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