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Thriving in the Trenches

September 14 | 2:00PM-3:30PM EST: Thriving in the Trenches

Few people would doubt that managing the interstate transfer of criminal offenders is stressful work. The stakes are high and challenging experiences can easily become an ordinary part of the workday. Then, in the blink of an eye, the world changed! With COVID-19, the daily challenges for offender, and ICAOS staff alike, suddenly went from ordinary to extraordinary! In these unprecedented times, managing stress is not just a luxury, it is a necessity! Thankfully, an exciting body of research has emerged in recent years that offers hope for these uncertain times. While stressful events can undoubtedly feel taxing and difficult in the moment, they can also bring people together, enhance empathy and compassion, improve performance under pressure, and even render a workforce stronger and more successful. This session will describe the research and provide practical strategies that can be implemented at work and at home (or when the two have become one in the same).

About the Speaker

Kirsten R. Lewis portrait

Kirsten R. Lewis, M.Ed., is a probation officer with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department (MCAPD); adjunct forensic psychology instructor at Glendale Community College; and president of KSL Research, Training & Consultation, LLC. Kirsten's adult probation experience includes assignments in standard field, domestic violence, and sex offender divisions. In addition, Kirsten has been a pre-sentence investigation officer, acting supervisor, and staff development trainer. She currently supervises a caseload of high-risk individuals sentenced to intensive probation in central Phoenix. With a background in research and over 28 years of experience in community corrections, Kirsten spearheaded a ground-breaking research study examining secondary traumatic stress in probation officers as a result of working with criminal offenders. Her research was published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice and received the 2013 Sam Houston State University Award for outstanding contributions to scholarship in Community Corrections. In addition, Kirsten created a national award-winning employee stress management program at MCAPD that prepares employees for the unique challenges of probation work, enhances protective coping strategies, minimizes the cumulative stress associated with longevity, and promotes a work culture that safeguards the welfare of staff. Kirsten conducts a variety of trainings on the topics of traumatic stress, peer support, and employee wellness with human service agencies around the country and has presented her work at conferences throughout the United States and abroad.

 

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