WHO WE ARE

In 1998 Chaplain Greg Garringer and Warden Ray Roberts had the vision to build a Spiritual Life Center (SLC) in the middle of the Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) grounds. With the help of a community board of directors, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation was formed and over the next several years, just over $500,000 was raised from private donations. By utilizing skilled staff and talented inmate work crews, the building was constructed and the SLC became a reality. The building was dedicated in April, 2004 and is used for various inmate activities, as well as facility and community events.

The ECF SLC Funding has been successful over the years in raising funds from churches, private donors, corporations, and other organizations not only to provide the funding for the construction of the SLC, but also for ongoing expenditures for faith-based programming. This has been made possible by the continued acceptance and support of the Ellsworth area community, the exceptional staff and volunteers who daily encourage and re-direct thinking and behaviors, the forward thinking leadership and administration throughout our short history who have provided new vision and growth opportunities of positive programs.

In 2013 the vision grew to expand the existing building to bring facility programs and staff together in one place to better serve the prison population. With programs such as education, life skills, work skills, mental health, reentry, and religious activities working together, we are able to better fulfill the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Mission to make communities safer for our families and neighbors by reducing recidivism and victimization. As a result of this new vision the Board of Directors opted to form the Right Track Foundation. The foundation will allow us to seek grants and donations from corporations and other foundations that have a like-minded interest in community safety.

To fund this vision we are bringing together partners and funding that is available for faith, as well as education, re-entry, mental health, and community safety. This new growth will allow all of our first class programs to come together and offer the very best opportunity for those incarcerated. Many inmates, families, and communities are very thankful with the positive changes they see in individuals leaving prison and returning home.

However, our vision is much larger than just one correctional facility. We are creating a paradigm shift by bringing all of our strengths together and better utilizing the resources that are available; such as partnering with an outside research group, to track the progress of those who participate in the programming, so that those incarcerated will have a greater opportunity to be on the Right Track in life.