is ONE IN A MILLION ~ and has received the Employee Recognition Award for Transforming Lives! I will do my best to try sum up (briefly), the impact Agent Ternes has had during her career with the MN Department of Corrections.
Lindsey has spearheaded the Internship process within Moorhead, starting with recruitment to working directly with Central Office and the College in ensuring credit is given to the Student. She facilitates a monthly Law Enforcement meeting that has grown in size and talent sitting at the table. This meeting is specific to School Resource Officers and now includes Social Services, school staff, and more, and focuses on at-risk youth. It aims to be proactive while troubleshooting and working collaboratively towards addressing ongoing concerns with those already actively involved in the juvenile judicial system. She most recently has made herself physically available on-site at the Career Academy to support the school staff. Lindsey conducts job fairs and makes herself available for Career Days, speaking on behalf of the DOC. Lindsey also is a leader as she prioritizes her availability to the court system, often covering detention and arraignment hearings of youth.
Agent Lindsey Ternes is a member of the Local Collaborative Time Study (LCTS) Team, the Clay County Safe Harbor Response Team, the Children's Mental Health Team, and the Pre-placement Screening Team within Clay County. She not only attends these meetings but she engages in the dialog and does an amazing job representing the DOC at the table of such meetings.
Co-workers had this to say about Agent Ternes:
Lindsey not only works hard to transform the lives of our clients but she is also a professor at the local college, transforming the lives of her criminal justice students. She is sharing her knowledge with the future of the DOC.
Lindsey from day one has been someone to aspire to model your life after. She is easy going, smart, articulate, full of prosocial activities, she would not score high on an LSCMI! I couldn't count how many times I sat, stood, rode next to her while she was working with clients and got a bird eye's view on how an effective probation officer transforms people, not just her clients. Lindsey's ability to connect with a client is uncanny; however, I believe her ability to brighten any room with her positive attitude is her greatest strength. I have no doubt in my mind that she has single handedly transformed thousands of lives for the better, I know firsthand. She is truly a great human and I am honored to work alongside her and call her a friend.
Lindsey is the gorilla glue who holds it all together. Lindsey is our office's mother hen, keeping track of details involving her and others' workload. She's a mentor and a guide for new employees and interns, helping them to have a positive work or learning experience. Her attention to detail keeps everything and everyone in line, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Her wings envelope others outside of our office, including buying gifts for juveniles who are detained over Christmas, working with schools and law enforcement, and instructing at a local college. Within our office, Lindsey ensures all are remembered and recognized, from planning retirement parties, going away parties, and other areas of employee recognition, leaving everyone feeling remembered and cared about. There has never been a time Lindsey has expressed exasperation or frustration with her responsibilities. Regardless of changes encountered or obstacles she comes up against, Lindsey meets it with a positive attitude and respect. Lindsey is an exemplary employee, comrade and mentor, the superglue who holds the office together and running smoothly!
Lindsey Ternes is the hardest working agent in this office. Her work ethic is beyond reproach. Her positive can-do attitude is a constant. She chairs and is active on several committees serving our youth who are often disadvantaged on many levels. She is involved in volunteerism with this population as well. She teaches at a local college inspiring and educating future corrections and law enforcement candidates.
Lindsey's sincerity and compassion for her clients is always apparent. Aside from being a tremendous agent, Lindsey goes the extra mile in many ways. She has been a long time volunteer with the Moorhead Police Summer Youth Program, she started a Girl's Group for her female clients, teaches at the local college, and represents the DOC on a number of committees. Her thoughtfulness and expertise are invaluable to Clay County.
Lindsey works tirelessly to not only help clients make meaningful changes but colleagues, community members, students, and so many more as well. I first met Lindsey as a junior in college. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my degree but thought probation could be a good fit. Lindsey was an instrumental part in the internship program of Clay County and helped me throughout the entire process. I was able to learn so much from her and she was always willing to help. Lindsey is never afraid to go the extra mile and expects nothing in return. She is so deserving of this award as she exemplifies what it means to be a probation Agent and to transform others lives.
