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National Correctional Employee Month

August 2010 CISM Newsletter

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In the world of work we live in today things are different at times. We have grown to be very "business" if you will. If you look around and read current events/newspapers you know, as I do, it applies to every field and profession.

And as a business we need vision. Vision to see where we are and where we want to be just like a road map. We have to have plans to get to where we want to be. We have to know what we are striving for so there are those goals again. This is where all of this strategic planning comes in! We also must realize how competitive this business world is. We must be stronger. We must be better. We must be sharper. We must be able to do what others may not. We must be able to save the tax payers money while we do it. That is what we are about.

A partner to government to deliver a very high standard service of public safety. Of course we also pride ourselves in providing quality programming in order to offer opportunities to the offenders who want to better themselves. If they are improved in the "right things" when they release and don't re-offend, well we have taken public safety even further. With all of this said, we must be cognizant of our pennies that add to dollars. We know in our personal lives how easy it is to waste and it can also be easy to save: yurn that water faucet off totally; turn the lights off if they are not needed; don't drive over the speed limit.

We also know that is even more important safety-wise - handle CCA equipment such as radios, keys etc as you would your own. It takes common sense. We don't have to be MBA's to know this. We do it everyday in our personal lives. Because when we do this, we get even better, stronger and bigger. Our company grows and opportunities grow also.

You must never forget who you are. You are the 17,000 professionals who are CCA:

  • The Correctional Officers who stand on their feet on concrete and walk perimeters in all types of weather whether it is the Colorado cold or the Louisiana humidity.
  • The Nurses, Dentists, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians who provide nurturing medical care to what more times than not a very abusive population.
  • The Programs/Treatment Professionals such as Case Managers, Unit Managers, Correctional Counselors, Mental Health Professionals, ATU Counselors, Teachers, Chaplains and Recreation Professionals who tirelessly attempt to show the offenders in our care there is another way of living.
  • The Support Staff that contribute to the overall running of CCA such Administrative Asst's, Secretaries, Clerks.
  • The Human Resource Professionals who ensure our pay checks get to us and they ensure our services run smoothly such as insurance etc.
  • The Mailroom Personnel who process tons of paper each and every day to ensure inmates and employees get their mail. And we know how important how important mail is to inmates.
  • The Business Managers/Bookkeepers who ensure our bills are paid and keep us on track!
  • The Training Managers who ensure we know when we need to get our training and work with us as no others!
  • The Shift Supervisors who are ultimately responsible for their shifts and take such pride in what they do. They are truly "can do" professionals.
  • The Assistant Supervisors who must be ready to step in at any time if their captain needs them and they do it with no hesitancy.
  • The QA and Safety Managers who keep us on the right track with audits and inspections.
  • The STG Coordinators who watch for dangerous activity in our facilities.
  • The Food Service Professionals who feed thousands of people every day.
  • The Chiefs-be it of Security or Unit Management. They carry their responsibilities as a badge of honor. "Whatever it takes" is what they dedicate themselves to.
  • The Assistant Wardens who take such pride in "their" prisons. They are leaders who will work from can to can't to get it done. They look after their employees and their warden as they should.
  • The Wardens-who have total responsibility of any and everything in their "house”. They model for all of us at all times. They are never off and away from work. They eat, breath and sleep their prison. They are true competitors and want to be the best. Their pride in their facility and their people is insurmountable. Give them a challenge and you better get out of the way-watch it get done! They take their responsibilities of safety of the public, their people and their offenders in their care to heart. It is their watch.

I say all of this to remind you of who CCA is. Don't forget what you have done. Because with 65 facilities and 65,000 inmates in our care across this country, for every 24 hours that there is not a zero tolerance, it is a direct reflection on YOU. Each and every one of YOU. So when things get tense, go back to what we said in January, write down what you have done, your accomplishments. YOU provided safety to the public. YOU provided safety to each other. YOU provided safety to the inmates we are responsible for. YOU prevented escapes. YOU prevented disturbances. YOU prevented deadly assaults. YOU prevented hostage situations.

So, hold yourself up high. YOU are wearing the uniform of the largest private correctional company in America. YOU are CCA.

HAPPY NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEE MONTH!

By Angel Martin, MSW, GSW senior manager, Critical Incident Stress Management
The mission of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program is expanding to include topics that may be of interest to staff dealing with stress in everyday life, and not just at work.

 
Sound Out

Donald Howell at ICISF, Inc.:

Is there any way I maight obtain the e-mail address for Angel Martin, MSW, GSW senior manager, Critical Incident Stress Management.

Donald R. Howell
Executive Director
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
3290 Pine Orchard Lane, Unit 106
Ellicott City, MD 21042-2272
http://www.icisf.org
410-750-9600
Fax: 410-750-9601