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In July, TCSO is excited to offer inmates and their children a summer camp at the Travis County Correctional Complex for the fourth year in a row. As part of the Parents and Children Together (PACT) program, eligible inmates are able to spend an hour and a half bonding with their children for five days every summer. The program provides an opportunity for the children and their parents to have physical contact, to play a variety of games, to talk freely and get their face painted (all with special snacks). Wonderful volunteers from Pflugerville Community Church support the inmates and children and provide guidance as needed to teach an inmate how to hold their babies or how to change a diaper for the first time. When inmates have several children, volunteers can play with some of the chil-dren, giving the inmate a chance to spend quality time with each child. This year Pflugerville Community Church is funding a traveling petting zoo for the camp. Inmates and their children will be able to study and pet 16 different animals while together! Also supporting the week long endeavor is the non-profit agency, Any Baby Can. While the children are

visiting the parental inmates, two Any Baby Can parenting teachers will hold an educational support group for the visiting children’s caretakers. The caretakers often have many concerns and questions about parenting during such a difficult time for the children. The caretakers are also encouraged to attend classes at Any Baby Can. The goal of the camp is for both parents to practice a parenting technique called “Nurturing Parenting”. We believe that the PACT program motivates inmates to be more involved and connected parents while creating loving memories for children who are worried and hurting. Before seeing their parents, many children ask if their parents are safe and well fed. When they see their parents are well cared for, the children seem to relax and are able to really enjoy their visit. It can be a very emotional time for children who have not seen their parents for quite some time. TCSO is grateful to Pflugerville Community Church and Any Baby Can for their generous support and dedication. Together with these organizations, TCSO is proud to provide families with a beautiful opportunity.Jennifer ScottProgram Coordinator

PACT SUMMER CAMP VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

VETERANS PROGRAMS Megan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor and is currently the Program Coordinator for veteran and max security inmates. She previ-ously worked for TCSO as a mental health counselor as well as provided programming for youthful offenders. Megan is extremely hard working and provides quality programming for our veterans. She connects inmates with community based agencies and arranges for both individual and group work during their stay at the Travis County Correctional Complex. Inmates will often write us to thank Megan for the work she does and the impact it has had on them. Megan, hosts a yearly Veterans Day celebra-tion, has groups that foster supportive healing and comradery between veterans, provides 1:1 counseling through a partnership with community based agencies and informs participants on how to access veteran specific benefits. For the max security inmates, Megan runs the Peer Support Unit which allows maximum security inmates to to increase their level of per-sonal responsibility by participating in a learning environment in which they are responsible for leading classes with their peers. Megan has increasingly utilized our interns to provide 1:1 counseling services for this popula-tion. Megan is a kind and loving person who puts others before herself. Learn more about Megan’s Storytelling Program for veterans in the article below.

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512-854-4190

Senior Chaplain Tommy McIntoshtommy.mcintosh@traviscountytx.gov

Chaplain Lamar Claypoollamar.claypool@traviscountytx.gov

Chaplain Services Associate James Villegasjames.villegas@traviscountytx.gov

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512-854-1254Social Services Manager Angela Blackwell

angela.blackwell@traviscountytx.gov

CHAPLAIN SERVICES

STORYTELLING PROGRAM

RETIREMENT

The storytelling program is currently in its 3rd year and going strong. As the number of participants has sig-nificantly increased, the class has divided into two sections, with new members joining every week. The program offers participants a way to explore their own personal stories and how those narratives can contribute to a rich and creative life both inside and outside of TCCC. The classes provide a safe space for participants to share mem-ories and stories that may have previously been difficult to express in other settings. Most importantly, the class is a space for healing, processing, and transformation. Each participant is provided with a composition notebook in which to write as well as a class workbook. The workbook is full of strategies, insights, and inspirations for exploring the complexities of our individual lives. Each week, participants dive into their own personal habits and solidify ways to cultivate creativity in their everyday life. Ultimately, participants get an understanding and appreciation for the intersection of art, story, and the human condition. In April, the storytelling class hosted their first open mic for veterans to showcase their writing. With stories, poems, and songs, the open mic was a huge success! Be on the lookout for information about the next open mic and join us! Thank you to Brooke Pillifant and her non-profit Down South Word of Mouth for making this valuable class/program available to our incarcerated veterans and Max security programs unit.

