The following was written by SCI Camp Hill Unit Manager Ian Taggart, who attended a career day near the facility.
In October, the Guidance Counselor and the Administration at Crossroads Middle School, located in Etters, Pa., issued invitations to parents and businesses to participate in a career awareness fair for the eighth-grade students.
As many of the administrative staff know me and my profession as my children attend their school, they believed I would have intriguing information that would spark their students' interest in the correctional, criminal justice and the health and human services fields, just to name a few.
After discussion with the administrative staff, I collected the "career day" box, which is filled with brochures, a PA Department of Corrections table cover and some other interesting documents about civil service and non-civil service positions and proceeded to enter the gym and set up the display.
After setting up and walking around the room looking at the banners, spinning wheels of chance for prizes, and other swag, I thought, how to convince young minds that employment in the Department of Corrections would be an interesting and exciting career choice when all I had were some brochures and job descriptions.
After what felt like five minutes of deep thought, the method came to me. Within the gym, there were individuals representing numerous careers. There were state and local law enforcement, fire fighters and emergency medical technicians, lawyers, physician assistants, pharmacists, computer and IT software and mechanical engineers, hotel and restaurant professions, x-ray and imaging, and last but not least fiscal management such as banking and real estate professions.
So, having all these professions readily available, I referred back to my days working at Central Office. During my time at Central Office I worked for Chief Counsel's Office, Bureau of Health Care and the Bureau of Standards and Practices. Afterwards I transitioned to SCI Camp Hill where I work with numerous departments such as legal, health care, maintenance, and food service just to name a few.
As the young adults approached my table many inquired about the correctional or security side of the corrections profession. While explaining the responsibilities of corrections officers, I informed the students about the other career professions represented at the fair and how many of the professions had employment opportunities within the Department and the Commonwealth. Many students did not realize this, and many left with a better understanding of corrections.
At the end of the fair, some of the faculty approached me and indicated the initial feedback they heard from students was, "I did not know corrections had so many professions or careers," or "interesting how my training as a junior fire fighter can be utilized within Corrections." I recalled this student as I explained each facility has a FERT team made up of staff members trained in firefighting, and other emergency services and tactics.
At the conclusion of the awareness fair, I believe the students and the faculty gained insight to the Department and all the available opportunities the Department and/or the Commonwealth has to offer.