WSR Staff Meeting
regarding Family Services
June 24, 2003
1:40-2:40pm
Attending: Darren Goff (WSR), Greg Von Tobel (Prisoners for Christ - Exec. Dir.), Bob Jordan (Prisoners for Christ - volunteer), Captain Brian Hardina (WSR), Verinoca Bodaro (Edmonds Community College), Theresa Cohn (MSU Counselor), Mike Williams (WSR Recreation Director)
Agenda:
1. Family Worship Service Review
2. Family Worship Service TRU
3. Family Liaison/MCC
4. Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise NIC Video Conference
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1. Family Worship Service Review
The actual service went very well. Much kind assistance from Officers Anderson, Willliams, and Washington leading up to the service (and afterward). WSR Administrative issues are:
· Too much gear. (His Harmony will use WSR sound equipment.)
· 10:50 a good arrival time for gear to search. (Not necessary, His Harmony will use WSR sound gear.)
· 12:30pm best for volunteers to arrive. (Problem for His Harmony, they come from Kent and have Sunday morning church service responsibilities.)
Plan: Per Captain Hardina, volunteers arrive at 1:30. It will only be two more months. Also, watch out for sunglasses and moustaches. Need an inventory (as before).
IMPORTANT FEEDBACK: Inmate response to this first Family Service was very good. They were concerned that they would be "preached to" and condemned in front of their kids. Since that was not the case, they will encourage other inmates to bring their families.
Survey: Darren suggested an inmate - caregiver - child survey of how they like the services. Darren asked Bob and Greg if this would be OK and we both wholeheartedly agreed. Darren to draft initial survey and route to the Prisoners For Christ team.
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Rich Fricks. Leader of His Harmony, Inputs (from an email)
1. It went fine not using HH audio equipment so I don't see us bringing that stuff in next time with the exception of:
2 mic stands
2 microphones
2 microphone cables.
If the prison has more then the 1 mic stand then let me know as it would be nice to not have to bring in any mic stands.
2. Early on I recall some conversations about painting murals in the room we had the service in. Is this still an option? It would be nice to create an environment not so intimidating to the kids (make it more inviting). (Darren: May or may not be able to do this, Theresa's inputs was that the panel of children (input by one child) did not care about the color of the walls -they cared about the quality time with their dad's.)
3. It was a bit difficult to interact with the kids as they were scattered and seated farther back. One idea would be to put up less chairs and have volunteers not take a seat until inmates have arrived. This will get folks a little closer together.
4. Set the sound system up in the back of the room (leave the speakers in front though - just put the mixing board in back). That way I will be less of a distraction.
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2. Family Worship Service TRU
Still planning on September. His Harmony may meet with Central Church outside of a WSR service for specific training. This would facilitate a September transition of His Harmony from WSR and to TRU.
3. Family Liaison/MCC
This volunteer position is a position mandated by officials in Olympia. This volunteer will be introduced next month. We may have one for WSR and one for TRU.
4. Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise NIC Video Conference
Theresa and Mike discussed this program. Children don't like visiting at prisons - some are non-contact. Feel they are stigmatized as future inmates versus victims of being a child of an inmate. The kids worry more about their parents than vice versa... Thus they'd rather not come.
This meeting was held at Pioneer Industries in Seattle. Board included Joe Lehman, a former San Quentin administrator, among others.
Lots of visiting room issues discussed. Children very sensitive to how administration talks to them. WSR's visiting room has no natural lighting, and it was suggested that a wall mural would make all the difference, but could make some difference.
Kids don't like being stigmatized in school as being the child of an inmate. The Children of Promise helps them through some of this through a network of persons in similar situations.