Operational Readiness for Corrections: Opioid Use Disorder Program

Equipping Correctional Officers & Facility Staff with Practical Skills to Respond to Opioid Use Disorder & Co-occurring Conditions

As a corrections professional, you face the ongoing challenges of managing individuals who may struggle with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions while maintaining order, safety, and security. This four-hour, online, self-paced course is designed specifically for correctional officers, supervisors, and facility staff to strengthen your ability to respond safely, effectively, and professionally to OUD-related incidents within custody settings. Learn proven strategies for de-escalation, recognizing signs of OUD, reducing risk, and connecting individuals to appropriate care and recovery resources.​
​The Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Program has approved 4 Hours of Continuing Education Credits upon completion of this course. Visit the Missouri POST Website to learn more.
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About the Program

This course prepares correctional professionals to confidently address the reality of the opioid crisis inside corrections facilities. With opioid-related incidents increasing nationwide, correctional staff must be equipped with practical, trauma-informed strategies that support both safety and rehabilitation. Across four focused modules, you’ll explore OUD fundamentals, co-occurring mental health conditions, overdose prevention and response, legal considerations, and de-escalation tactics designed for correctional settings.

By applying the CARE approach – Calm the Scene, Assess Behavior and Intent, Respond with Empathy and Structure, Engage Support and Follow Up – you’ll learn to manage high-stress encounters more effectively, strengthen communication, and foster a safer, more stable facility environment.

Enroll in the Operational Readiness for Corrections: OUD Program Today!

4 Modules Online ($450 Per Person)

  • Start today - conveniently self-paced learning!
  • Includes your Course Workbook & all course materials.
  • Engage in scenario-based exercises and real-world applications.
  • Earn your Certificate of Completion in just 4 hours!

Program Curriculum

Each module builds essential skills for handling OUD-related incidents and behavioral health challenges in custody. Using the CARE framework as a guide – Calm the scene and lower tensions, Assess behavior and intent, Respond with empathy and structure, Engage support and follow up - this course delivers real-world, actionable techniques for calming volatile situations, communicating with empathy and professionalism, and supporting recovery-based responses within the correctional environment.
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Included is the Operational Readiness for Corrections: OUD Power-Pack, featuring the course workbook, scenario-based exercises, eBooks, posters, quick-reference guides, and templates – all designed to reinforce learning and support everyday practice long after course completion.

Learning Objectives ​

​By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
  • Recognize signs of OUD and co-occurring mental health conditions among individuals in custody.
  • Understand how behavioral health challenges impact safety, stability, and rehabilitation.
  • Respond effectively to overdose and withdrawal emergencies within a facility.
  • Apply trauma-informed communication and de-escalation strategies appropriate for correctional settings.
  • Collaborate with internal and external partners to connect individuals to treatment and recovery resources.
  • Develop a CARE-based action plan for safe, structured crisis response.

Module 1 - Calm: Understanding OUD & Co-occurring Conditions Behind the Walls ​

Gain a clear understanding of OUD and the unique challenges it presents in custody. Learn how co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD influence behavior and how early recognition can prevent escalation.

Module 2 - Assess: Recognizing Risk & Reading Behavior

Sharpen your skills in recognizing the physical and behavioral signs of opioid use disorder and withdrawal. Practice assessing situations more clearly and avoiding common misinterpretations that can lead to unnecessary confrontation. Learn practical techniques to slow things down, use what you observe, and make safer, more informed decisions in the moment.​

Module 3 - Respond: Best Practices for Facility Collaboration

Explore why communication can make the difference between escalation and resolution. Learn how tone, body language, and instructions shape outcomes in high-stress situations. Discover one of the biggest traps officers face – power struggles – and apply calm, clarity, and leadership in practice.

Module 4 - Engage: Practical Application & Resource Utilization

Learn how to take CARE one step further — by engaging support, ensuring continuity of care, and strengthening the culture of your team. Focus on when and how to involve medical, mental health, or reentry specialists, and why what happens after a crisis matters just as much as what happens during it. Learn how CARE extends beyond individuals in crisis — it also applies to your colleagues and your facility culture.

Get Your Team Started Today!

