Correctional Education and Re-Entry Work Group Appendix - Transition Council Report

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Coordination and Planning Strategies

Improved inter-agency coordination includes the following:

• A leadership/advisory team comprised of DPSCS, CE and DLLR officials should be established. This team, through the primary component MOU between DPSCS/DOC and DLLR/CE, should establish a policy addressing the requirements of a comprehensive and coordinated services plan and identify the responsible agents for implementation.
   
• A departmental panel comprised of DOC Case Management, Social Work and Psychology and DLLR/CE officials must examine and adjust current practices to develop the general scope and sequence of programs and services for the inmate population.
   
• At the facility level, a panel comprised of Case Management, DLLR/CE, Social Work, Psychology, and Custody officials should be established to examine each inmate's needs upon intake and devise a plan and priority of services for the inmate. Periodic reviews will provide for adjustments to the established plan.
   
• A comprehensive and coordinated services plan should also be developed for each inmate to establish a plan of treatment programs and service requirements that the inmate must fulfill to expedite re-entry to the community, to effect security level assignments, and to be eligible for preferred work assignments within the facility.
   
• The new Offender Case Management System (OCMS) will enhance closer collaboration among all the partners by providing a mechanism that allows for the tracking and coordination of services received by individual inmates.

To facilitate joint planning, the following steps should also be taken:

• A monthly meeting among the DOC Commissioner, the DOC Education Liaison, the DLLR/CE Director, and the DLLR/CE Field Director should be held to review and resolve issues, examine data and devise plans for system-wide program modifications and improvements. In addition, a process should be devised to report State Stat data to all parties in a timely and efficient fashion in sync with agency protocols.
• Ensure that the Planning Committee at each DOC facility includes all department and program administrators to coordinate services, plan and implement modifications, and resolve issues.
• Ensure that the new MOU between DPSCS and DLLR/CE clarifies roles and responsibilities including:
• Review and refine key coordinating documents and directives;
• Set a monthly program committee meeting within each of the facilities that includes staff with the authority to address issues.
• Facilitate completion of the Education Template on a bi-weekly basis at the facilities in a collaborative effort between the school and the facility with results reviewed by a committee of HQ staff from DLLR and DPSCS.

Updated June 8, 2009