By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
OKLAHOMA CITY — To boost the well-being of correctional officers, Lexipol and Securus Technologies have partnered to invest up to $100,000 to provide free peer support training and certification, Securus Technologies announced in a press release.
The announcement was made during the 2024 National Sheriffs’ Association annual conference in Oklahoma City.
The investment from Securus Technologies, a leading provider of technology solutions for public safety, law enforcement, investigations, and corrections, and Lexipol, the leader in policy, training and wellness support for public safety and government leaders, will make Lexipol’s Peer Support Training and Certification membership available to officers in corrections facilities at no cost.
“We are excited to partner with Securus Technologies to bring our Peer Support Training and Certification program to corrections officers across the country,” said Marco DeLeon, vice president of business development at Lexipol and former deputy sheriff in Denton County, Texas. “This training is designed to empower peer advocates within correctional facilities, significantly bolstering the collective mental health and resilience of their departments.”
Recent studies reveal that 85% of public safety personnel have faced mental wellness issues, with correctional officers in some states experiencing suicide rates seven times higher than the national average. Despite this, many officers feel a cultural stigma prevents them from seeking the support they need to cope with these challenges, the release states.
Throughout the next year, Securus is investing up to $100,000 in training and certification created by Dr. Jamie Brower, president of the American Board of Police and Public Safety Psychology. This training, available to correctional agencies subscribing to Lexipol’s confidential wellness app, Cordico, aims to help staff manage the high-stress challenges of their workplace, according to the release. The initiative addresses the growing mental wellness challenges among officers amid staffing shortages and budget constraints.
The Cordico app offers correctional officers and their families easy access to therapists, mobile peer support, wellness guides and self-assessments. With Securus’ funding, the app will now include peer support training and certification. This addition will help agencies provide enhanced mental health support. The online training follows industry best practices and national guidelines, ensuring peer teams are well-prepared to offer support before, during and after incidents, reducing the stress of working in corrections.
“Corrections officers play a critical role leading public safety in their communities by creating safe and effective correctional facilities, and they face the unique challenge of finding peer support when the stress of the job impacts their day-to-day or home life,” said Kevin Elder, president of Securus Technologies. “Lexipol’s Peer Support Training and Certification and Cordico wellness app meet these public servants at their point of need, bringing together a community with shared challenges to support, coach, and mentor one another through some of their most difficult moments, ensuring access to personal on-demand tools to help guide support and recovery and a trusted peer resource to ensure they understand how best to apply the tools. We are proud to offer this support.”
As agencies enroll in Lexipol’s Cordico app, Securus will cover the cost of the first 250 licenses for the Peer Support Training and Certification, providing this education for free. Since its launch, over 1,000 public safety departments nationwide have adopted the Cordico app, which is now widely used by correctional staff as a wellness and peer support network, according to the release.
“Effective, relevant training of peer support members is essential to enhancing the wellness of our nation’s public safety personnel,” said Lexipol CEO Bill Nunan. “We applaud Securus’ commitment and look forward to helping build a culture of wellness throughout correctional agencies.”
For more information about Lexipol, click here. For more information about Securus Technologies, click here.