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GED TESTING GED testing resumed March 20, 2019 with marvelous success. Jan Henry, Education Coordinator and Test Administrator, administered 23 GED Ready tests and 48 Official GED Tests. As a result of the excellent instruction from Jean Girou and our volunteer, Victor Daniello, eight GED students earned their GED creden-tial. Next week we will have a graduation to celebrate the inmate’s achievements. On May 31, we had a graduation celebration complete with a cap and gown ceremony followed by a special cake donated by Jan Henry.

PARENTING PROGRAMS Program Manager Angela Blackwell recently nom-inated Program Coordinator Jennifer Scott for the Phyllis Richards Austin Icon for Children Award. Jennifer and Angela attended a reception for all of the nominees and their nominators on Thursday, May 16th. Jennifer was nominated for the award due to the amazing work she does connecting children with their incarcerated parents in her PACT program. In addi-tion, Jennifer provides parenting classes and promotes the beginning of the healing process for both the par-ent and children.

ANIMAL FOSTER VOLUNTEER

Since becoming a volunteer with the Travis County Correctional Center’s animal foster program in December 2017, I have been awed, impressed, emotional, and joyful! The inmates in both the dog and cat program con-tinue to impress me with their knowledge, interest in learning, and overall love for their foster animals. They have encountered situations that many long term foster parents have never had to deal with, and have handled them beautifully. The teamwork I see is so inspiring and the joy and purpose the animals bring to the inmates shines brightly. It is a highlight of my week to check in on the inmates and their fosters. They let me know of any medical concerns or inventory needs and I love seeing the kittens and dog! When needed, I am one of the volunteers who will take the fosters to vet visits and adoption events, pick up any necessary medications or supplies, and inform the inmates of medical updates. I have loved getting to know these men and women, watching them grow as both people and animal care givers. Our weekly classes are a great way for the volunteers and inmates to connect and discuss pertinent questions, concerns, and informa-tion while getting to know each other. I hope the inmates of the animal foster program will volunteer or work in animal rescue once released because the knowledge and heart they possess will be a gift to the animals that need it.Sara SteinAnimal Foster Program Volunteer

Mary Moran is retiring from her position as Social Services Pro-gram Administrator. She wanted to share in her own words what her retirement will mean to her. I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all my co-workers and friends that I have met while working at TCCC. Out of all the jobs I have held in my life, this one has been the BEST! My heart is con-tent. It has been a great 7 years and I have learned that each and every one of you has a special gift and an awesome heart in working with the inmates. Continue the great work you are doing and make sure you spend time in taking care of YOU! I will be retiring June 28, 2019 and taking some time off to enjoy my life and travel some. I have worked since I was 12 years old and this old gal is tired! I will still continue in the reentry field after I take a well- deserved break and hopefully revive the intensive life skills classes WE ANGELS (Women Experiencing Achieving New Goals and Envisioning Life’s Successes) under the auspices of Lisa’s HOPE Chest. I wish everyone a happy life and hope that your dreams/goals you have set will be reached, as I know mine have been! Always remem-ber to live your BEST LIFE! Watch out world, Mary Moran is on her way to do just that!

AUSTIN CLASSICAL GUITAR

Austin Classical Guitar put to music one of our female inmates lullaby lyrics she wrote as part of the Lullaby Project under Program Coordinator Jennifer Scott. The composition was picked to be performed at the Lullaby Project Celebration Concert in Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing on May 31. You can watch the perfor-mance HERE and forward to 45:30 to go directly to her song.

GOOD TO KNOW1. 2 .3

For the safety of inmates and staff you must count ALL supplies at the start and at the completion of you class.

You CANNOT provide references (written or verbal) for inmates to employers, outside programs, etc. While we may think that we have gotten to know someone during their time here, we are not able to get to know them

under real life circumstances.