This week, the Indiana Department of Corrections named Dana Blank as the statewide Director of Female Adult and Juvenile Programs. As the program's first director, Blank will extend female programming and re-entry initiatives in Indiana's first gender-based corrections role.

“I think we have a great opportunity to promote a strong re-entry component for females,” says Indiana DOC Commissioner J. David Donahue. “We're working to improve potential outcomes for these women. I am of the humble opinion that gender issues are very important in corrections and we have a responsibility to address that.”

Blank will work to improve re-entry services to help female offenders with a seamless return to their communities. Additionally, Blank will work to establish new and innovative programs that reconnect children with their incarcerated mothers.

“We see a lot of moms who come into corrections and cannot engage in their child's lives,” says Donahue. “There are many barriers if an offender chooses to become a part of their child's progress. We have to support connections between incarcerated mothers and local school systems. Whether it's through teleconferencing or phone conversations, we need to support that relationship for mothers.”

Donahue adds that Blank will be responsible for changing the way female offender programs work. The state offers many re-entry and gender-specific programs, and Blank will work towards ensuring that every program is offered at each facility.

“For the last 15-months, we have been re-evaluating our system,” says Donahue. “All too often in corrections, we do things because that's the way they have always been done. We don't want to just maintain processes in Indiana; if something works, we'll keep doing it, but if not we have to step back and make changes.”

With a new focus on gender-specific programs, and Blank's new position, Donahue says the IDOC is prepared to make a change.

“We want to validate the success of our programs and revive our focus on re-entry,” says Donahue. “We are trying to bring a new level of energy and support to these initiatives across the state and hiring Ms. Blank is certainly a part of that.”