Work Ethic Camp

Work Ethic Camp

Facility Container

General Information
Warden
Steve Fannon
Public Information Officer
Cristine Schwartz | cristine.schwartz@nebraska.gov
Phone
308.345.8405
Address
2309 N. Hwy 83
McCook, NE 69001

fannon_0.pngWarden Steve Fannon

In February 2023, Steve Fannon was appointed warden at the Work Ethic Camp (WEC), a 200-bed Minimum B male facility that combines evidence-based practices with treatment, educational opportunities and the ability to work in the community. 

“I am privileged to lead the teammates at the Work Ethic Camp. They demonstrate an amazing commitment to providing quality service, treatment, and programming opportunities to safely and effectively prepare individuals for successful reentry,” he said. “We have the opportunity to influence reentry success in a very tangible and timely way here.”

Warden Fannon brings extensive reentry and programming experience to his role as warden at WEC. After joining the agency in 2007 as an officer, he held the positions of caseworker, case manager and reentry specialist at multiple facilities.  He later served as the agency’s reentry program manager and programs administrator.

Warden Fannon is a graduate of Midland Lutheran College and holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology.


About the Facility

The Work Ethic Camp (WEC) is a 200-bed facility for males classified to 'Minimum B' custody. It provides an individualized program in a time frame appropriate for the individual's needs and sentence structure. Individuals may parole from WEC, progress to a community custody facility or complete their sentence.

General

The Mission of the Work Ethic Camp is to provide an integrated program that combines evidence-based practices with treatment and educational opportunities.  The overall goal is to reduce the risk of recidivism through behavioral change and assisting incarcerated individuals with successful community reintegration, thereby, keeping people safe.

With intermittent supervision, minimum custody individuals may be eligible to work as road crews in the community.

Directions to the Facility

WEC is located 2 miles north of Highway 6/34 and N. Highway 83 junctions.

Visiting Hours

Schedule an In-Person Visit at WEC

Schedule a Virtual Visit at WEC

VISITATION INFORMATION

NDCS utilizes a pre-registration process for visitation in all facilities. All visits must be scheduled at least seven days in advance. To select a time and date for visitation, please click the button above to complete the online form.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN – Be sure to review the following guidelines:

  • All visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visitor list
  • While health screening procedures are no longer necessary, if you are not feeling well, please consider rescheduling your visit
  • Wearing of masks is voluntary.

  • Up to four adult visitors and a reasonable number of children are allowed at each visit, per inmate

  • If additional adults are attending the same visitation session, you need only complete one registration form. However, be sure to list the full names of all other visitors and include all of the necessary contact information (phone & email) for each person.  

  • Children of any age are permitted, when accompanied by at least one adult. Children’s names should also be included on the form.

  • All visitation requests must be submitted at least seven days prior to the selected date
  • Visits may be scheduled up to four weeks from the date of the request
  • Visits are assigned on a first come, first serve basis. You will be notified by email at least three days in advance of your approved visit
  • Be sure to include alternative dates and times for your visit. If your first preference is already filled, staff will try to grant your second or third request
  • If you need to cancel a visit for any reason, notify the facility as soon as possible

*** NOTE: You will want to arrive prior to your scheduled visitation time to allow for processing into the facility.


Questions pertaining to any of the information above can be directed to the facility. Contact information is available on this page.


WEC Visiting Schedule

WEC Schedule.png
 

To view a PDF version of this schedule, click here: WEC Visiting Schedule

Incarcerated persons at the Work Ethic Camp are limited to two sessions per day and one day per week.

Visitors may sign up for either one session or both the A.M. and the P.M. sessions on Saturday or Sunday.
In order to sign up for both sessions on the same day, please complete two separate forms, one for each session.

 

WEC Virtual Visiting Schedule 


 


Facility Visitation Procedures

The link below will take you to visiting procedures that apply to this facility. 

WEC Visiting Procedures

Virtual Visitation Program Protocol 

Programs

List Container

Programs & Services

Below is a brief record of every available program and service provided by this correctional facility. If it there is any additional facility-specific information pertaining to these programs and services, it will be found under the "Additional Information" tab.

**Please keep in mind that if there is no additional information provided by the facility, the "Additional Information" tab will not be displayed.
Programsort ascending Description Type
Within My Reach

a skills based program addressing critical tools to help participants interact with those in their lives.  Subjects are knowing yourself first, smart love and making your own decisions.

Need addressed:  Life skills

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
WEC Sowers

This program is designed to teach about how to plant, care for and grow plants.  Additionally participants learn how to increase the population of monarch butterflies through planting.


