Like those working in the military, law enforcement, emergency medicine and other first-responder careers, corrections professionals encounter stress and trauma that can have a pervasive, long-lasting impact on their lives.
As part of a series of department strategic initiatives, MODOC has re-focused the Employee Health and Safety Unit with renewed attention to promoting wellness and managing mental health and workplace stress.
The unit has launched a three-part model that aims to:
Prevent: Holistic wellness resources, services, programs and trainings designed to provide care and build resiliency in staff.
Respond: Resources and strategies designed to assist staff with unique occupational stressors.
Support: A culture that allows for ongoing support of staff, enhances their overall health and benefits their lives.
Missouri DOC employees have access to many support and wellness resources. Our teams work hard to organize on-site wellness activities, all-staff challenges, and promote awareness about existing internal and external resources. Please contact your Warden’s Secretary or Unit Supervisor if you have questions about activities and programs available in your area.
As a Department, we invest in programs and resources that are designed to help employees manage stress in positive ways and build resilience. Subscribe to the Work Well newsletter for wellness tips and the latest updates on programs and resources. Click to view an archive of previous newsletters.
Follow these links to jump to different resources:
For questions about specific resources, programs and all staff challenges:
Employee Health, Wellness & Safety
Asst. Division Director, VanDee Miller
VanDee.Miller@doc.mo.gov
573-526-6518
Employee Wellness
Wellness challenges, worksite amenities & events
Coordinator, Caitlin Rudolph, MBA
Caitlin.Rudolph@doc.mo.gov
573-522-3584
Employee Trauma Response
Manager- Meckenzie Hayes, MSW, LCSW
Meckenzie.Hayes@doc.mo.gov
DOC.TICTeam@doc.mo.gov
Employee Support Services
DOC.ESSTeam@doc.mo.gov
Employee Health Nurse Team
Coordinator, Amy Kitchens RN
Amy.Kitchens@doc.mo.gov
Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
Coordinator: Richelle McDowell
DOC.FMLA@doc.mo.gov
573-526-6488
This is a secure web-based employee self-service portal that is accessible only to State of Missouri employees or former State of Missouri Employees who have received a paycheck from the state within the last five years. This site does not contain information for Colleges and Universities.
The Department of Corrections is investing in staff wellness by providing each team member with a FREE annual subscription to Pause First Academy. Designed for MODOC employees by a team of first responders and veterans, this online holistic wellness resource aims to help corrections professionals build resilience. Courses cover mindfulness, meditation, yoga, nutrition and more. Work at your own pace, or join the trainers for live weeknight wellness webinars. New content is added each month. Email wellness@doc.mo.gov to request enrollment.
Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP), www.mchcp.org , provides coverage to employees and retirees of most state agencies, as well as public entities that have joined MCHCP. MCHCP is a separate, stand-alone state entity created by statute and organized under the direction of a 13-member board of trustees. We are driven by our vision to be recognized and valued by our members as their advocate in providing affordable, accessible, quality health care options.
Programs arranged by MCHCP include:
Other helpful videos about MCHCP and specific programs:
$28/month MULTI-Gym membership. Access by visiting Anthem.com and logging in to your personal profile. Log in to your anthem.com profile, click CARE, then DISCOUNTS, then Active & Fit Direct to enroll.
Sydney Health makes it easy to find doctors near you, get important information about benefits and claims, track your progress toward health goals and more. You can even get your member ID card right from Sydney.
Download the Sydney Health app today in the Google Play or Apple App Store!
Anthem BCBS Health Insurance members can access these FREE SUPPORT PROGRAMS in the sydney app:
The Strive Employee Life & Family ( SELF ) program ( part of MCHCP’s state Employee Assistance Program ) helps state workers reduce stress, improve health and enhance life balance. State employees eligible for Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) medical coverage, as well as
members of their households, may use the SELF program 24 hours a day. Members can access tips and resources on diet, exercise, anxiety, grief, managing finances, finding child care and more. Register online through GuidanceResources. If this is your first time logging into the Guidance Resources website, click “Register”, enter “MCHCP” as the organization Web ID, click on “Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan”, then complete the online registration form and follow the instructions to create your free account.
Employees and their household members can also reach a GuidanceResources Consultant at any time by calling 800-808-2261.
GuidanceNow℠, the SELF Mobile app, provides fast, easy access to your ComPsych employee assistance program and a wide array of health and well-being resources. On GuidanceNow℠ you can:
The department's peer support program, PACT, is made up of staff at each worksite or Probation and Parole region who are able to provide information, resources and confidential support to employees who experience personal or workplace stress or potentially traumatic events. PACT members are not mental health professionals; they are peers with personal experience and specialized training.
Any employee may contact or request to see a PACT member at any time.
PACT members will always:
Utilization of PACT is entirely voluntary. Members can provide a listening ear, assistance locating resources or services, information about Strive Employee Life and Family (SELF) and other supportive measures. PACT has representation in each DOC division, and has provided assistance to thousands of staff members since its inception in 2001. Anyone can become a PACT member, and we aim for our team to reflect the diverse population of employees within the department with respect to job class, age, race, and gender.
Who is my PACT member? How do I become a PACT member? Ask any supervisor, or locate the PACT team roster and nomination form on the PACT folder in the K: Drive.
The Department’s Employee Trauma Specialists are mental health professionals within the department who can:
The Employee Trauma Unit does NOT:
Interactions with the Employee Trauma Unit are free, voluntary, and confidential.
Meckenzie Hayes
Manager of Trauma Informed Employee Care
Meckenzie.Hayes@doc.mo.gov
573-526-3021
Employee Support Specialists are trained professionals who:
Employee support specialists won't: provide legal advice or advise employees in an investigation; provide counseling or mental health assessments; intervene or mediate job-related disciplinary action; or report information to anyone without informed consent, except mandated reporting cases.
To contact the Employee Support Services Team, reach out to your site’s assigned employee specialist, or email DOC.ESSTeam@doc.mo.gov.
MoDOC’s Post-Critical Incident Seminars (PCIS) offer a secure, 3-day, off-site setting for staff to share and process line-of-duty traumatic experiences.
Contact Steph Tandarich for more information:
Stephanie.Tandarich@doc.mo.gov
