Department Adopts New Framework for Suicide Prevention
The Missouri Department of Corrections continues to prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of our staff and to improve the support we provide to team members in need.
Corrections staff die by suicide at a higher rate than the general public, including fellow first responders. That is why the department is adopting the ZERO Suicide framework, a comprehensive approach to suicide care developed by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
Implementing this approach and building on existing staff wellness initiatives will begin a necessary culture shift away from fragmented and stigmatized suicide care and toward a more holistic and improved commitment to safety. This approach is neither a new training nor a "one and done" campaign; it's an entire framework for addressing this important issue. The department will use best-practice standards to ensure it is done right.
The department has established a ZERO Suicide framework and strategy team, led by representatives from every division. Look for more information in the coming months.
If you have questions, please contact Meckenzie Hayes at Meckenzie.Hayes@doc.mo.gov or 573-526-3021.
Download the ZERO Suicide flyer »
Remember, the only acceptable number of suicides, is ZERO.
Call 988 to Access the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched a new hotline, establishing a single number, 988, that anyone experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States can call for help.
The lifeline is a national network of more than 200 local, independent crisis centers equipped to help people who are in mental health related distress or are experiencing a suicidal crisis. Clients can access help through a call, chat or text. The lifeline provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the U.S.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call now.
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Mike Kimbrough, a functional unit manager at Western Missouri Correctional Center, uses his keen powers of observation to make his facility safer.
When an assault occurred outside a housing unit, Kimbrough not only intervened to stop it but also observed the assailant dropping an object into a drain.
After the scene was secured, Kimbrough contacted maintenance staff, who fished out the dangerous contraband that Kimbrough then turned over to investigators.
His swift action and sharp eye helped prevent more serious injury and contributed to a criminal investigation.
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Jackie Barron Named Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services Assistant Director
Jackie Barron has been named assistant division director for medical services in the Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services, effective June 27, 2022.
Barron began her career in health care as a medical surgical floor nurse with Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City in September 2014.
In November 2016, Barron was promoted to the position of joint replacement coordinator at Capital Region, and in February 2022 she accepted additional responsibilities as the manager of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.
In her new role with the Missouri Department of Corrections, Barron oversees the department's medical contract monitors and works with our health care provider, Centurion, to ensure quality medical care.
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Statewide Summit Emphasizes Trust, Empowerment, Action and Mentorship
 Join us Tuesday, Oct. 4, for the 2022 Show Me Excellence Virtual Summit:.
Designed to coordinate state government agencies' efforts to provide excellent service to the people of Missouri, the summit highlights improved processes, efficiencies and best practices that help state team members optimize the work they do and get the best possible results.
This year's theme is One T.E.A.M. (Trust, Empowerment, Action and Mentorship). Sessions focus on how to foster healthy and productive work environments so that team members can, in turn, serve fellow citizens with excellence.
Summit attendees will hear agency success stories, listen to inspirational speakers and take part in virtual breakout sessions. In a concluding panel discussion, state government leaders will share how they have implemented a management operating rhythm to improve the performance of their organizations.
Hosted by the Office of Administration and Operational Excellence department leaders, the summit is available virtually to all State of Missouri team members at no cost.
Register now »
Probation & Parole Southeast Region Holds Summit
 This summer the Probation & Parole Southeast Region convened for its first staff summit. Sessions covered case planning, the Missouri Offender Management Matrix (MOMM) and Corrections Way skills such as communication styles, difficult conversations and the cycle of continuous improvement. All were led by facilitators including the Southeast Region Corrections Way Ambassador team, Regional Training Coordinator Jason Royle, Senior Staff Development Training Specialist Ashley Golden, Quality Control Manager Chantelle Smith and Regional Training Coordinator Supervisor Kim Mills.The Southeast Region Personnel Club provided food, drinks and fundraising opportunities.
Chipping in for Charity
Congratulations to the winners of the 21st Annual Director’s Cup Golf Tournament benefiting the Missouri 10-33 Benevolent Fund. The Jefferson City Correctional Center team led by Norman Graham earned the championship, with a Centurion team coming in second. A-flight winners were Kenneth Loehner's and Jason See's teams, while Phillip Anderson and Ed Yahnig's teams won the B-flight. Proxy winners:
- Closest to pin (women) on hole 8: Terri Eastwood
- Longest drive (women) on hole 2: Ginny Kennedy
- Closest to pin (men) on hole 12: Dan Ingram
- Longest drive (men) on hole 13: Brian Tripp
The REAL winner, of course, was the 10-33 Benevolent Fund, which provides financial support to the families of Missouri public safety officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This year, the 32 participating teams raised more than $14,000 for the charity.