Needs addressed:  Pro-social/outside interest.

Pro-Social Activities
Treatment for Substance Use Outpatient (OP)

Treatment services for individuals who would benefit from some treatment in order to achieve sobriety without needing a higher level of treatment.  It is also beneficial for continued support as a step down from residential treatment. 

Needs addressed:  Drugs and Alcohol Abuse.

Clinical Treatment
Transition Services

Transition Services are available to those transitioning to or from general population or protective management. Mental Health professionals may assists with these services.


Need Addressed:  Mental Health

Thinking for a Change

Thinking for a Change is a high-level cognitive behavioral program developed by the National Institute of Corrections. The program uses role playing to concentrate on changing the criminogenic thinking of offenders.


Needs addressed:  Attitudes; behavior; family; friends; aggression.

Non-Clinical Programs
Sports/Recreation Activities

A variety of activities that encourage health pastimes are offered at all facilities. Please check with recreational specialists for more information.


Needs addressed:  Pro-social/outside interest; health.

Pro-Social Activities
Specialized Population Served

Specialized Population Served offers services for inmates with mental illness or serious chronic medical conditions that are high risk and multi-needs.


Needs addressed:  Health; mental health

Social Work Services
Specialized Housing Services

Social workers provide assistance to individuals with high medical/mental health needs to obtain transitional living, assisted living or skilled nursing care, as needed.


Needs addressed:  Re-entry

Social Work Services
Skilled Nursing Facility

On-call Skilled Nursing Facilities manage crises dealing with medical emergencies, behavioral issues and suicide watches.


Needs addressed:  Health and mental health.

Risk Assessment/ Psychological Evaluations

Risk Assessments and Psychological Evaluations provide diagnosis clarification, intelligence testing and Dementia screening.


Need addressed:  Mental Health; education.

Restorative Justice Intervention Program

This program increases a participant's understanding of the harm/damages they caused their victims, communities and themselves. The program also provides an important life skill module that teaches how to become emotionally proficient, which translates into better decision making and reduced conflicts.


Needs Addressed:  Attitudes; behavior, Life skills.

Non-Clinical Programs
Religious Classses and activities

Variety of classes, workshops and religious services designed to help inmates with support and spiritual development.


Needs addressed:  Pro-social, support.

Pro-Social Activities
Reentry planning

Clients develop comprehensive reentry plans that include housing/transitional living, employment/education, transportation, ID credentials, medical/mental and behavioral health treatment.


Need addressed:  Reentry.

Reentry Services
Nebraska Dept. of Transportation Flagger Course

The course provides necessary instruction and testing for certification as an NDOT Road Construction Flagger.  This certification is good for two years.


Need addressed:  Employment.

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous encourages its members to attend meetings, read and listen to speakers to face the truth and be accountable for their addictions.


Need addressed:  Drug addiction support; pro-social/outside interest.

Pro-Social Activities
Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)

MRT is an evidence-based, cognitive behavioral intervention which leads to enhanced moral reasoning, better decision making and more appropriate behavior. 


Needs addressed:  Attitudes, behavior.

Non-Clinical Programs
Midplains Community College Scissor Lift and Skid Loader Operator Training

Trains participants to use the scissor lift and skid loader.

Need addressed:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Midplains Community College Forklift Operator Safety Training

Forklift operating and use training.


Need addressed:  Employment.

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Midplains Community College Focus Four Hazards Training

Trains participants to respond to falls, caught in between, struck by and electrocutions--OSHA hazards focus.


Need addressed:  Employment and life skills.

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Midplains Community College Essential Skills in the Workplace

Develops basic employment soft skills such as interviewing, resume building, application completion, appropriate work behavior.

Need area addressed:  Employment 

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Midplains Community College CPR and First Aid Training

CPR and First Aid training.


Need addressed:  Life skills.

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Midland University Reentry Code Academy

Trains individuals to become level 1 computer coders.

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Mental Health Outpatient Services

Provides general, individual therapy.


Need addressed:  Mental Health.

Clinical Treatment
Medical Services Coordination

Social workers assist individuals with high medical needs to set appointments for medication management, healthcare and provide resources to obtain medical insurance upon release:


Needs addressed:  Health, mental health, life skills, re-entry.

Social Work Services
Living Needs

Social workers assist individuals with high medical/mental health needs to find clothing resources, apply for benefits or general assistance and other life needs.


Needs addressed:  Social work services.

Social Work Services
Intensive Outpatient Substance Use Program (IOP)

Drug and alcohol treatment that is on the treatment continuum beneath residential. 

