The following workshops will be hosted by NIC staff at the 2026 Mock Prison Riot gathering.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Corrections Professionals
Workshop | 8:Classroom 3
Moderator: Dena M. Owens, PsyD, NPA, Prisons Division
What will you learn?
Hosted by the National Institute of Corrections, this eight-hour certification course equips staff with the knowledge and skills to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance use challenges in their peers. By providing the necessary support and resources, correctional facilities can help staff cope with the challenges they face, reduce burnout and promote a positive work environment that ultimately benefits both staff and the individuals they serve. Upon completion of the course, participants will be recognized as Certified Mental Health First Aiders by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.Wellness and Well-Being in Corrections: Current and Future Directions
Workshop | Classroom 7
Moderators:Belinda Stewart, NPA, Prisons Division
Dena M. Owens, PsyD, NPA, Prisons Division
Lisa A. Jaegers, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Professor, Occupational Therapy, Doisy College of Health Sciences Saint Louis University
Mazen El Ghaziri, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAOHN, Associate Professor & Associate Chair Solomont School of Nursing, UMASS Lowell
What will you learn?
Hosted by the National Institute of Corrections, this is an interactive workshop that examines resources to address the significant risks faced by corrections professionals due to chronic stress, trauma exposure, and workplace violence. Research shows that corrections officers experience high rates of injury, PTSD, and depression compared with other criminal justice professions and the general public. Drawing on more than 15 years of research-to-practice collaboration and work with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and the National Corrections Collaborative (NCC), this session will introduce participants to emerging resources, policies, peer-support models, and training approaches designed to address organizational stress and trauma in corrections. Through facilitated roundtable discussions and practical activities informed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Total Worker Health strategy, attendees will explore how these tools can be applied within their own agencies and identify actionable steps to strengthen worker well-being and safety. The workshop will also connect participants to a growing network of Corrections Safety and Health in Action (CSHA) practitioners committed to advancing evidence-based strategies to support the health, safety, and well-being of the corrections workforce.Undue Familiarity Workshop
Workshop |
Moderator: Kenneth Hyle (TRP) and Chris Smith, NPA, Prisons Division
What will you learn?
Hosted by the National Institute of Corrections, the goal of this workshop is to educate and inform correctional and civilian staff on the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and adhering to their agency’s policies for interactions with individuals under their custody or supervision. In this lively, interactive session, we will discuss the continuum of interactions with offenders, the motivating factors for manipulation, how staff may become subjects of ‘grooming,” and awareness of specific behaviors. The session will also address how staff wellness and personal circumstances can be a factor in these cases. There will be several scenarios presented, where you will help identify red flags for potentially being compromised and how to address these types of issues should they arise for yourself or colleagues in the corrections setting.Performance Objectives
Identify situations that may lead to staff vulnerability, and which may result in undue familiarity/sexual misconduct.
Identify some Strategies to avoid becoming compromised.
Outcomes
- Understanding the importance of maintaining professional boundaries
- Encourage self-awareness of vulnerabilities in personal and professional lives
- Being able to understand and recognize areas of concern