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Serving the State
The Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign (MSECC) is now underway.
This annual unified fundraising effort gives state employees the chance to make donations to their favorite charitable organizations through payroll deduction or one-time gifts. During the past two years, state employees have given more than $1,246,000 to charitable organizations.
To participate, visit msecc.mo.gov. Browse charities by category, keyword or geographic region. Follow the instructions for completing a pledge card online or on paper.
Check your worksite for fundraising (and fun-raising) events held throughout the campaign period.
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Family Friendly
The Algoa Correctional Center team is working hard to keep Missouri families connected. Last month, ACC held the facility’s first Family Restoration Visit.
The family members of Honor Program participants were invited inside the secure perimeter to spend quality time with their loved ones and strengthen the bonds between parents and kids. Families spent the morning walking on the track, playing basketball, sharing snacks and enjoying the sunshine outside the confines of the ACC visiting room.
Launched in April 2022, the Honor Program aims to create an environment that more closely resembles life after incarceration and provides opportunities for growth. Residents selected for the program have demonstrated positive behaviors and prosocial growth.
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Paw Patrol
Participants in Missouri Puppies for Parole learn not only how to train and socialize shelter dogs for adoption by Missouri families but also how to care for dogs in an emergency.
This summer, P4P dog handlers at Ozark Correctional Center (OCC) and Boonville Correctional Center (BCC) completed Pet First Aid and CPR training.
Participants learned skills they can use to keep P4P dogs safe and earned certifications they can use to find jobs after release.
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Inspired Art
The Chillicothe Correctional Center (CCC) team is helping to transform the work environment.
CCC recently held an art competition for offenders, seeking ideas for positive, uplifting and colorful murals. Offender-artists submitted proposals, and the two winning entries are now murals brightening up the facility's dining rooms. Each winner also was presented with a $20 prize.
The "Transform Your Life" artist conceived of her mural as a roadmap to transformation. Embedded in the butterfly wings are qualities that drive success — courage, perseverance, education, accountability, etc. — while the droplets the butterfly is sloughing off represent obstacles such as anger, shame, doubt and intolerance.
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Support for Schools
As the new school year gets underway, mid-Missouri corrections teams are helping ensure area kids have the tools they need to succeed.
Led by Institutional Activities Coordinator Dan Krachey, offender organizations at Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC) held a fundraiser to purchase school supplies, snacks and backpacks for area kids. Staff delivered the goodies to Lawson Elementary School in Jefferson City so students who need supplies would them when school started.
Meanwhile, the Boonville Correctional Center (BCC) Restorative Justice team donated $500 to the Boonville Kiwanis Club for the annual Back to School Bash, which provides free school supplies to 450 local K-5 students. BCC staff members Janis Brown, Terri Kraus, Alice Simmons, Lisa Maher and Judy Larimore helped collect and pack the supplies.
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Nourishing the Community
The Restorative Justice garden at Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (MECC) is flourishing.
Over the course of just two weeks the RJ team harvested more than 4,000 pounds of produce for donation to area food banks and other organizations.
So far this year, the garden has yielded 16,319 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to feed Missourians who need them.
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Lane Life
Thanks to the generosity of a staff member's family and the Center for Conflict Resolution, Transition Center of Kansas City (TCKC) staff and residents had the opportunity to visit an area bowling alley outside regular business hours and bowl a few frames before the doors opened to the public. The outing served as a reward for about a dozen residents who are progressing through their programming, as a team-building activity for staff members, and as a way for clients to hone the social and recreational skills they'll use as they transition back into the community.
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Department Changes to Digital Form
 The department is streamlining the process through which current Missouri Department of Corrections staff members report their referral of new job applicants. The Referral Incentive Program tracking form is now digital, available here and through a link on the MODOC intranet. Tied to a searchable database, this system helps us more efficiently and accurately track referrals.
The paper/PDF referral form will be discontinued.
Current staff referring new applicants for correctional officer, food service worker or teacher positions are eligible for incentive payments of up to $1,000 per successful referral of a full-time staff member or $500 per successful referral of a part-time staff member. A one-time payment of $250 ($125 if referring a part-time applicant) will be added to the referring staff member's semi-monthly salary after each applicant referred by the staff member has been hired and has successfully completed basic training. An additional one-time payment of $750 ($375 if a staff member is referring a part-time applicant) will be added to the referring staff member's semi-monthly salary when each referred applicant has reached six months of employment with the department. The staff member's salary returns to the normal rate of pay after one pay cycle. Awards may be applied over multiple pay periods if the award would increase pay above the maximum amount allowed by the pay range.
