The current project is titled: Training Probation Officers in Mental Health First Aid: An Evidence-Based Approach to Improving Outcomes for Officers and Individuals under Supervision. As such, the primary goal is to improve services to individuals on probation by ensuring that probation officers have the requisite awareness, competency, and motivation to serve those with mental health (MH) and substance abuse (SA) needs. There is a sizable overrepresentation of MH and SA among individuals who are receiving community supervision. Furthermore, their supervising officers often do not have access to the knowledge and tools to support these individuals in their community reintegration efforts. This project is a collaboration between the University of Delaware’s (UD) Center for Training and Community Collaboration (C-TECC) and two jurisdictions of Corrections and Pretrial Services: the District of Delaware
(DE) and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (ED/PA). The project aims to train probation officers in identifying common MH and SA concerns and in evidence-based de-escalation strategies. The project will train approximately 75 officers and staff in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). Additionally, C-TECC, DE, and ED/PA, will collaboratively examine and refine current referral processes with existing, contracted licensed mental health providers to ensure that individuals who need MH and SA services and supports, are connected to those services. The project also recognizes the importance of support for probation officers, as they often report high rates of burnout and corrections fatigue. Fatigue and burnout are major barriers to implementing compassionate care to those with MH and SA needs. Therefore, in addition to participating in MHFA training, the same 75 officers and staff will complete the From Corrections Fatigue to Fulfillment (CF2F) curriculum which raises awareness about corrections fatigue, its precursors and early warning signs, and strategies to promote wellbeing. To support learning and facilitate the maintenance of acquired knowledge and skills, officers will participate in refresher courses of these curricula and in a live role-play interaction with professional actors who will portray realistic scenarios of commonly occurring MH and SA concerns. This role-play interaction will be done in collaboration with UD’s Healthcare Theatre program, and will
provide the opportunity for live feedback, group discussion, and honing of skills. It is anticipated that most training, implementation and evaluation efforts will be conducted in-person at DE and ED/PA offices. Overall, the project is designed to implement a sustainable program for increasing competent and compassionate services for individuals under community supervision who have MH and SA needs in these two districts.
