In a bold move to boost prison staff support systems, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) is extending its wellness initiatives to include the inmates' VIPs—their families. The IDOC Staff Wellness Response Team (SWRT) is rolling out a new workshop aimed at providing family members of correctional employees with tools to navigate the distinct challenges of having a loved one inside of the bars.
"IDOC is thrilled to expand its wellness program to encompass the families of our dedicated correctional staff," IDOC Acting Director Latoya Hughes was quoted as saying in an official statement. With a debut set for later this week, the program acknowledges that prison work doesn't just take its toll on the employees but spills over, impacting their families back home too.
Staff Wellness Coordinator Jonathan Brown emphasized the course's value by saying, "This course will provide invaluable insight to family members, enabling them to grasp the experiences of correctional staff within our department." According to the Illinois government's announcement, the workshop, designed by Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, will delve into the real-world impact of correctional work on family dynamics, offer practical support strategies, and teach the basics of effective self-care.
The introduction of the 'Correctional Family Wellness - For Families' program is part of a larger slate of efforts by IDOC to showcase self-care and wellness. Starting back in 2017, the department began hatching plans for a wellness initiative which, included outreach to various organizations for insights on implementing such schemes. Today, the SWRT is a 200-strong team, that, apart from facilitating workshops, offers peer support and operates wellness rooms across IDOC facilities for staff to unwind following critical incidents.
IDOC seems committed to weaving a support net that extends beyond the workplace. There's an open invitation for adult family members of IDOC frontline staff to get on board this wellness wagon. Interested parties should shoot an email to the SWRT team to snag a spot in future classes. The IDOC has made it clear that these moves are all in service of bolstering the emotional armor of those who man the ramparts of Illinois' penal institutions—and their kin.
