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*Rehabilitation Programs Division Volunteer Services Newsletter*



Fall 2023
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A Message from Rehabilitation Programs Division Director

Carter

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"It is with great honor that we recognize the unwavering support of our TDCJ volunteers. Our mission to promote positive change starts with genuine people who dedicate their lives to helping others."

-RPD Division Director Christopher Carter



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Bill Wise

William ?Bill? Wise has served as a CVCA for Over two years at the O. L. Luther Unit in Navasota Texas. He oversees the unit?s Toastmaster program and counsels? inmates as well as all other duties as assigned by the Chaplain. Mr. Wise is a critical part of Chaplaincy on the O.L. Luther Unit says Chaplain Barnes. He is very well liked and respected by the inmates, officers and staff at the Unit.?

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Volunteer Resources!

Recommended for all volunteers:

Handbook for Volunteers [ [link removed] ]

Questions?

See:?Frequently Asked Questions [ [link removed] ]

We encourage volunteers to give their opinions to assist our efforts in accomplishing TDCJ's mission. Please feel free to fill out the on-line suggestions form or print a copy and mail it to the address listed on the bottom of the page.

Volunteer Suggestion/Assessment Form [ [link removed] ]

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Volunteer Programs or Services

Volunteer programs or services must have prior approval before implementation or presentation to the inmates. A program proposal form must be completed and submitted to the Rehabilitation Programs Division. Questions about the form, as well as the completed form, may be submitted electronically to

[email protected].

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The Importance of Volunteers

The role of the volunteer within TDCJ is to provide guidance in specific activities and programs, promote personal growth and development, provide support and assistance to victims and inmates, and help facilitate re-entry into the community.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you are encouraged to complete the online application and training (see below). Effective September 1, 2023, applications will not be processed until training has been completed. An application must be completed prior to beginning the online training.

Volunteers are required to re-train every two (2) years.

*Apply*: use the online application.? [ [link removed] ]

*Train:*?online? [ [link removed] ]

Completion of training is not a guarantee of approval. All applications include a criminal background check and are reviewed for eligibility [ [link removed] ].

If you have a specific question regarding eligibility, please contact Volunteer Services at 936-437-3026, if you are checking your volunteer status, please be prepared to provide the last four of your driver's license.

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sharephotos

Volunteer Services would love to see what our?volunteers are doing across?the state.??Please send your?photos and a brief description of the event?to Lisa Langley or the Volunteer Services Department by? email:? [email protected]

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Volunteers Needed

If you are in the New Boston area and are interested in volunteering, the Telford unit [ [link removed] ] is in need of volunteers.? Please contact the Chaplain at (903) 628-3171 for additional information and scheduling.

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TDCJ Digital Mail Program

In an effort to reduce dangerous contraband entering TDCJ facilities, the agency implemented a Digital Mail program.? All incoming general correspondence for inmates is sent to a centralized location for sorting, scanning, and uploading to the inmate?s secure tablets.? Exceptions to this includes legal mail; certified mail; media mail; and books, magazines, packages, and other subscriptions from publishing companies, which are sent to the unit.

During the lockdown, books and pamphlets provided by nonprofit organizations were unable to be scanned and were returned as they were not from a publishing company.?

TDCJ continues to improve its mail procedures to ensure organizations can send informational materials while also protecting the safety of its population and staff.? These organizations can resume sending their books to TDCJ units where they will undergo increased inspections and then be provided to the designated receiver.? To expedite inmates receiving the materials, any item that can be scanned should be sent to the Digital Mail Processing Center to be uploaded to inmate tablets.?

TDCJ will continue to leverage new technology on the tablets to provide materials to the inmate population while reducing contraband in its facilities.?

Additionally, TDCJ will work with religious organizations to accept digital religious materials to be available to inmates on their tablets.? Organizations wishing to learn more about this should contact RPD Volunteer Services at [email protected]



Inmate Programs and Volunteers
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Honoring the Life Coaches at Mt. View

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"(above: Volunteer Kedrian Brewster and Warden Lozada recognized the Life Coaches at Mt. View.)"

The Life Coach Program is a peer led program designed to address thinking errors, substance use, and mental health issues.?

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The Change Agent Graduation

Special Guest Speaker Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger
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"(above: Christopher Carter, RPD Division Director,?Former Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, Patrick O'Daniel, Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger, American motivational speaker, Damon West and his team facilitating?""the program, Chaplain Amobi and Warden Bowers from the Wynne unit, Region I Director, Daniel Dickerson, Carmela Jones, Parole Board Member, along with inmate graduates at The Change Agent Graduation ceremony.)?"

This innovative program utilizes inmate facilitators to deliver the curriculum to their peers.? The peer-led environment provides an opportunity for the inmate facilitators to serve in a healthy way and have a positive influence on the unit?s culture.?

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Congratulations to the Recovery Housing Opportunity Program Graduates!
substance use

"(above: Graduation ceremony for the Recovery Housing Opportunity Program)"

The Mark W. Michael unit graduated its?first cohort?that participated in the Recovery Housing Program.? A substance use program facilitated by peer support recovery coaches.?

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Crain Unit Expo
program

"(above: RPD Division Director Christopher Carter speaking to the inmates at the Crain Unit in Gatesville)"

Staff from the Rehabilitation Programs Division, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Logistics Division, Reentry and Integration,?the Windham School District, volunteers from Our Roadway to Freedom, and Prison Fellowship hosted an ITP expo to inmates at the Crain Unit, highlighting the different programs within the agency available to them and assisting in enrollment to classes identified on their ITP plan. This is part of the agency's mission to provide incarcerated individuals with programs and resources that support rehabilitation and reintegration back into society.

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Employee Spotlight

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RPD Employee of the Quarter, Christina Thomas!

Christina Thomas

*"*"Region II, Regional?"*Chaplain Christina Thomas receiving the RPD employee of the qua"**"rter award!"*

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Congratulations! Welcome New Regional Chaplain!
Regional Chaplain Busby

*RPD is pleased to announce the new Regional Chaplain for?Region IV, David Busby.??*

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Receive Unit Lockdown Notifications

As they occur, Volunteer Services notifies?our faithful volunteers that the facilities they actively volunteer at are on lockdown status.? The email further directs them to contact the unit administration prior to their next visit to ensure the unit is allowing for volunteer activities.?

Our hope it to notify all volunteers of this type of information and other unit specific information.? In order to ensure you are notified we encourage you to do?*YOUR PART*?in assisting us.

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Go to the TDCJ Volunteer Services webpage [ [link removed] ] and enter your email in the Email Updates box (pictured above).? You will get a screen similar to the one pictured below.? Click on *Subscriber Preferences* and then click on the tab labeled *Questions* answer the various questions such as the region of Texas you reside in and the unit/units you actively volunteer at.

Thank you for assisting us in making your volunteer experience as informative as possible.

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"?Nothing liberates our greatness like the desire to help, the desire to serve.? "

*"- Marianne Williamson"*









Email us at:? [email protected] <[email protected]>

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Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact [link removed].

This service is provided to you at no charge by Texas Department of Criminal Justice Volunteer Services [ [link removed] ].

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Texas Department of Criminal Justice Volunteer Services ? Two Financial Plaza Suite 472, Huntsville, Texas 77340 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]

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