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By Morris Zbar,
Transformation Team Lead

I am pleased to say that during the past year, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has made great strides in implementing its Transformation Agenda. Under the leadership of the Transformation Team, CSC has engaged staff and partners in developing a vision and strategy for change. A series of "Quick Wins" has built on the momentum for this transformation and ultimately enhances the safety and security of Canadians.

These Quick Wins are starting to produce concrete results in such areas as safety and security; correctional assessment and program interventions; mental health; community corrections; and victim services. Examples include an electronic monitoring pilot in the Ontario region; development of a new integrated correctional program model that allows offenders to access programs earlier in their sentences; and successful community events and symposia on key transformation themes, including improving mental health services for offenders, Aboriginal employment, education and managing gangs and drugs in institutions.

With these successes, the Service is now looking at ways to sustain this momentum for transformation over the longer term.

Phase 2 : Shift in the Role for the Transformation Team

To ensure that transformation becomes part of the everyday culture of CSC, everyone in the organization must be engaged and committed to making this change happen.

CSC is now at this point and this is why the Transformation Team is taking on a new, more supportive role, while senior management at National Headquarters take on responsibility for implementing the recommendations of the CSC's Review Panel Report.

For example, Chris Price, the newly appointed Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs, has developed detailed project plans that build on our short-term wins in the areas of safety and security and program interventions, among other areas in his portfolio.

As well, the Regional Deputy Commissioners, supported by Transformation Team members, are leading the development of numerous transformation-related initiatives. Best practices and successful pilot projects from across the country will play a key role in the development of a roadmap as we move forward.

As part of this shift in accountability, there has been a change in roles and responsibilities within the Transformation Team. I have assumed the leadership role for the entire Transformation Team. Nancy Stableforth, former Regional Deputy Commissioner, Ontario Region, is now the Transformation Team lead for the strengthening community corrections initiatives as well as the earned parole initiative. New members will join the Team to support other files over the next year.

Next Steps

As CSC implements the various plans and pilots, it is important to talk about our successes, what we are doing, and where we are headed. For example, middle managers across the country will perform a critical role in making these initiatives a reality, and will need to integrate a number of new practices into their work, whether they are correctional managers, assistant wardens, chiefs of health care, directors of parole offices, or play another role. For this reason, we are exploring new ways to communicate, including face-to-face meetings and tailored communications activities.

As well, as the other articles in this issue point out, CSC's Transformation Agenda is driven by an ongoing commitment to Public Service Renewal, and we will continue to guide and support these efforts.

Enhancing Public Safety for Canadians

We will maintain our clear focus on getting the job done, building on our progress and making it stick. This transformation journey is a complex one, and we have work ahead, but the support and dedication of the CSC staff and partners will help us improve public safety results for Canadians.

"Quick Wins"

The following is a list of some of the Quick Wins - early accomplishments on our transformation journey, with lasting public safety impacts:

Safety and Security

• Increased the number of detector dog teams: five were in place by December 2008 and five more teams are scheduled to be in place by April 2009.
• Held a national Security Intelligence Officer competition to further strengthen and enhance CSC intelligence capacity within the institutions and in the community.
• Replaced x-ray machines and ion scanners in several institutions and introduced, and will be testing, new equipment.
• Held a symposium on managing gangs and drugs in institutions in Ottawa (December 2008).
• Implemented scheduled visits for all institutions (June 2008).
• Developed a national visitors' database to monitor and track visitors (June 2008).

Strengthening community corrections

• Modified and strengthened the tandem supervision and the Staff Safety Assessment (Commissioner's Directive 715 - Community Supervision Frameworks) (September 2008).
• Implemented a one-year electronic monitoring pilot project involving up to 30 offenders in the Ontario Region (September 2008).
• Reviewed Community Based Residential Facilities and priority action plan developed (November 2008).
• Implemented a Community Staff Safety Pilot using portable alarm devices with Global Positioning System (GPS).

Offender Accountability

• Developing a new Integrated Correctional Program Model for piloting in the Pacific Region in January 2010.
• Introduced a Compressed Offender Intake Assessment process that will reduce the intake assessment time for offenders who are designated low-risk (Phase 1 January 2009).
• Piloting the 12 hour structured day at two sites in the Ontario Region - Millhaven Assessment Unit and Fenbrook Institution.

Employment and Employability

• Held an employment symposium in the Ontario Region (Toronto, Ontario, February 2009).
• Held an employment symposium in the Prairie Region focusing on Aboriginal offenders (Hobeema, Alberta, November 2008).

Mental Health

• Held a symposium on advancing solutions to offender mental health issues (Aylmer, Quebec, May 2008).

Education

• Held a symposium on correctional education (Ottawa, Ontario, March 2009).

Testimonials ONTARIO REGION Peggie Fitzpatrick Parole Officer, Beaver Creek Institution, Ontario Region It was 37 years ago that I decided I wanted to work for CSC. My interest began while I was in teachers' college in Kingston in 1972 and did a field placement at the now closed Prison for Women. I had some contact with inmates from Kingston Penitentiary as well. Encouraged by staff to apply for a full-time position, I was elated but decided to become a teacher. My interest in corrections pre-dated the days when women could work as front line staff in male institutions but I knew that day would come before I would retire from the workforce. I retired from teaching in 2005. On June 2, 2008, I began my duties as a parole officer at Beaver Creek Institution in Gravenhurst. At 60 years of age and green as the grass in Ireland, I am still on that wicked learning curve and work with some of the finest people on the planet. I have come into corrections at a good time-the Transformation era is akin to the periods of educational reform I experienced over many years. Our Mission Statement affirms that all offenders have the potential to be law-abiding citizens. That is exactly the path we take everyday in our journey toward change. Hamza Al-Baghdadi Parole Officer, Greater Toronto West Parole Office, Ontario Region I joined CSC in 2003 on a student placement. In 2004, I joined the International Transfers Unit at National Headquarters as an analyst responsible for the caseload management of Canadian offenders incarcerated abroad and foreign nationals incarcerated in Canada. Eager for a new experience, I transferred to the Greater Toronto West Parole Office in September 2007, where I began working as a parole officer. Being trilingual; fluent in English, French and Arabic has definitely been an asset in my career with CSC. It has allowed me to bridge the cultural gap and the language barrier between offenders, their families, community leaders, and CSC. Going to the question as to why I joined CSC in the first place and have remained, I would have to say that the vast number and variety of opportunities available across Canada is what I enjoy most about being employed with CSC. I appreciate the opportunity to always be learning new things and exploring new challenges. In terms of my future aspirations, I hope to be able to represent CSC in the international community.