CONTRACTED PROGRAMS
Education
The KDOC contracts with Southeast Kansas Education Service Center (Greenbush) to provide educational and vocational services.
- Barton Community College
Provides on-site educational opportunities through a U.S. Department of Labor Community-Based Job Training (CBJT) Grant Program.
- Manufacturing Skills Certification (MSC): The MSC course provides the student with the skills necessary to obtain entry level work on the shop floor of almost any manufacturing or construction company. The eight-hour credit course consists of five classes: OSHA 10 Safety Course, basic shop math, blueprint reading/geometric dimensions, precision measurement and employability skills.
- Welding Certification: The welding instruction provides the student with the skills necessary to obtain an entry-level welding job. The course covers welding for various types of metals, including oil field pipe and aluminum. The 16-hour credit course consists of six classes: OSHA 10 Safety Course, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, blueprint ready for welders and cutting processes.
- Plumbing Certification: The plumbing instruction provides the student with the skills necessary to obtain an entry level plumbing job in either the residential or commercial areas. Training is provided utilizing numerous types of tools that will be encountered in the plumbing industry. The course allows the student hands-on experience in using PVC, copper, steel, and Pex pipe and fittings. The nine-hour credit course consists of the following classes: OSHA Safety Training, Plumbing I, Plumbing II and Shop Practicum.
- Internet and Computing Core Certification: This two-course program provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to take the Certiport IC-3 certification examination. The three credit hour course includes instruction in introduction to computers and computer concepts and cpplications.
- GED Instruction/Testing: This course provides GED instruction and preparation throughout a 40-hour workweek.
- Work Ready Instruction/Testing: This course provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to take the Work Ready certification examination. The program includes classes in reading, locating information and mathematics.
Medical
ECF's medical services encompass many areas of resident medical needs. In addition to the 24-hour nursing care that is available, a physician is on site 20 hours per week and a dentist is on site 30 hours each week. Services include medical screenings and physical exams; dental exams and prophylaxis with treatment that include oral surgery and limited prosthetics; optometry needs for prescribing and fitting of eye wear; ancillary services for laboratory values and x-rays; referral entities for specialty needs of brace/limb prosthetics; orthopedic consultations and surgeries; neurosurgical and neurological consultations; ophthalmological consultations for general surgical conditions; general medical diagnosis and treatments; internal medicine diagnosis and treatments; and other specialty referrals subject to approval of the state medical director. The chronic care clinic currently provides services in the following areas: pulmonary, hypertension, diabetic, cardiac, epileptic, positive HIV, TB prophylaxis, past positive TB prophylaxis and hyperthyroidism.
Mental Health
The mental health department’s overall goal is to provide services that encourage and assist the resident in making positive changes and meeting his individual needs. The mental health therapy program provides a variety of services which include mental health group counseling, intensive groups, individual counseling, psychiatric intervention, crisis intervention, psychological evaluations, activity therapy, discharge planning, tele-psychiatry to assist in the management of inmates on psychotropic drugs and on-call services. In addition, mental health professionals provide staff instruction on the assessment and management of the resident population.
Inmate Responsibility and Accountability Model (RAM) Training
The desired result of this training is that the participants will utilize the tools in their daily life. They can also apply the tools when they are released and strengthen their ability to remain on post-release supervision. The focus is on the behavior cycle, errors in thinking, thinking reports and problem resolution techniques. The course has been re-configured as a therapeutic group and targets those who successfully completed a previous group. The group meets once a week for 24 weeks.
NON-CONTRACTED PROGRAMS
Religion
The goal and objective of chaplaincy services is to assist inmates in achieving individual spiritual growth. Services are held weekly for Catholic, protestant, Muslim, Moorish Science Temple of America, Jehovah Witness, United Tribes, Wicca, Buddhist, Assembly of Yahweh, Latter Day Saints, Judaism, Rastafarian and Asatru studies for inmates wishing to attend. A Native American Sweat Lodge ceremony is held on the third Sunday of each month and a pow wow is held quarterly. A variety of counseling services are available, including marriage, crisis, family, individual sessions and Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous.
Numerous volunteers conduct religious services, bible studies and assist with other inmate activities.
To further support this mission, a free-standing Spiritual Life Center (SLC) has been constructed at ECF. The total cumulative cost of this capital improvement funding project was approximately $361,000. This project was accomplished primarily through the efforts of volunteers and facility staff using inmate labor. Project funding came exclusively from donations received from churches, individuals, corporations and grants from private foundations.
