Correctional Officers Receive Behavioral Health Certification

MOUNTAIN CITY – This afternoon, ten Correctional Officers at the Northeast Correctional Complex (NECX) received their Correctional Behavioral Health Certification (CBHC) from the American Correctional Association (ACA).  This nationally recognized certification training is designed to ensure correctional staff is more knowledgeable and better prepared to interact with offenders who exhibit behavioral health issues.

Officers and staff who participate in the training undergo 40 hours of behavioral health training, which is augmented by a rigorous study of the ACA Behavioral Health Study Guide.  After the training, participants must complete a strenuous proctored test designed to validate their knowledge of national behavioral health standards and guidelines, legal and ethical principles, and relevant security regulations. The CBHC validates the role of correctional professionals associated with the provision of behavioral health and recognizes the high-level capabilities and accomplishments they’ve demonstrated in the field of correctional behavioral health.

“This is an incredibly valuable training and I applaud the 10 officers from NECX, as well as all the officers and staff from across the State that have undergone this training,” Warden Randy Lee said. “The more tools our officers and staff have at their disposal the better prepared they’ll be to manage the different populations we supervise.  That, in turn, creates a safer environment for our staff, offenders, and community.”

To date, 95 TDOC officers and staff have voluntarily completed the Correctional Behavioral Health Certification program, four of which received honors for receiving a 90 or above on their certification test.