Needs addressed:  Substance abuse

Clinical Treatment
Inmate Council

Provides the opportunity for inmate representatives to have input into things which improve facility quality of life.


Needs addressed: Pro-social activity and outside interest.

Pro-Social Activities
Individual/Group Psychotherapy

Licensed, clinical therapists provide one-on-one or group therapy sessions as needed.


Need addressed:  mental health

Incentive Program

A program designed to help inmates develop skills in sanitation, personal hygiene, citizenship, work, education, and behavior.  An inmate who meets the established criteria may earn rewards for levels of achievement.


Needs addressed:  Life skills; attitudes; behavior.

Pro-Social Activities
Illegal to legal

Participants learn that they have skills that will transfer to employment opportunities.

Need Addresses:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
High School Diploma

NDCS operates its own school district with a high school. Students of all ages may attend high school classes. Individuals under 22 who have not graduated from high school are required to be in school. Students over 22 need to go through an application process.


 Need addressed:  Education.

Education Programs
Health Course

This program, delivered by a wellness expert, provides workshops on preventative health education and nutrition, such as Men's Birth Control; Date Abuse; Bullying; Gender Boxes; and Hygiene.


Need addressed:  Health.

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Getting it Right

A program focused on strategies that will assist participants prepare to transition into the community. 

Need addressed:  Reentry

Non-Clinical Programs
ESL/ELL

English as a second language (ESL) provides individuals with literacy support before Adult Basic Education


Needs addressed:  Education; life skills

Education Programs
Discharge Planning

Reentry specialists work with individuals to ensure a reentry plan is completed. The plan allows for a smooth transition to the community and focuses on housing, transportation, employment, education, and medical/mental health services as needed.


Need addressed:  Re-entry

Reentry Services
Destination Dads-Inside Out Dads

Incarcerated fathers get tools they need to become more involved, responsible, and committed in the lives of their children.


 

Need addressed:  Family

Non-Clinical Programs
Department of Labor Workforce Development

Helps participants develop a resume, prepare for interviews and work on job skills.


Need area addressed:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Crisis Intervention

Provided on an as-needed basis, clinicians are available to assist individuals in a mental health crisis.


Needs Addressed:  Mental health.

Computer based Education and Training

Certificate program utilizing tablets for improvement in academics and job training. 

Need addressed:  Education. employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Community Coordination

Social workers coordinate with a variety of community providers and agencies for mental health services, substance abuse treatment and medical services. Providers include the Veteran's Administration, DHHS, treatment agencies, private practice and non-profit organizations.


Needs Addressed:  Housing, medical, mental health, basic needs, re-entry. 

Social Work Services
College Courses

College courses are offered through various universities/colleges and correspondence courses. Currently, college classes are provided by grant funded providers and/or at the individual's own expense.


Needs Addressed:  Education; employment; life skills; pro-social.

Education Programs
College correspondence

Opportunity to pursue college coursework through individual and family support. 

Need addressed:  Education, employment.

Education Programs
Clinical Treatment Programs

See clinical programs list for more details.

Career Readiness

Helps individuals identify a specific career path; learn professional and personal skills to assist them in getting a job.

Need addressed:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
Beyond Anger and Violence/From the Inside Out

Beyond Anger and Violence/From the Inside Out is a program in which participants address anger, reconciliation; emotions management for strengthening and maintaining relationships. This program provides guidelines for daily living.


Needs Addressed:  Aggression, attitudes/behavior, family

Non-Clinical Programs
Assistance for Social Security Application

Social workers provide assistance in obtaining and completing Social Security applications to individuals who qualify and are 90 days from discharge, post-release supervision or parole.


Need addressed:  Re-entry for those who may qualify for Social Security benefits due to age or disability.

Reentry Services
Adult Secondary Education (ASE)

Assists students prepare for taking the high school equivalency test (GED).

Addresses Need Area:  Education

Education Programs
Adult Basic Education

Builds basic skills for GED testing, college readiness and/or skill development. 


Need Addressed:  Education

Education Programs
ABC OSHA General Industries

This course provides entry-level information about employee rights; employer responsibilities; how to file a complaint; how to identify and prevent job related hazards. 


Need Addressed:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
ABC Core Curriculum

This program introduces basic construction safety; construction math, hand tools, power tools, construction drawing, rigging; communication skills; employability skills, and material handling.


Need addressed:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
ABC Construction: OSHA Construction

This program provides an overview of safety applications on a construction site as well as training on governmental regulations.


