Pre-Release
Transition Center
MCF-WR/ML
Approximately 3-6 months prior to release, offenders are administratively assigned to prerelease classes with the Transition Center. The pre-release program runs 3 days and offenders learn creative search skills as well as enhance their personal abilities in areas such as:
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Health and Life Skills Resumé/Interviewing Skills Housing Education Employment Money Management Family and Friend Relationships Living Under Supervision Identification Transportation Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice at MCF-WR/ML
For more information about MCF-Willow River/Moose Lake or any other facility of the Minnesota Department of Corrections, visit our website at:
The Restorative Justice program is an opportunity for offenders to take responsibility for their offense, understand the impact and learn ways to repair some of the harm to the victim as well as to the larger community. Some of the programs include:
www.doc.state.mn.us
Heather Walczynski Transition Center Coordinator 1000 Lakeshore Drive Moose Lake, MN 55767 Phone: (218) 485-5236 Email: hwalczynski @ ml.doc.state.mn.us
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Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/Moose Lake
Heather Walczynski Transition Center Coordinator Pat Stevens Education Director
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Crime Victims Rights Week Amends Ronald McDonald “Pop Tops” Property Recycling Recovery Newsletter Reality Check Locks of Love Conflict Resolution Initiative Restorative Justice Week
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Education
An education is one of the most important things you can gain to help you build a better life for yourself. “Knowledge is Power!” An education will give you a strong, positive mindset and will increase your chances of getting a good job. • • • •
Identification
Without identification it is difficult for anyone to get a job, cash paychecks or open a bank account. The Transition Center can help offenders with the following: Drivers License Status Check Drivers License Renewal Getting a Drivers Permit Obtaining a MN ID Card
ithin the Department of Education at MCF-Moose Lake, the Transition Center is the bridge between offenders and agencies that provide resources which will help them upon release. We also provide educational programs that will allow offenders to develop personal skills.
Our goal is to provide the necessary tools and information so that offenders can lead a healthy, positive and productive lifestyle and thus be an asset to all. The Transition Center can help offenders find college information, specific course information and help them in applying for federal financial assistance.
Housing
Offender Caseworkers will assist in obtaining social security cards and a copy of a birth certificate. Both are required in order for offenders to obtain a DL or ID.
The Education Department offers GED classes for anyone who does not have a high school diploma. Critical Thinking skills classes are also available to offenders.
Transition Newsletters
A quarterly newsletter is published and mailed out to over 300 agencies that support and assist offenders in need.
Often times, certain types of convictions will limit what is available for housing. The Transition Center has literature for many different housing needs. We have brochures and a database covering transitional housing, halfway houses, and sober houses and subsidized housing for each county within Minnesota.
Personal & Family Support
Supporting a family is difficult while incarcerated and is equally difficult upon release. The Transition Center can assist offenders in the areas of:
Employment
Transition Fair
Every year the Transition Center puts on a fair to provide an opportunity for agencies from all over the state to come in and provide, in person, resources they may have. Many nonprofit organizations, trade unions, colleges, and community program coordinators come in to meet with offenders and offer support. In 2004, The National Institute of Corrections from Washington, D.C. visited the MCFMoose Lake Transition Fair, made a video, and developed an Offender Employment Curriculum to be used in facilities across the country. This fair set the bar for all correctional facilities.
Employment is a large barrier offenders face when leaving prison. Finding employment depends on many variables such as a person’s work history, their skills and abilities and their desire to work. The Transition Center provides resource information for: • • • • • • • • • • • •
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MN Workforce Centers Temporary Employment Agencies Bonding Programs Employer Tax Credit Programs Rehabilitation Services
We also assist offenders in writing a resumé as well as developing more positive interview skills.
Child Support Child Care Finding Legal Help Youth Services Senior Services Food Shelves Thrift Stores General Assistance MN Health Care Veterans Assistance Social Security Information Provide a Credit Status form Immigration and naturalization information is also available and we have addresses for all court or vital records departments throughout the country.