Securus Technologies Partners with Lexipol, National Sheriffs' Association, Investing up to $100K in Peer Support Certification, Strengthening Mental Health and Well-Being Support for Local Corrections Staff

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Jun 27, 2024, 11:00 ET

Training Supports Individuals and Peer Support Networks, Promoting Culture of Wellness to Save Lives

OKLAHOMA CITY, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the 2024 National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, Securus Technologies, a leading provider of technology solutions for public safety, law enforcement, investigations, and corrections, announced they are partnering with Lexipol, the leader in policy, training, and wellness support for public safety and government leaders, to invest up to $100,000 to make Lexipol's Peer Support Training and Certification membership available to officers in local corrections facilities at no cost.

Desktop computer display of the Cordico Peer Support Specialist Certification modules.

Corrections officers gather in a peer support session to discuss mental health and a culture of wellness in the workplace.

Lexipol and Securus Technologies partner to provide wellness solutions.

Recent studies show that 85 percent of public safety personnel have experienced symptoms related to mental health conditions, and that in some states, the average suicide rate of corrections officers is seven times higher than the national average. Yet, many officers report a cultural stigma that holds them back from seeking support to better manage challenges.

Over the next year, Securus is investing up to $100,000 in subscription-based training and certification developed by Lexipol's Dr. Jamie Brower, who serves as the president of the American Board of Police and Public Safety Psychology (ABPPSP). The training will be offered to correctional agencies that subscribe to Lexipol's confidential wellness app, Cordico, which connects agency staff to tools that help proactively manage the unique, high-stress workplace challenges that are common in the corrections environment. These challenges increasingly affect officer mental health in an era of staffing shortages and budget constraints.

The Cordico app provides correctional officers and their families direct access to therapist finders, one-touch mobile peer support, more than 60 wellness guides, and self-assessments. Securus' funding will add peer support training and certification to these resources, allowing agencies to offer another level of mental health and well-being outreach. The online training program leverages industry-leading best practices and adheres to national guidelines to ensure peer teams are comprehensively equipped to offer proactive, reactive, and post-incident support to reduce the impact of the corrections work environment.

"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, 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."

Longtime NSA partners, Securus and Lexipol are joining its annual conference to announce this investment. As agencies sign-up for Lexipol's Cordico app, Securus will fund the first 250 licenses for the Peer Support Training and Certification, making the peer-based education available for free. Since Lexipol launched the Cordico app, more than 1,000 public safety departments nationwide have adopted the tool, which is now being widely used across correctional staff as a wellness and peer-driven support network.

"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."

"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 Securus Technologies and its initiatives, please visit https://securustech.net/. For more information about Lexipol, please visit https://www.lexipol.com.

About Securus Technologies
Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Securus Technologies^® (Securus) is an Aventiv Technologies company that serves more than 1,800 public safety, law enforcement, and corrections agencies as well as over 1,000,000 incarcerated individuals across North America. Founded in 1986, Securus offers innovative solutions like phone and video connections and e-messaging, which connect family and friends to their incarcerated loved ones. Their secure monitoring and investigative solutions aid law enforcement and correctional facility staff in their operations and efforts to maintain public safety in communities nationwide. As the pioneers of tablet technology, Securus introduced the first corrections-grade tablet in 2011, revolutionizing how communication, entertainment, reentry, and educational resources are deployed in complex corrections environments, elevating efficiency in operations and stronger reentry outcomes. For more information, please visit https://www.aventiv.com/securus-technologies/ or follow us on social media on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook.

About Lexipol
For more than 20 years, Lexipol has been ensuring the well-being and effectiveness of the people who safeguard our communities — public safety professionals, first responders and local government employees. We're the unquestioned leader in providing public servants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to serve communities large and small. Our solutions include state-specific policies, accreditation services, online learning, wellness resources, grant assistance, and industry news and information. Lexipol serves more than 2 million public safety and government professionals in over 10,000 agencies and municipalities. For additional information, visit www.lexipol.com.

SOURCE Securus Technologies