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ANSWERING THE CALL FOR

Staff Health and Wellness

or those who work in correc- President Lambert continues, “We “I’m going to demand that we under-
tions, stress has long been are guarded. We put up this wall stand the value of our jail profession-
Faccepted as a component around us that we are tough and we als across the country,” she said. “I
of the job. Therefore, it comes as no are thick-skinned, and nothing both- think it’s going to be a challenging
surprise when national statistics paint ers us. I think that’s part of how we year with this initiative, but with the
a bleak picture of how stress damages were trained, but I also think it’s part people who are willing and ready to
the lives of correctional staff. of how we are wired.” address this, I feel that we are going

The effects of this stress are now Jails have “jumped in headfirst” to to have a large showing. I really do.”
being recognized as a critical issue in do their best with the inmate popu- To view more on the President’s
the field. For her President’s Initiative lation, but often forget about their Initiative, visit www.americanjail.org/
in 2021–2022, AJA President Mandy own staff. Health and wellness are staffwellness.
Lambert, CJM is raising awareness much larger than just mental health.
of the importance of staff health and “So many factors come into play to
wellness. She says, “It is OK to not make us a well-rounded example of SUMMIT VENUE
be OK.” a healthy employee,” Lambert said.
“We’re talking about somebody Hyatt Regency Columbus
“Our role as jail professionals is one
that is a heavy lift, and we see hor- who is on their A game, ready to go, 350 N. High Street
rible things behind those walls,” happy, ready to start the day with Columbus, OH 43215
President Lambert said during her spirit.”
interview with Immediate Past Presi- To answer the call to President Lam-
dent Marsha Travis, CJM at AJA’s bert’s initiative, AJA is hosting a
virtual conference this past April. staff health and wellness summit in
“Those things that you can never Columbus, Ohio on October 24–26,
really explain unless you are the 2021. On the next few pages, learn
boots on the ground.… It affects you why this summit is important and
cognitively, physically, mentally, and how it can change the culture within
behaviorally,” she said. “And those your facility for the better.
things are cumulative, unfortunately.”

38 | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2021 AMERICANJails