2026 ACA Winter Conference Long Beach CA_Program Book

SATURDAY, FEB. 7

8–9:30 A.M.

Speakers: Sherri Hill , Student Academic Specialist, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Raleigh, North Carolina; Dr. Brooke Wheeler , Superintendent of Education, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Raleigh, North Carolina Safety Starts with You: Being Physically and Mentally Prepared for Your Tour of Duty Can Greatly Decrease the Risk of Workplace Assaults and Injuries Room 102 B TRACK: Staff Wellness Overview: Each day, correctional officers and staff face a significant threat of physical violence and workplace injury. A 2011 study showed that for every 10,000 full-time correctional officers, there were 254 workplace assaults and violent injuries, which was 36% greater than any other occupation. Studies have shown that correctional officers are at a much greater risk of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This presentation will review the risks of working in a correctional environment and offer evidence-based strategies that officers can implement each day to be better prepared physically and mentally, thus reducing the risk of physical assaults and workplace. Speakers: Michael W. Farrier II (Ret), Psy.D., Major, Subject Matter Expert, BJA CorWellness, Tallahassee, Florida; Monroe B. Hudson , Commissioner (Ret), M.A.J., Program Lead, IIR/BJA CorWellness, Tallahassee, Florida Impact, Knife, Spike and Ballistic Protection Solutions for Corrections Officers and Response Teams Room 101 A TRACK: Safety & Security Overview: The activities in corrections services take place in a high-risk environment, where the probability of being attacked by blunt objects and homemade edged weapons always exists. Impacts, knives and spike attacks can lead to severe injuries or can be fatal. Also, protection against ballistic threats is needed in many functions within correctional services.

The Process is the Plan: Massachusetts’ Shift to Dynamic Strategic Planning Room 101 B TRACK: Organizational Management Overview: This workshop will review the Massachusetts Department of Corrections’ strategic planning process. The presenters will discuss why a modern approach to strategic planning was chosen and how the importance of using inclusive communication strategies and consistent messaging is a necessity to the process. Main factors of the presentation will include collaborative stakeholder participation strategies, leveraging strategic planning activities to promote culture shift, promoting with a unified purpose and effective messaging of the strategic planning processes. Presenters will also share lessons learned and challenges associated with this undertaking. Speakers: Harmony Goorley , Senior Project Manager, Technical Expert, Falcon Inc., Chicago, Illinois; Shawn Jenkins , Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Milford, Massachusetts; Kyle Pelletier , Director, Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Milford, Massachusetts Unlocking Potential: Advancing Education in Correctional Settings Room 102 A TRACK: Education Overview: Education in correctional settings serves as a powerful tool for rehabilitation, reentry success and community safety. This workshop will highlight innovative practices, proven models and collaborative approaches that correctional educators and administrators can adopt to expand educational access for incarcerated individuals. Participants will gain practical strategies for strengthening correctional education programs, fostering partnerships with community colleges and workforce agencies and aligning programming with Reentry 2030 and other state or federal education initiatives.

WORKSHOPS Saturday, Feb. 7 ▼ 8–9:30 a.m.

96 — ACA 2026 Winter Conference | Long Beach, CA