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Wellness Initiatives

Across the country, correctional officers and frontline staff face a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with or experiencing symptoms related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

This reality illustrates the profound impact the corrections environment can have on the mental and physical health of those who work behind the walls and reinforces the need for immediate and sustained action.

Recognizing this, One Voice United has made wellness a core focus of our work, designing programs and resources that speak directly to the challenges these men and women face and giving them practical tools that can be utilized and implemented nationwide.

Our wellness work includes:

  • Research and White Papers – Informed studies, reports, and publications that raise awareness about wellness issues and keep the ongoing challenges front and center for policymakers, departments, and the public.
  • Family Wellness Program – Peer and home-based support to help correctional officers, frontline professionals, and their families manage stress and build resilience.
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  • Wellness Principles – Practical steps unions, associations, states or departments can take to create healthier work environments.
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  • Culture Assessment Survey – A confidential, data-driven tool that acknowledges workforce needs and feedback in order to guide policies and evaluate programs and resources.
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  • Facilitated Listening Sessions – Structured conversations with staff and leadership that validate findings, surface priorities, and ensure workforce input is clearly understood and reflected. Email us at info@onevoiceunited.org to learn more about working with OVU. 
  • Strategic Planning and Implementation Support – Collaborative planning with agencies, unions, and leadership to translate staff feedback into clear priorities, actionable steps, and measurable outcomes. This work helps ensure that what is heard leads to meaningful, sustained change.
  • Workforce Engagement Development – Targeted support that equips agencies, unions, and leaders with practical tools and approaches to better engage their workforce over time. Grounded in the belief that those closest to the job are key to identifying challenges and shaping solutions, this builds the internal capacity to listen, respond, and sustain progress.

Blue Ribbon Commission Report 2022

One Voice United assembled the first-ever Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on correctional staff wellness. In front of a diverse and distinguished group of Commissioners, officers and staff shed light on a crisis that has largely gone unnoticed outside the four walls.
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I Am Not Okay – Wellness White Paper

"I Am Not Okay." is a white paper discussing the mental health crisis facing correctional officers and frontline staff.
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Correctional Officer Wellness Project: Solutions

Before beginning the long-overdue work of reforming the U.S. correctional system and addressing the mental health challenges facing correctional officers (COs) today, it’s imperative to understand the sources of those mental health challenges – namely, the stress COs live with every day.
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Correctional Officer Wellness Project: Mental Health

Among America’s nearly 450,000 correctional officers (COs), PTSD and depression are at near-epidemic proportions, driving extreme rates of psychological and even physical harm.
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Correctional Officer Wellness Project: Causes of Stress

Before beginning the long-overdue work of reforming the U.S. correctional system and addressing the mental health challenges facing correctional officers (COs) today, it’s imperative to understand the sources of those mental health challenges – namely, the stress COs live with every day.
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Correctional Officer Wellness Project: Challenges with Facility Administration

Surprisingly, the biggest source of stress for correctional officers (COs) today isn’t the incarcerated individuals they work with – it’s the administrations they work for.
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