Referrals who are not hired within six months of receipt of the referral form will no longer be tracked or considered for the incentive program.
This program is open to all corrections staff members except those designated as Missouri Department of Corrections recruiters or staff members representing MODOC at recruiting events.
 Applications are open for the next Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS), to be held Nov. 2-4 in Columbia.
PCIS is a three-day intensively focused therapeutic event designed to assist corrections personnel experiencing traumatic stress following involvement in a serious incident. Trauma exposure can change the way we look at the world and may make it difficult to return to our normal level of daily functioning.
This event brings together corrections personnel with similar experiences to begin or further their recovery process, turning trauma into strength. Behavioral health service providers from outside the Department of Corrections, as well as specially trained peers familiar with corrections culture, will facilitate support.
Participants in the first PCIS, held in May 2022, rated the event 9.4 on a 10-point scale and credited the experience with changing, or even saving, their lives.
Space is limited to 20 corrections staff members, plus one additional support person per participant. Administrative leave is granted to all MODOC participants, and lodging, meals and travel expenses are covered. Applications are accepted Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. To apply, complete the form on the MODOC intranet page.
P.A.C.T. Unification
Stay tuned to learn more about plans to unify Peer Action Care Teams (P.A.C.T.) from different divisions and efforts to improve communication and response times in the event of a crisis!
If you have ideas for ways to improve P.A.C.T. and the services offered, please send them to Meckenzie.Hayes@doc.mo.gov!
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Corrections Way ambassadors serve a vital role in supporting The Corrections Way (TCW), a foundation of conduct and communication built around a core of common values guiding our work. Ambassadors steer fellow staff to resources and answer questions about Corrections Way training, practice and initiatives. They keep TCW at the forefront at sites across the state. They facilitate TCW workshops, conduct leadership walks, create TCW bulletin boards, assist with planning for quality conversations, de-escalate staff tensions, send motivational emails, create TCW newsletters, and assist with planning fun activities that build morale. They are a dedicated group of people who want to create a working environment where everyone belongs — an environment built on trust, respect and rapport!
Meet some ambassadors:
Potosi Correctional Center Ambassadors
 The PCC Corrections Way ambassadors team includes Corrections Case Manager II Lacee Cox, Lieutenant James Fox, Officer/Armorer Shawn Jenkins, Lieutenant Nathan Waibl, Funictional Unit Manager Lonnie Smallen, Institutional Activity Coordinator Julia Boyer, Lieutenant Randall Odle, Corrections Case Manager II Rachel Gettinger, Senior Staff Development Training Specialist Jamie Jepson, Institutional Training Officer Bryan Martin and Captain Tim Brown.
The Corrections Way Ambassadors team at Potosi Correctional Center (PCC) has been growing and evolving since its inception and now consists of nine ambassadors who hold various positions. The team actively promotes The Corrections Way through bulletin board displays, staff dinners and monthly workshops. The activities with the greatest impact, though, are leadership walks. These regular walks give ambassadors the chance to meet face to face with staff and talk to them about The Corrections Way and other issues.
The Corrections Way is all about improving the lines of communication and having better and more meaningful conversations, so PCC ambassadors work with staff to enhance communication and strengthen skills used in everyday discussions or difficult dialogues. PCC ambassadors hold monthly classes for supervisors and frontline staff. They speak informally with staff about how communication styles vary from person to person and how to recognize and adapt to their way of thinking. They teach simple steps to manage conflict by de-escalating and planning for difficult conversations. They also help team members understand how their jobs are valuable and how they impact others. PCC ambassadors believe that whether you are a new employee or veteran, everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow.
 The state’s business cycle runs on a fiscal year timeframe, this year from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023 (FY2023). Each year we articulate our priorities to support better government in Missouri through our strategic plan. In fiscal year 2023, our mission and our goals remain constant, but our strategic initiatives continue to evolve. We are building on past years' success and adding new priorities.
Mission
Improving Lives for Safer Communities
Vision
Excellence in Corrections for a Safer Missouri
Values
We value safe work environments, a capable workforce and reduced risk and recidivism.
We value integrity and respect.
We value supportive leadership.
We value employee participation and teamwork.
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