The core competency model for corrections: An education program for managing self-directed violence in correctional...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Correctional Mental Health
• Suicide Prevention

Background:

• Self-directed violence (SDV), including suicide and self-injury, is a significant public health issue in correctional facilities.
• Correctional settings are a key focus for SDV reduction efforts by major professional organizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the Core Competency Model for Corrections (CCM for Corrections), an educational program designed to mitigate SDV in correctional environments.
• To introduce an evidence-based curriculum for correctional mental health providers, focusing on 10 SDV prevention competencies.

Main Methods:

• The CCM for Corrections program is grounded in the general CCM of Suicide Prevention.
• The curriculum covers clinical competencies (treatment plans, documentation) and provider-focused skills (attitude management, self-care).
• Social-cognitive theory underpins the model to identify mechanisms for enhancing SDV prevention skills.

Main Results:

• The article outlines considerations for the design and testing of the CCM for Corrections.
• Recommendations include utilizing community-academic partnerships, an SDV advisory panel, and selecting appropriate training modalities (in-person or online).
• The importance of measuring educational program outcomes is emphasized.

Conclusions:

• The CCM for Corrections presents a promising, evidence-based strategy for reducing and managing SDV within correctional settings.
• The model is well-suited for collaborative pilot testing to validate its effectiveness.