Supporting People in Custody

Our commitment is unwavering in providing crucial assistance to both youth and adults detained at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility (NORCOR) in The Dalles. Kay’s strong and long standing partnership with NORCOR administrators and staff allow for a smooth integration of new programming as needs arise. This bridge is vital in order to provide the support that people in custody need.

Services

Weekly One-on-One Counseling

Tailored skill building and therapeutic sessions to address individual needs and promote emotional well-being.

Weekly Groups

Group sessions focused on fostering connection, resilience, and personal growth.

Support of Volunteers

Tailored skill building and therapeutic sessions to address individual needs and promote emotional well-being.

“Working with people in custody has made a huge impact on me. I feel this is the biggest concentration of people really needing help. Often neglected by society, these people both in Juvenile and Adult are needing support to get their lives back on track. I feel that everyday I come to work I have a chance to help somebody out and make our community a better place!”

— Jason Shain, Program Manager, NORCOR Juvenile

Where it all started

Kay started her work with incarcerated populations by volunteering to teach yoga at a Minnesota women’s prison in 2014. One of the first things she did upon her move to the Columbia Gorge in 2016 was to reach out to NORCOR to see if they wanted to offer yoga to the inmates. Kay’s work started as an eight-week trial of one weekly yoga class for women and one weekly class for youth. Given the positive results of the classes, NORCOR was excited to continue the classes on an ongoing basis. In 2018 the work became a community program of CultureSeed, a 501c3 Nonprofit based in White Salmon, WA. 

Since 2016 Kay has served over 2000 inmates and created a strong partnership with NORCOR. Kay has since expanded offerings to include behavioral health services and peer groups. Providing services at NORCOR supports some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Providing classes to inmates is an opportunity to positively impact a population that is outside the reach of most social programs.

Meet the Team

Shannon O’Brien

Shannon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker both in Oregon and Washington, a 500 HR yoga teacher and peer wellness specialist. Her approach to her work is informed by her own life history as a person who has utilized mental health services and as a member of a first-generation immigrant family. Shannon is currently a member of One Community Health’s clinical team. For many years, Shannon has worked with people who have experienced trauma; she completed her practicum at HAVEN, supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. 

Harry Henshel

Harry has been facilitating groups with YCC youth at NORCOR since 2022. Harry is a dedicated father of three and professional tattooer living on an extended family compound outside of White Salmon. When he isn’t tattooing he enjoys foraging for mushrooms, riding his motorcycle, practicing the banjo, and cooking for his loved ones. He is a friend to all, with a genuine desireto do good and help whoever he can. Harry appreciates the opportunity to connect and learn with young men at NORCOR.

FAQ: Why we work in prisons

  • While advocating for the abolition of prisons as they currently exist, I recognize the immediate and urgent mental health needs within the incarcerated population. Providing mental health services within jails allows me to address and mitigate the impact of the current system on individuals who are already in crisis.

  • Being a mental health provider within jails allows me to bring a trauma-informed, compassionate approach to individuals who may be experiencing profound psychological distress. By fostering an environment of therapeutic support, even within the confines of the system, I aim to contribute to transformative healing and resilience.

  • By working within the system, I can actively challenge and critique its shortcomings. It provides an opportunity to advocate for mental health reform, improved conditions, and alternatives to incarceration. This advocacy is crucial for planting seeds of change within the existing structures.

  • Every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion. Providing mental health services within jails is a way to extend these fundamental human rights to a population that often faces dehumanization and neglect.

  • My commitment to prison abolition extends beyond the immediate dismantling of physical structures. It involves a vision of transformative justice, community-based alternatives, and addressing the root causes of crime. Providing mental health services within jails aligns with a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of mental health, social justice, and systemic change.

  • As a prison abolitionist mental health provider, I actively utilize my long standing relationships with NORCOR staff to divert resources away from punitive measures toward community-based mental health services, education, and social programs. This dual role positions me to advocate for systemic changes that align with the principles of abolition.

  • Working within jails provides a platform to amplify the voices of the incarcerated. It allows me to advocate for their mental health needs and contribute to the dialogue surrounding the impact of the criminal justice system on mental well-being. You can see some of their stories here, a step towards humanizing and empathizing a population that is all too often stigmatized and dehumanized.

  • Building connections with community-based organizations and grassroots movements allows me to contribute to broader efforts aimed at challenging and transforming the current criminal justice system. This collaborative approach aligns with the principles of prison abolition.