The Montana Department of Corrections set out with a simple mission: “Improve the culture of the Montana Department of Corrections and we’ll improve the quality of life in Montana.” 20 years ago, Montana Department of Corrections employee Winnie Ore was introduced to The Pacific Institute curriculum and saw value in the Investment in Excellence® (IIE®) program in the adult corrections system. Over the next several decades, Winnie pushed through roadblocks and red tape, investing her own time and energy to generate enthusiasm throughout the Montana Department of Corrections for the curriculum. Soon, there was more and more of a demand to provide the education, and people began talking about this great “new” training program. Through the continued work of Winnie’s co-worker Curt Swenson, Montana Department of Corrections Director Mike Ferriter, Pacific Institute Project Director Mark Schlosser, and Training Manager Lisa Hunter, The Pacific Institute curriculum was expanded to adult inmates at Montana prisons and Montana Department of Correction.
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| The Pacific Institute Helps Empower Inmates at Montana Department of Corrections. |
Last year, facilitators and inmate graduates at Montana State Prison and Montana Corrections Enterprises established a mentorship program and began a “graduate group” for the inmates who successfully complete the program. The mentorship program allows interested inmates who complete the STEPS® program to act as mentors to other STEPS® classes. As long as they’ve demonstrated through behavior, a commitment to implement the curriculum, they are given the opportunity to co-facilitate the education to other inmates and act as role models during the class and in the units. The graduate group is a place for inmates that successfully complete STEPS® to return and discuss how they’ve implemented the curriculum, share success stories and challenges, and get a refresher from a trained facilitator. Both of these programs have been successful in changing the inmate culture at these facilities.
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For more information please contact Mark Schlosser at marks@pac-inst.com
