The Adult Basic Education Program (ABE) at NWRCC continues to help inmates get their GEDs – kroxam.com
The Adult Basic Education Program (ABE) at NWRCC continues to help inmates get their GEDs kroxam.com
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Resource Fair at NorthWest Regional Corrections Center
Have you ever wondered what kinds of opportunities are given to inmates while they are incarcerated? What kinds of activities, programs, and materials are provided to help inmates better themselves and look forward to the future outside of where they are currently? Back in August of 2024, the NorthWest Regional Corrections Center in Crookston held a Resource Fair for inmates. The Resource Fair had dozens of vendors from the area on hand to talk with inmates, hand out information, and help them look for jobs, housing, and so much more.
Exploring the Adult Basic Education Program
What else is available to the inmates? We took some time to visit and check out the NWRCC Adult Basic Education Program (ABE). The women in charge of the program are Lori, the ABE Program Manager/Teacher, and Kim, the ABE Para-Professional.
So, what is the Adult Basic Education Program, and what can inmates accomplish? “We offer a very basic education program to the inmates here at the jail,” says Kim. “We ask our students to fill out an intake form, complete an academic assessment, and from there, we figure out what direction they want to go to.”
Options for Inmates
There are options for the inmates based on their educational background and the direction in which they want to be headed. “We do offer free GED testing; if they need help with basic computer skills, we help with that, and we have academic programs on the computer,” says Kim. “We have the Mavis-Beacon typing program, MCIS Career Exploration Systems, Microsoft Office, and Rosetta-Stone, but our main goal is GED.”
The ABE Classroom has books for inmates to choose from and take them back to their cells. They are working hard to get more books in and to barcode them all so that they can scan and keep an inventory of all of the books. Kim says that around 75% of the inmates regularly check out books.
Jail Administrator Joey Pederson also mentioned the tablet program that is available to inmates. “To expand on the library conversation, there are literally hundreds of free books available to the inmates on the tablets electronically,” says Pederson. “So, we try to, not only through our library, the physical books, but also electronically provide ample opportunities to read just about anything they want to read that is appropriate in a jail setting.”
Donating Books
Along with bar-coding and taking inventory of the books in the ABE Classroom Library, Lori and Kim say that they are looking for donations of books to add to the classroom. “If anyone would be interested in donating books, we would prefer the newer ones, not the old 1920s romance ones, but we are open for donations; that’s how we get all of our books,” says Kim. “Any kind of Genre we will take, they can call 470-8165 to donate books.”
Making a Difference
Looking around the ABE Classroom, it is clear that the work being done in this area is impactful. “Behind us on the wall are not all of the GEDs that were earned here, but the majority of them are up there, and I just counted them standing here as we are talking and give or take, there are 70 of them up there,” says Pederson. “I think that’s just one example of that maybe the community is not aware of the efforts that we do make internally here in their jail to try and truly make a difference in the lives of inmates and hopefully have them leave here better than when they arrived.”
It is clear that both Lori and Kim have a huge role in keeping this program going for the inmates, yet they remain very humble and focused on the future of ABE at the Correction Center. Lori and Kim asked not to use their last names as they don’t feel they need recognition for their work. The work that they are doing, however, is grand and quite noticeable.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The article discusses the Adult Basic Education Program (ABE) provided to inmates, which aims to offer education and skills training to improve their future prospects. This aligns with SDG 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. Additionally, the article mentions the availability of resources and programs to help inmates find jobs and housing, which relates to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Lastly, the article highlights efforts to make a difference in the lives of inmates, indicating a commitment to reducing inequalities (SDG 10) by providing opportunities for personal and educational development.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.
- Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training.
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
The ABE program mentioned in the article contributes to achieving Target 4.6 by providing basic education and skills training to inmates, helping them improve their literacy and numeracy skills. The program also supports Target 8.6 by offering educational opportunities to inmates, reducing the proportion of individuals not in employment, education, or training. Additionally, the efforts to provide resources and programs for inmates’ future prospects align with Target 10.2, as they aim to promote the inclusion of all individuals, regardless of their status as inmates.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of inmates participating in the ABE program
- Number of inmates who have completed the GED testing
- Number of inmates accessing and utilizing educational resources, such as books and tablets
- Number of inmates who have successfully transitioned to employment or housing after release
The article mentions that the ABE program offers free GED testing and provides various educational resources, such as books and tablets, to inmates. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards Target 4.6 and Target 8.6. Additionally, tracking the number of inmates who have successfully transitioned to employment or housing after release can serve as an indicator for progress towards Target 8.6 and Target 10.2.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy. | – Number of inmates participating in the ABE program – Number of inmates who have completed the GED testing – Number of inmates accessing and utilizing educational resources, such as books and tablets |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training. | – Number of inmates participating in the ABE program – Number of inmates who have successfully transitioned to employment or housing after release |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | – Number of inmates participating in the ABE program – Number of inmates who have successfully transitioned to employment or housing after release |
Source: kroxam.com
