TESTIMONIALS
“Rehabilitation and reentry is a shared mission for our entire state, not just NDCS. I can’t say enough about the good work of our statewide partners and the tremendous collaboration and momentum we have built together. It’s changing the story here in Nebraska and we’re incredibly proud of the direction we’re headed.”
“We are very excited about prospects of the model (5-KEY MODEL), we have shared it with people from other states and they are very excited in what we are doing so that is a good sign, the way the population has received it has been incredibly positive. Wanting to be a part of something is the biggest battle so if we can we want to be there… I think the work that Dr. Pettus and WEI is doing is really transformational and is going to have huge outcomes over time.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how this program supports clients who had given up on their situation and believed they were headed to prison. For some, it’s the first time they’ve ever felt truly supported.”
“Working with WEI has been instrumental in advancing one of our core goals disentangling mental health from the criminal justice system. We’ve collaborated with Carrie for years, and she’s been a key ally in this effort. Through our shared work on the Prosecution Research Network, we’re developing a roadmap to make diversion a more prevalent and practical option across prosecutorial practices.”
“Southeast Community College was invited and warmly accepted the invitation to partner with the Nebraska Department of Corrections to launch prison education programs in four of our state facilities. Since then, we have had the opportunity to serve over 900 individuals inside of those four facilities … system-level change is what the TRANSFORM Nebraska Network is about.”
“Through this program, I’ve learned to slow down and reflect on my triggers and emotions. The program and the wonderful people involved have opened my eyes to new ways of regulating my emotions in the moment and thinking more deeply about how I handle situations. With each session, I’ve taken more accountability. I recommend this program to any young adult who has needed therapy but didn’t know where to start, or anyone who struggles to understand why they react negatively or tend to have a temper.”
“Our agency is committed to being at the forefront of innovative prosecution, and working with WEI has been a game-changer. Their insight and leadership helped us develop a unique diversion program that addresses a major gap in the justice system. The collaboration has been phenomenal—every member of their team is professional, insightful, and incredibly supportive. Their work on trauma-informed care has far-reaching applications, and I’ve actively recommended them to others. With local presence now established, I’m excited to deepen our connection even further.”
“Employment is one of the strongest indicators of stability for individuals and families, and through the TRANSFORM Nebraska Network we’ve really been able to strengthen our collaboration with not only Corrections but all state agencies across the state.”
“I think the 5‑Keys programming has really helped shape the behavior of incarcerated individuals. For example, our restrictive housing unit has been almost completely empty – we’ve gone one to two weeks at a time with no one in segregation during the six months we’ve been implementing 5‑Keys. I believe that’s partly due to the program, and the peers who help model positive behavior. Our segregation numbers have gone down, protective custody requests have decreased, and that’s reduced our overall workload.”