Midwest Case Management, Inc. a non-profit private corrections corporation
Who we are, what we do.
By
Rob Dawalt, JD, DPA
Executive Director
August 9th 2014
Midwest Case Management, Inc. or “MCM” was formed in April, 2014 after many months of consideration by faculty and students from a local college. Faculty members from the school are unique in having many years of actual experience in criminal justice as police, probation officers or parole officers. Students who learned of this concept also have many years of practical experience in some cases, while are others are young and eager to learn. In addition the faculty have significant academic preparation to understand “what works” in community corrections. The methods used in conceiving MCM are all based upon evidence based practices found in current research nationally.
MCM started operations in June 2014 in one court in Grant County, Indiana with 11 clients who were referred to the program by Judge Steve Barker. Each client has a variety of offenses involving abuse of illegal substances to theft and other similar self-destructive and illegal behaviors. This number of clients continues to grow. MCM supports local probation by conducting monthly urine screens and providing Adult Basic Education tailored to meet the needs of each client. We have already found a wide range of clients including some who cannot read or write to others who are college ready. Clients are encouraged to improve themselves by moving into the next phase of their education. Some are taught to read using comic books by highly experienced special education faculty and correctional educators. Others are mentored to enroll in college at a local community college. All students are assigned reading, writing and math homework to improve their basic skills. Motivational talks are also given every session using the great men and women of history like Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Robert Frost Walt Disney, Mother Teresa and many others.
Clients in turn pay a small fee of $320.00 for this service. Additionally, clients receive job readiness training and perform community service as a way to develop better prosocial behaviors and learn important lessons in getting up and going to work every day. Some examples of community service projects include window cleaning, removing weeds from city streets and work projects in the office such as assembling classroom notebooks for future clients. All clients meet twice a week for three hours per meeting with mentor/facilitators drawn from both faculty and students at Ivy Tech. Further, clients are engaged in chemical dependency education and cognitive behavioral training using programs like “Thinking for a Change” and “Prime for Life.”
Comments have already been made about improvement in the appearance and conduct of our clients by probation officers and the Judge. MCM is poised to expand into many others courts in Indiana where ever there is a need for these services. We are eager and willing to meet and discuss our programs.
A specific bio for each member of the MCM staff is available on request. Letters of recommendation for the programs are also available.
Respectfully Submitted:
Rob Dawalt, JD DPA
Executive Director
Midwest Case Management, Inc.
1316 Meridian St. Anderson, In 46016
765-506-7322
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