Need Addressed:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
ABC Applied Construction Math

This program provides learning in the area of construction math such as division, decimals/percentages, reading measurements, calculating area, linear measures, angles, volume, solving for the unknown.


Need Addressed:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
ABC Virtual Electric

Introduces concepts of basic electrical wiring, presented by classroom instruction, along with hands-on experience by working with virtual electrical panels.

Need addressed:  Employment

Vocational/Life Skills Programs
AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) is an organization which encourages members to read, and listen at meetings using the program as an opportunity to face the truth and become accountable for their addiction to alcohol.


Need Addressed:  Support for addiction and prosocial activity

Pro-Social Activities
7 Habits on the Inside

Developed by FranklinCovey in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Corrections, 7 Habits on the Inside uses the principles of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, tailored for the incarcerated individual. The program seeks to empower individuals to manage their own lives in such a way as to be successful in prison and in the community and using the principles of integrity, proactivity, and other key skills.  (12 weeks) 


Needs Addressed: Attitudes/Behavior; Family; Employment; Life Skills

Non-Clinical Programs
Additional Information

Individuals receive a program tailored to their needs, consisting of one or more of the following:

  • MRT (Moral Reconation Therapy)
  • Seven Habits on the Inside
  • Parenting
    • Destination Dads
    • Inside Out Dads
    • Within My Reach
    • Common Sense Parenting
    • Beyond Anger and From the Inside Out
  • Thinking for a Change
  • Substance Abuse Treatment - Intensive Outpatient
  • GED
  • Adult Basic Education
  • Pre-employment Workshops - Budgeting Class, Flagger Course
  • Prairie Gold Homes Construction Training
  • Intro to Business
  • ABC Construction - OSHA (Construction and General Industry; NCCER Core Curriculum and Construction Math)
  • One-on-One Counseling
  • Recreation
  • Work Assignments

Special programs also available to those offenders/inmates who have earned such privileges include the Rewards and Trust programs.  These programs must be earned through positive behavior and program progress and participation.

News

The Work Ethic Camp (WEC) closed out its month long staff appreciation activities for the month of May with its very first "Pie in The Face" throw. The WEC Leadership Team volunteered to participate and WEC staff voted for the top three. The voting ended up in a tie, so four ended up being selected to be the recipients of the pie throw. Thank you to the staff who spent many hours in planning and carrying out the month long activities which included, root beer floats pulled pork luncheons, dinners of their choosing provided to each shift, notebooks, stress balls, and many more. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND TO YOUR...Read more

On May 2, team members at the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) in McCook, NE hosted a reentry fair for incarcerated individuals preparing to return to the community. Several agencies from across Nebraska were represented including colleges, housing programs, and employment services. In attendance at the event were 126 men who had the opportunity to meet service providers and learn more about opportunities available to them in the community.Read more

Thirteen incarcerated men graduated from Thinking for a Change (T4C) at the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) on April 18. There are typically three T4C classes occurring at WEC at the same time, and several participants are getting the opportunity to learn how their thinking controls their behavior. They'e learning how to make positive choices in even the toughest situations. Congratulations, graduates!Read more

Incarcerated men at the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) started tilling and planting potatoes for their garden earlier this month. This year, WEC has partnered with the Mid-Plains Community College McCook Campus to enhance overall understanding of gardening.Read more

Individuals from Southwest High School and the Chase County Schools toured the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) on April 10. Four incarcerated men were selected to tell visitors their stories based on their participation facility-wide. The men are all in the same Thinking for a Change (T4C) program. Groups from both schools also toured the McCook jail and courthouse.Read more

Corporal Brian Wiemers hosted a karaoke night for the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) population on April 5. Over 50 spectators came to watch as brave individuals took the mic to sing along with their favorite songs in the dining hall.Read more

Team members at the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) recently created the Survival of the Fittest workout competition. Thirteen incarcerated men participated in a variety of physical challenges, including push-ups, pull-ups, tricep dips, a 300-yard shuttle run and a calisthenic leg workout. The final challenge was competing in the MURPH -- a crossfit challenge created to honor Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28th, 2005. The winners pictured here include 1st place winner Ross Byers (center), 2nd place Lamont Norris (right) and 3rd place Lance White (left).Read more

Twenty-three incarcerated individuals at the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) recently earned food handlers permits. Each individual participated in class and passed a written exam to earn their permit, which is good for three years. “This was a great opportunity for them,” said WEC Food Service Director Clarice Shields. “They have furthered their education and having this will help in the job market.” Congratulations!Read more

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