Reentry
- Central Kansas Reentry Program (CKRP)
CKRP primary objective is to ensure inmates have the opportunity to improve their probability of a successful return to society. The program utilizes partnerships with corrections agencies, law enforcement, victim services, mental health services, medical health providers, political and community representatives, employers and employment agencies, landlords, housing authorities and faith-based organizations.
CKRP’s target population consists of inmates who are assessed with high risks and needs in specific areas of their lives, are releasing to the Central Kansas area within a 90-minute radius of the Ellsworth Correctional Facility and who are within 12-14 months from their scheduled release. Once assessed for needs in their high risk-to-reoffend areas, these individuals are referred to groups, classes and workshops designed around their case management plan to target their specific needs. The primary areas of focus include but are not limited to:
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Thinking for a Change – focuses on the process of acceptance of social controls, the constructs of our environment, understanding thought patterns and ramifications of actions.
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Job Readiness Training - designed to increase the likelihood of employment stability through education, career assessments, resume building, interview proficiency and networking.
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Family Transitions – emphasizes creating positive rewards and value systems in relationships including how to avoid and handle conflicts.
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Transitional Planning – focuses on housing and reentry in the community and seeking out pro-social rewards and support systems.
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Money Matters – provides instruction on financial matters such budgeting, managing bank accounts and incorporating savings and retirement plans into a financial plan.
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Interventions – focuses on daily functioning and emotional interventions that address primary life stressors.
Pro-social supports are also a highlight of CKRP. Families attend quarterly family workshops in the community to speak with reentry and parole staff regarding release planning and community transitions.Providing community supports to individuals assures the best chance for their success. Reentry staff will continue working with the individual and their parole supervisor post-release offering services and mediation as needed until societal stability is achieved and the individual advances through the commencement process.
Bicycle Refurbishing Program
Established in 1999, the program employs 12 inmates who repair and refurbish bicycles that are then donated to less fortunate individuals in Kansas communities and throughout the United States. The bicycle parts and materials are obtained through donations by individuals, law enforcement agencies and civic organizations.
Recreation
Inmates participate in recreational or leisure time activities depending upon their physical ability, fitness and acceptable behavior. The program targets physical and mental fitness, promotes productive leisure time, and includes intramural, social and cultural programming in addition to special events. The gym and yard are open seven days a week for inmate use.
Community Access Network (CAN), Inc.
Implemented in 2003, this project is a not-for-profit collaborative initiative comprised of representatives from various Kansas government organizations and community partners. The purpose of CAN is to develop an online resource to promote social issues, identify available services, and provide community statistics surrounding social issues and services.
Wheels for the World
Established in 1993, this outreach program for Joni and Friends Ministries refurbishes used wheelchairs that are distributed throughout the world. ECF’s program also manugactures universal footrests that are shipped to other distribution centers. Additionally, the program produced a new all-terrain attachment which allows individuals in various areas of the world to maneuver a wheelchair in rough terrain. The program's ECF supervisors are often called upon to lend their support in training and technical advice to setup similar programs in other states and countries. The program contracts with Personal Energy Transportation Kansas from Moundridge, Kan., to build parts for hand-cranked carts that are needed by those who lost the use of their legs due to polio, landmine injuries or amputation.
Library
The library provides recreational, educational, legal and other information resources contributing to the development of the inmates in their physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual well-being. The library has approximately 12,000 books, receives about 30 newspapers and magazines and provides reference collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories and other ready reference books. The collection is supplemented by an efficient, state-wide inter-library loan service. Inmates are provided access to all the legal documents, cases, statutes, administrative rules and case notes through the computerized LexisNexis system. The library also provides photocopying services and typewriters for inmates doing legal work.
Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education and Services (CARES), Inc.
Since 1999, the CARES group has worked with ECF inmates who teach puppies basic obedience and socialization skills during a three- to six-month period.Once these skills are mastered, the dogs are placed with individuals who have a variety of challenges (physical, mental or emotional).
Work Programs
ECF’s policy is to provide inmates with a variety of meaningful work/program assignments patterned after a typical workday in the community. Assignments are designed to encourage inmates to develop desirable work habits and skills while engaging in work projects for ECF and the State of Kansas.
An inmate employment assessment and job assignment program has been established at ECF which is utilized to ensure inmates are assigned jobs commensurate with their technical skills and to encourage inmates to possess positive behavioral characteristics. In addition, inmates are assigned to work crews to obtain on-the-job training which allows them to develop their work skills and assist them with reintegration into society.
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