Correctional Employee Wellness Monograph

Participants had two months to gather the necessary information and respond to the scan, which varied in length depending on the participant answers. Ensuring a comprehensive view of each agency’s services, the scan addressed various areas of employee wellness program- ming including: 1. Location, size and type of agency 2. Number of staff employed 3. Availability of wellness programming 4. Types of wellness programming offered 5. Characteristics and limitations of wellness programming offered 6. Health education offerings 7. Barriers to offering staff wellness programs 8. Oversight and funding for staff wellness programs Table 1

Photo courtesy Arlington County Sheriff’s Office

employee wellness, retention and job satisfaction. ACA has published this monograph detailing the national scan of correctional employee wellness options offered today in order to inform programming recommendations and the resources required to implement them. Methodology During the fall of 2020, ACA conducted a scan on the current landscape of staff wellness programs in cor- rections, with emphasis on number and type of services, implementation and funding. The scan was designed by ACA with input from the Correctional Leaders Association, National Association of Wardens and Su- perintendents, Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, American Jail Association, American Probation and Parole Association, Denver Sheriff Department, National Gov- ernors Association, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and ACA-contracted researchers. Topics were chosen after multiple days of thorough discussion and feedback by industry leaders, including policy analysts, physicians, researchers, law enforcement, wardens and administration. Scan questions were continually developed over the course of several months and represent the experi- ences of professionals from all levels, as well as jails and statewide prison systems. The scan instrument was sent electronically to the correctional leaders of all 50 states as well as represen- tatives of 37 local detention facilities of various sizes.

Program Type

Total (N=70)

Employee Assistance Program

93%

Critical Incident Debriefings

79%

Preventative Health Screens/Vaccinations/ Inoculations

69%

Peer Support

60%

Outside Referrals

53%

Fitness

54%

Health Fairs

49%

Health Education

47%

Drug and Alcohol Treatment

44%

Resiliency Support/Programs

41%

Nutrition

40%

Social Engagement Activities

39%

Family Counseling

36%

Marriage Counseling

34%

Family Events

34%

Mindfulness

29%

Yoga

13%

Physical Therapy

11%

Legend:

40% or more

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