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“We’re talking about somebody professionals across the country. “I “Make a concerted effort to value
who is on their A game, ready to go, think that we can put peers together your staff,” she said. “It’s the little
happy, ready to start the day with with peers,” she said. “That vision things that make some of us very
spirit.” is a big vision, and it’s a heavy lift, happy. It’s those small things that
Ms. Travis described the typi- but I’m hoping that it will grab on are pretty large in our industry.”
cal jail employee. He or she is not and take hold.” In closing, President Lambert
one to ask for help, she said. “I can President Lambert pointed to pledged to take the following
take care of myself. I’m okay,” she national statistics that paint a bleak actions in the coming year:
said. “I’ve got it. I’ve got it, boss.” picture of how stress damages • Start a conversation about staff
President Lambert agreed. “We are the lives of correctional staff. For health and wellness;
not good at admitting we are not example, the profession has one • Solicit feedback from AJA
okay. But it’s okay not to be okay,” of the highest divorce rates of any members;
she said. “I really want to drive that career, suicide rates that she called
point home. We persevere. We are “very scary,” and retention rates • Use that feedback to create an
resilient. However, I don’t know that “are dire.” action plan; and
that we really look in the mirror “Regardless of what goes on in • Convene a Health and Wellness
that often and say, ‘How are you your professional life, it goes home Summit.
doing?’ ” with you,” she said. “You may not “I’m going to demand that we
Employees who do seek assis- talk about it because your family understand the value of our jail
tance often are referred to an doesn’t understand or you don’t professionals across the country,”
employee assistance program where want to traumatize them by shar- she said. “I think it’s going to be a
they can meet with a counselor. But ing what a day looked like in your challenging year with this initiative,
in many cases, President Lambert agency, but there’s a number of us but with the people who are willing
pointed out, the employee can’t that won’t even sit with our back to and ready to address this, I feel that
relate to a counselor who “has no a door in a restaurant because we we are going to have a large show-
idea what goes on behind those don’t trust what’s coming in behind ing. I really do.”
walls.” She continued, “I think us.” To view the President’s Initiative
that is a big barrier, and we have to Ms. Travis emphasized that there and learn more about staff well-
break down those barriers.” is a strong physical component ness, visit americanjail.org/presidents-
One way to crack those barriers to mental health, and that regular initiative. 
is with peer support groups. “I have exercise can relieve stress and anxi-
a feeling that there are many jails ety. For that reason, many agencies
across the country that have peer are providing exercise equipment as
support groups. I have another feel- well as healthy meals and snacks for
ing that they are probably not heav- employees, President Lambert said.
ily used,” she said. As part of her
initiative, President Lambert has a This year, AJA presented nine awards.
goal to start a national peer support A special thank you to Bob Barker, Inc.
program, using a conglomerate of
for their support and recognition of the
AJA Award recipients.

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER OF
OF THE YEAR AWARD THE YEAR AWARD
Jacqueline Berry Linda Ahrens
Assistant Director of Volunteer Staff Chaplain
Management Services Cook County Sheriff’s
Miami-Dade Corrections Office
and Rehabilitation Chicago, Illinois
Department
Miami, Florida Sponsored by:

38 | JULY | AUGUST 2021 AMERICANJails