NCC 2019

The Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW) in collaboration with Suffolk University invites you to attend the 3rd National Symposium on Corrections Worker health. The symposium will bring together corrections leaders, corrections officers (COs), practitioners, university researchers and government representatives to explore current evidence and practice about the promotion of corrections worker health and well-being. The goal is to identify new research opportunities, and strengthen collaborations and evidence based policies and programs that address the critical health and safety challenges of this workforce. This meeting will occur the day preceding the American Correctional Association's (ACA) 148th Congress of Correction, also in Boston, MA. The event will take place on August 1, 2019 at Suffolk University Law School, Sargent Hall. 120 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02108.

Who should attend this National Symposium?

  • Researchers interested in corrections workers health & safety
  • Correctional health practitioners
  • Correctional leaders and officers
  • Labor representatives
  • Government agencies in corrections and occupational safety & health

Registration is closed. A Webcast option is also available. Accommodations are available for an affordable rate through Suffolk University; rooms are located adjacent to the symposium venue. See event flyer (pdf) for details.

Organizers

  • 2019 National Symposium on Corrections Worker Health

    August 1, 2019

    Suffolk University Law School, Sargent Hall
    120 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02108

    View all presentation slides or view each individual set of presentation slides below:

    TimeEvent
    8-8:30 a.m.Breakfast and Check-in
    8:30-8:40 a.m.Welcome from the Symposium Planning Team
    Mazen El Ghaziri, Ph.D., M.P.H., RN, Lisa Jaegers, Ph.D. OTR/L & Carlos Monteiro, Ph.D.
    8:40-8:50 a.m.Welcome & Opening Remarks by Middlesex Sheriff's Office: 
    Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian
    8:50-9 a.m.Background on National Corrections Collaborative (pdf)
    Martin Cherniack, M.D., M.P.H.
    9-9:10 a.m.Updates from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (pdf):
    Paula L. Grubb, Ph.D.
    9:10-9:20 a.m.Updates from the National Institute of Justice (pdf):
    Angela Moore, Ph.D.
    9:20-11:15 a.m..Panels on Intervention Models for Improving CO Health and Well-being (Panels 1 and 2)
    9:20-10:10 a.m.Panel 1: Correctional Officers:Health challenges of life as a CO // Facilitator- Mazen El Ghaziri, Ph.D., M.P.H., RN
    Aaron Lichwalla - Connecticut Department of Correction. Health Improvement Through employee Control (HITEC) Project  (pdf). 
    Lieutenant Mike Kelley- Middlesex Sheriff Office peer Support Program
    Deb Sahd- Special Assistant to the Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Correction's Wellness Initiatives (pdf).
    Brian Dawe- Founder, American Correctional Officer Intelligence Network (ACOIN) Andy Potter- Executive Director & One Voice Founder, Michigan Corrections Organization
    10:10-10:25 a.m.Break
    10:25-11:15 a.m.Panel 2: Intersectionality of restorative justice and workplace health// Facilitator- Lisa Jaegers- Ph.D. OTR/L. Intersectionality of Restorative Justice and Workplace Health (pdf).
    Alex Frank - Vera Institute of Justice (Restoring Promise)
    Scott Erfe - District Administrator, Connecticut Department of Correction
    Lisa Jeagers- Saint Louis University Transformative Justice Initiative: Bridging reentry/ transition services with workplace health
    11:15-11:35 a.m.Presentation 1:Correctional Officer Suicide in Massachusetts (pdf)
    Natasha A. Frost Ph.D and Carlos Monteiro, Ph.D.
    11:35-11:50 a.m.Presentation 2: Perspectives on Correctional Officer Health (pdf)
    Caterina Spinaris, Ph.D., LPC
    11:50 a.m.- NoonOverview and Logistics for Afternoon Round Tables
    Mazen El Ghaziri, Ph.D., M.P.H., RN
    Noon -12:50 p.m.Lunch
    1-2:15 p.m.Round table presentations and discussions (20- minute sessions at each table; choose 3)
    Table 1: Labor-management joint approaches to health, safety & wellness-
    Martin Cherniack, M.D., M.P.H.
    Table 2: Substance use and workforce-led interventions-
    Carlos Monteiro, Ph.D.
    Table 3: Interventions to support CO family life and work-life balance including shift work and extended hours-
    Mazen El Ghaziri, Ph.D, M.P.H., RN
    Table 4: Identifying CO critical incidents and addressing mental health including post-traumatic stress-
    Lisa Jaegers, Ph.D OTR/L
    Table 5: Issues around using services such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) for CO stress-related and other problems-
    Mathew Brennan, M.P.H.
    Table 6: Health Improvement Through Employee Control- HITEC Peer Mentoring Toolkit-
    Sara Namazi, Ph.D.
    2:15-3:p.m.Roundtable Reports: Five-minutes summaries from each round table discussion
    3-3:15 p.m.Break
    3:15-4p.m.Panel 3: Leading change - perspectives of Corrections administration// Facilitator- Martin Cherniack, M.D., M.P.H.
    Cheryl Cepelak- Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Correction; Employee Wellness Initiatives (pdf).
    Scott Lennon
    - Assistant Superintendent/ Human Resource Director, Middlesex Sheriff's Office
    Lisa Peterson- Clinical Director, North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Dynamic Security Presentation (pdf).
    Anne Precythe- Director of Missouri Department of Correction
    4-4:15 p.m.Closing Remarks-What's next?
     Cheryl Cepelak- Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Correction
    4:15-4:30 p.m.Symposium Evaluation/ Feedback
  • NamePosition
    Martin Cherniak, M.D., M.P.H.Professor of Medicine
    Co-director CPH-NEW
    UCONN Health
    Cheryl CepelakDeputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Correction
    Brian DaweFounder- American Correctional Officer Intelligence Network (ACOIN)
    Scott ErfeDistrict Administrator, CT Dept. of Corrections
    Mazen El Ghaziri, Ph.D., M.P.H., RNAsst. professor,
    Susan and Alan Solomont School of Nursing
    Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
    University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Natasha A. Frost, Ph.D.Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    Associate Professor School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
    Northeastern University
    Paula L. Grubb, Ph.D.Acting Team Leader
    Work Organization and Stress Research Team
    Division of Applied Research and Technology
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
    Lisa Jaegers, Ph.D. OTR/LAssistant Professor
    Occupational science & Occupational Therapy, Doisy College of Health Sciences
    School of Social Work, College for Public Health & Social Justice
    Co-Director, Health Criminology Research Consortium
    Saint Louis University
    Lt. Mike KelleyMidddlesex Sheriff's Office
    Peter J. KoutoujianMiddlesex Sheriff
    Scott LennonAsst. Superintendent/ HR Director Middlesex Sheriff Office
    Lucas Malischak, DBADirector of Psychology Office
    Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
    Carlos Monteiro, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Sociology
    Suffolk University
    Angela Moore, Ph.DDivision Director, Justice Systems Research Division
    National Institute of Justice
    U.S. Department of Justice
    Sarah Namazi, MSPh.D. Candidate in Public Health
    Graduate Research Assistant, CPH-NEW
    UConn Health
    Lisa Peterson, Ph.DClinical Director
    North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
    Anne PrecytheDirector of Missouri Department of Correction
    Deb SahdSpecial Assistant to the Secretary

    Agency Staff Wellness/ Grievance Office/ Agency VC Coordinator
    Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
    Caterina G. Spinaris, Ph.D., LPCExecutive Director
    Desert Waters Correctional Outreach
    TBD - Speaker - Vera Institute of Justice (Restoring Promise)
    TBD - Speaker- CT DOC