Day 1 - Session 2
Sept. 22, 11:00 - 11:50 am (EST/USA)
4:00 - 4:55 pm (London)
Sept. 23, 1:00 - 1:55 am (Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane)
Sept. 23, 3:30 - 3:55 am (New Zealand)
Resilience Programs
Moderator:
Stephanie M. Conn, PhD
First Responder Psychology
Panelists:
warr;or21 - a program to enhance resilience and positive mental health
Detective Jeff Thompson, PhD
Mental Health & Wellness Coordinator, New York City Police Department
Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York State Psychiatric Institute (USA)
Warr;or21 is a 21-day program originally designed for first responders and now adapted for the public to enhance resilience and mental health. The program entails daily practices to build inner strength supported by research. For each day, the participant is presented with a keyword (examples include grit, calm, empathy, adapt, and gratitude) to guide them with the practices.
The Milwaukee Resilience Model
Sandra Ramey, PhD
Associate Professor, College of Nursing, The University of Iowa (USA)
It is critical that law enforcement officers and deputies receive training and ongoing agency support to develop the skills essential for recovery from employment stressors that impact their physical and psychological health over time. The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), in partnership with researcher Dr. Sandra Ramey, RN, piloted a resilience training intervention program with an academy class of 42 cadets and a control group of 38 active Milwaukee police officers during a two-year period. Report outcomes showed that earlier delivery of resilience training leads to improved mental resilience, physical health, decision-making, and job satisfaction. This brief presentation will address the MPD resilience training intervention program, including implementation and supporting data as well as recommendations and pilot project outcomes.PO Kai Anderson of the Milwaukee Police Academy will join Dr. Ramey for the presentation.
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Road 2 Mental Readiness
Keith B. Dobson
Professor, Clinical Psychology, University of Calgary (Canada)​
Preliminary evaluation results show that participating in Road 2 Mental Readiness (R2MR) training reduces stigma that often surrounds mental health problems and mental illness and increases resiliency. Participants say that they find it applicable in both their work and home lives. Learn more about the research findings and the practices taught in the R2MR program.
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Overview of the Development of the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement
Michael Wiltsey, PhD
Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, NJ; Psychologist in Private Practice & The Center for Emotional Health of Greater Philadelphia; New Jersey City University, Professional Security Studies Department (USA)
Modeled after the FBI National Academy Associates Resiliency Program, the New Jersey program was developed to provide officers with tools and skills in developing resilience to better handle day-to-day stressors, as well as acute and cumulative trauma. The idea to develop such a program was stimulated by officer suicides and an overarching desire to prevent future suicides by teaching skills designed to reduce stress and build resilience. The program also includes a peer support component by assigning RPOs (Resilience Program Officers) at every police department in New Jersey. Attorney General Grewal issued a directive in 2019 requiring all NJ law enforcement officers to be trained in the resiliency program by 2022.
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BIOGRAPHIES
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Stephanie M. Conn, PhD
Dr. Stephanie Conn is a former police officer, as well as the daughter and wife of police officers, and currently works as a Licensed Psychologist in private practice, specializing in police stress, trauma, work-life balance, coping, and resilience. She supports first responder agencies with CISM, peer support, and mental health training. She has 22 years of experience working in the first responder field. She has presented widely to emergency responders, sharing wisdom gained from her police experience, her research, and her therapy practice. She is the author of Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel
Email: firstresponderpsych@gmail.com
Twitter: @PoliceResilienc
Read more:
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Detective Jeff Thompson, PhD
Jeff Thompson, Ph.D., is an adjunct associate research scientist at the Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division at Columbia University Medical Center/New York State Psychiatric Institute. He is an instructor at NYU, Southern Cross University, Lipscomb University; a crisis counselor, former hostage negotiator, and currently a 17-year veteran detective in the NYPD where he is the department's Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator. He is the recipient of the Griffith University Arts, Education and Law's 2020 Outstanding International Alumnus Award and The New York City Police Foundation’s 2020 Hemmerdinger Award for Excellence for distinguished public service.
Email: Jeff.Thompson@NYPD.org and JT2768@cumc.columbia.edu
Twitter: @JeffTPhD
Read more:
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Sandra Ramey, PhD
Dr. Ramey is faculty at the University of Iowa where she teaches public health. Accomplishments include research with approximately 20 LE agencies, including Hawaii, over the past 22 years. Recently, she developed a model to incorporate self-regulation techniques to build resilience into LE agencies. She has presented at Cambridge University, The Royal College of Nursing and The NIH Conference on Total Worker Health. In 2015, Dr. Ramey testified for the President’s Taskforce on 21st Century Policing in Washington DC. She currently serves on an expert panel for a NIJ study to query agencies nationwide about officer safety and wellness issues.
Email: sandra-ramey@uiowa.edu and keande@milwaukee.gov
Learn more:
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Milwaukee Resilience Model (COPS publication)
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Testing a Resilience Training Program in Police Recruits: A Pilot Study
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Keith S. Dobson
Keith S. Dobson is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary. His work has resulted in 400 publications, 16 books, and presentations around the globe. He has written extensively about professional psychology and ethics, and has been involved in organized psychology in Canada, including a term as President of the Canadian Psychological Association. Dr. Dobson is a Principal Investigator for the Opening Minds program of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, with a focus on stigma reduction. His awards include the Canadian Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Profession of Psychology, the Science of Psychology, and the International Advancement of Psychology.
Email: ksdobson@ucalgary.ca
Learn more:
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Michael Wiltsey, PhD
Michael Wiltsey has been a law enforcement officer for over twenty-one years. He is also a practicing Licensed Psychologist with experience and interest in police related issues. Dr. Wiltsey is also a faculty member of New Jersey City University, Professional Security Studies Department. He has been a part of the professional working group for the New Jersey Resiliency Program since the beginning of this initiative in 2016, and has contributed to the development of the training and the directive. He is a Master Trainer for the New Jersey Resiliency Program and is a Resiliency Program Officer.
Email: mwiltsey@njcu.edu
Learn more:
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