Corrections_Today_May_June_2019

nEWS & vIEWS

and staff, ministering to all in need. However, why not use this incredible resource to become an integral part of your leadership team? You will not find a more loyal or committed staff member than your professional correctional chaplain. Endnotes 1 Konda, S., Reichard, A.A. & Tiesman, H.M. 2012). Occupational Injuries among U.S. Correctional Officers, 1999-2008.  Journal of Safety Research ,  43 (3), 181-186. Retrieved from https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4562411/ pdf/nihms716793.pdf 2 Dawe, B. (2018). PTSD, Depression, Suicide & Divorce are Highest Among Correctional Officers. Spokane, WA: armorupnow. Retrieved from https://armorupnow.org/2018/05/21/ptsd- depression-suicide-divorce-are-highest-among- correctional-officers/#_ftn1 3 Cheek, F. & Miller, M.D.S. (1982). Reducing Staff and Inmate Stress. Corrections Today , 44(5): 72-76. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/ publications/abstract.aspx?ID=85591 4 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Screening and Assessment of Co-occurring Disorders in the Justice System. HHS Publication No. (SMA)-15-4930. Rockville, MD: Author. Retrieved from https://store.samhsa. gov/system/files/sma15-4930.pdf 5 Ferdik, F.V. & Smith, H.P. (2017). Correctional Officer Safety and Wellness Literature Synthesis . Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ nij/250484.pdf 6 Council of State Governments Justice Center. (2019). Berkeley Study Shines Light on the Pressures of Being a Corrections Officer. New York, NY: Staff. Retrieved from https://csgjustice- center.org/nrrc/posts/berkeley-study-shines-light- on-the-pressures-of-being-a-corrections-officer/ Rev. Dr. Charles F. Williams is the director of Religious Services for the Connecticut Department of Correction. He has 17 years of experience working in the Department of Corrections and 28 years of experience of working as a pastor. Dr. Williams is certified with ACA and the ACCA, has four units of CPE and earned his doctorate developing a program on spirituality and addiction recovery in prison.

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professional standards. The clini- cally certified chaplain has proven to have the highest level of professional development, typically consisting of seven or more years of college, four units of CPE, proven competencies in clinical practice and endorsement from the highest caliber national agencies. Accordingly, a chaplain can provide incredible care to correc- tional staff and inmates and remain healthy and stable in their own life. Staff health and wellness is becoming a more common theme at national and regional ACA confer- ences. It is easy, therefore, to think that once we focus on a particular problem and develop some new, helpful programs for correctional staff, the task is accomplished. Yet statistics bear out the harsh reality that correctional staff are living with deep internal struggles and high mor- bidity and mortality rates that impact their families and communities. Many reading this article have a chaplain they can talk to. Un- fortunately, some do not have a professionally-trained chaplain

simply because an agency may not see the need, value or importance of certified chaplains as an essential staff member on their team. Some fa- cilities may instead have a volunteer chaplain, or a paid chaplain with no training for the complex world they live and work in. The chaplains in the ACCA are available to help build a team of trusted professionals in any facility, state or agency. No chaplain should be hired without tested professional accomplishments and qualifications. In health care, chaplains cannot be hired without professional ac- complishments and qualifications, typically including a masters de- gree and four units of CPE. For some reason, in our highly complex profession, we do not demand the same time-tested qualifications and often do not use chaplains to the best correctional standards and practices that can lead to better staff health and wellness, decreased inmate unrest and more efficiently run facilities. Chaplains will continue to work in that neutral zone between inmates

10 — May/June 2019 Corrections Today