Lindsey is a team player who always has a positive attitude. Lindsey goes above and beyond what is expected of her at work and is one of the nicest people I have ever gotten the opportunity to work with.
Lindsey is the only reason I believe I have done so well! She is my guru, literally! She is always there to help me, to help cover anything that I need and support me! I am so happy and proud that she is winning this award, she truly deserves it. She knows so many people and does so much for not only probation, this county, and the criminal justice field! Congrats to her!!!
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Jodi Kulik Receives MADD Probation Officer of the Year Award
By Brian Rubenstein
I am pleased to announce, our Agent Jodi Kulik (adult felon - treatment court agent), was the recipient of the MADD 2023 Probation Officer of the Year Award!! Jodi's continuous work, diligence, and dedication to providing above-and-beyond supervision practices is what led to her earning this award. She is highly respected by our treatment court teams in Becker County and I couldn't be more proud to inform you all of her award. Jodi's attention to detail, her ability to care for her clients' best interests, and her skillful use of evidence-based practices is evident in her daily work, and I truly believe this is why she is so deserving of this award. Many congrats, Jodi!
Tara Griess, former MADD participant, was the one who originally nominated Jodi. Tara wrote:
Jodi Kulik has been a Corrections Agent for the MN DOC for 20+ years. She’s a big part of the Drug/DUI court program (a program I had the opportunity to be a part of instead of a prison stay). Her communication skills with clients conveys her position in encouraging and supporting their growth and enables us as clients to find our purpose. She’s also a big advocate for the MADD Program and it really helps that she reaches out to the recovery centers to increase attendance at the panels. Jodi pushes the Courts and Judges for clients to attend MADD programs where clients learn about accountability for their actions. She is present at the Becker County MADD panel and she helps the program run smoothly. Her presence gives clients the ongoing support that she continues to be with them to offer support and belief in the program. Jodi assisted in getting the first ever MADD walk in Detroit Lakes in 2021 up and running and this raised over $12,000 with over 60 people in attendance. The enthusiasm Jodi gives to her clients shows the work she's providing them has great value. Thank you, Jodi!
Sincerely, Tara Griess
Jodi, congratulations to you from all of us at the DOC! Well done!
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Shout Out: Bryan Roiger of the South Central ISR Team
By Kelley Blake
I want to give a shout out to Bryan Roiger for always going above and beyond and being an all around asset to us. Bryan has a client that is in the end stages of life. He found out the client loves cherry flavored Sun Drop but can't find any. Bryan is also a lover of Sun Drop and knew there was a gas station several hours away that carried the cherry flavor. He coordinated with another co-worker on their days off in their own vehicles to get the Sun Drop and deliver it to the client.
Bryan also volunteered to switch over all of ISR South cell phones when we received new ones. This process has been incredibly frustrating for agents and they were immensely thankful to Bryan for taking this on for them. I received numerous comments that they have never walked out of a cell phone switch with everything working, but they did when Bryan took this on.
Thank you Bryan for always being a team player and a caring individual.
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Shout Out: Rebecca Clemens-Wells and Melissa Greiner
By Wendy Ortiz
Rebecca Clemens-Wells and Melissa Greiner have both gone above and beyond with patience and expertise. They are always open for questions of any possible computer confusion that may cross my path. The entire team has always provided a level of professionalism that puts someone like myself, not versed in the world of technology at ease when I find something confusing. I know I can always count on them and wanted to let them know how much I appreciate them and the work they do.
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Shout Out: Southeast ISR Agents
By Kelly Blake
The South East ISR team of Ellen Johnson, Barb Bauer, Marie Houston, Jason Mullenbach, Molly Bice and Heidi Anderson received an email from a CIP client recently thanking them. It reads:
Dear parole agents,
Thank you for everything that you have done for me for the last year. Thank you for offering just the right amount of structure to make this transition back into society smooth as possible while maintaining a schedule conducive to me succeeding after incarceration!!! God bless!!
