By Joanna Putman
Corrections1
NEW YORK — The Correction Assistance Response for Employees (CARE) unit at the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) has been awarded a $180,000 grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center, according to a news release.
The grant, spanning two years, aims to enhance wellness programs for DOC staff, according to the release.
“Heroes work at the New York City Department of Correction, but the truth is, heroes need help, too,” DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie stated.
The grant will support cultural change, stress reduction and increased mental health acceptance initiatives as well as improved access to peer programs. The CARE unit, comprising various professionals, will undergo training in the NYS Office of Mental Health’s ‘CARES UP’ model.
This marks the third grant awarded to DOC in the past three months, according to the release. Officials say the series of grants emphasizes the commitment to addressing challenges faced by both staff and individuals in custody, including high-risk recidivism and mental health crises.