Abstract
Correctional officers (COs) are exposed to a number of occupational stressors, and their health declines early in their job tenure. Interventions designed to prevent early decline in CO health are limited. This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a one-year peer health mentoring program (HMP) guided by Total Worker Health® principles and using a participatory action research to collectively address worker safety, health, and well-being of newly hired COs. The HMP aimed to provide new COs with emotional and tangible forms of support during their first year of employment, including peer coaching to prevent early decline in physical fitness and health. The development and implementation of the HMP occurred across five main steps: (1) participatory design focus groups with key stakeholders; (2) adaptation of an existing mentoring handbook and training methods; (3) development of mentor–mentee recruitment criteria and assignment; (4) designing assessment tools; and (5) the initiation of a mentor oversight committee consisting of union leadership, corrections management, and research staff. Correctional employee engagement in the design and implementation process proved to be efficacious in the implementation and adaptation of the program by staff. Support for the HMP remained high as program evaluation efforts continued.
Highlights
Correctional officers (COs) are front-line employees who work in prisons and jails and are exposed to many unique risks that can jeopardize their safety and well-being [1,2,3]
In line with participatory action research (PAR) techniques, the participatory design focus groups provided the means for engaging Department of Correction (DOC) staff as equal partners in all aspects of program design and implementation [13,26,27]
A guide to the participatory design focus groups was developed based on findings from our previous study of health issues and concerns among corrections workers at two prisons in the Northeast [2]
Summary
Correctional officers (COs) are front-line employees who work in prisons and jails and are exposed to many unique risks that can jeopardize their safety and well-being [1,2,3]. Responses to stressors experienced by COs on the job can spill over to their lives outside of work and can be a source of work–. If COs do not develop healthy coping behaviors early in their careers, the demands of their work can have long-term adverse effects on their health and overall well-being [12]. Available online: https://www.uml.edu/Research/CPH-NEW/Resources/CorrectionsOfficer-Health-Resources/TWH-Mentoring-Toolkit-Corrections.aspx (accessed on 11 August 2021). Available online: https://health.uconn.edu/occupationalenvironmental/academics-and-research/cph-new/hitec-ii-project/ (accessed on 17 August 2021). Available online: https://www.uml.edu/Research/CPH-NEW/Healthy-Work-Participatory-Program/ (accessed on 17 August 2021)
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