2024 ACA National Harbor Program Book_Winter Conference

WORKSHOPS Thursday, Jan. 4 ▼ 2–3:30 p.m.

Speakers: Dean Aufderheide , Ph.D., ABCP, Director of Mental Health, American Correctional Association, Alexandria, Virginia; Daniel Bannish , Ph.D., Director of Mental Health, Maine Department of Corrections, Augusta, Maine; Randy Shively , Ph.D., Director of Research, Alvis, Columbus, Ohio A-3I Utilizing Peer Companions to Support Individuals on Suicide Watch (CE, CEU) Tracks: Healthcare & Treatment/Jails/ Special Offenders/Social Work NEW! Room: National Harbor 12 Peer support is an empirically supported protective factor for suicide risk, including in the correctional setting (Junker & Bates, 2005; Snow & Biggar, 2006). This presentation will review the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ use of peer companions to observe and support incarcerated individuals on suicide watch. Use of companion observers has led to shorter overall observation times and a return to less restrictive settings. The benefits to companions, those on observation and the correctional

have coined the phrase “games inmates play” to describe the unique circumstances wherein this phenomenon occurs. All correctional staff can be unsuspecting participants in these games, especially those who are new to the profession, burned out or have become lax and overly confident. Recognizing the games inmates play, therefore, is crucial for staff to respond effectively to avoid the traps set for them. Staff without understanding the self-serving goals of the inmate can become prey and compromise the safety and security of the facility and compromise their professional roles. This training is a must! Learning Objectives: • Recognize the diverse ways in which inmates try and manipulate staff. • Identify the top three games played with staff representing: security, administration, classification and mental health/medical. • Identify the strategies correctional psychologists recommend for improving the management of the games inmates play. Moderator: Ramona Wheeler , SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer, Alvis, Columbus, Ohio

90 — ACA 2024 Winter Conference | National Harbor, MD