Help your correctional team build the confidence and readiness to manage one of the most critical issues facing facilities today. This training gives officers and staff the tools to maintain safety, foster professionalism, and support recovery-centered approaches that improve both individual and organizational outcomes.​

Program Instructors & Content Experts

The esteemed faculty serving as content advisors and instructors for the "Operational Readiness for Police Officers: OUD" course are recognized experts in their fields. Whether their contributions come through teaching, creating innovative materials, mentoring students, or advising on course content, they bring a unique blend of vision, inspiration, and practical skills. Together, they challenge your thinking, enhance your performance, and help you excel in your role.

Thomas B. Smith, M.S.

​Sergeant - Crisis Response Team
Baltimore City Police Department

​​Thomas B. Smith is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over 20 years of experience and a strong educational background, holding both a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Johns Hopkins University. As Co-Founder and Training Consultant at Innovative Training Solutions LLC, Thomas develops comprehensive lesson plans and e-learning modules for police and public safety entities, with a special focus on supporting individuals with disabilities. He collaborates with organizations like Johns Hopkins University and The Arc of the United States to deliver high-quality training programs.
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In addition to his consultancy work, Thomas serves as a Sergeant in the Crisis Response Team at the Baltimore City Police Department, where he develops Crisis Intervention Team training and teaches at the Police Academy. He also co-chairs the Department of Justice Consent Decree Training Implementation Committee, working closely with community partners to provide effective crisis support services. Recognized for his leadership, Thomas has received several awards, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Officer of the Year Award and The Arc Public Service Award.​

Dawn N. Peake, M.S.

Co-Founder, Training Consultant
Innovative Training Solutions LLC

Dawn N. Peake is an accomplished educator and training consultant with over 15 years of experience in instructional leadership. She holds a Master of Science in Educational Technology and Leadership from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Towson University. As Co-Founder and Training Consultant at Innovative Training Solutions LLC, Dawn develops comprehensive lesson plans and e-learning modules for non-profit organizations and law enforcement agencies, with a focus on supporting individuals with disabilities in the criminal justice system.

In addition to her consulting work, Dawn serves as a Training Officer and Curriculum Specialist with the Baltimore City Police Department, where she writes and revises lesson plans for both entry-level and continuing education programs. She plays a key role in managing special training projects, including Crisis Intervention Training, and collaborates with community stakeholders to ensure the effectiveness of the curricula. Dawn’s passion for inclusive practices and her dedication to educational innovation make her a leader in her field.

Martin Bartness

Senior Principal  
Center for Management and Technical Assistance, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
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Martin Bartness is a Senior Principal at PERF in the Center for Management and Technical Assistance. With 25 years of service at the Baltimore Police Department, he retired as a Lt. Colonel/Deputy Chief of Patrol, overseeing operations across nine patrol districts. He also held executive roles, including Chief of Staff to the Police Commissioner and Commander of several key divisions. Martin worked closely with the Department of Justice to implement reform initiatives, focusing on policy, training, and accountability.

Throughout his career, Martin has been recognized for his leadership in crisis response, violence reduction, and police training. He developed transformative courses such as Ethical Policing Is Courageous (EPIC) and Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT). He holds multiple degrees, including an MPH from Johns Hopkins University, and continues to serve the community as Board Chair of Project Pneuma.

Greg Weber

Police Chief (Ret) 
Eden Prairie Police Department

With over 31 years experience, Chief Greg Weber served as a field-training officer, patrol corporal, patrol sergeant, liaison sergeant, ERU team leader and team commander, support lieutenant, patrol lieutenant, investigations lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief before his promotion to chief of police in 2018.

Weber earned a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Minnesota State University-Mankato, a master’s degree in police leadership, administration and education from the University of St. Thomas and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He currently maintains his Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) License and is a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT).

Seth Glass

Detective
Austin Police Department

Detective Seth Glass has over 12 years of experience in law enforcement, specializing in organized crime investigations. As a detective with the Austin Police Department, he has worked extensively in narcotics, gangs, and violent crime units. Detective Glass is also an experienced instructor in organized crime investigations, with a focus on undercover operations. He holds a BA in Political Science and Communications from the University of Nevada, Reno, and previously served as an Infantry Sergeant in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

Mike Fickel

Detective
Austin Police Department

Detective Mike Fickel has over 19 years of experience in law enforcement, working with narcotics enforcement related teams for the past 10 years. As a detective with the Austin Police Department, he has worked extensively in narcotics enforcement related teams for the past 10 years. Detective Fickel has also been tasked with investigating narcotics-related overdose deaths, which have primarily been associated with fentanyl overdoses.

Contact Us

​Take the next step today! Schedule a call with our program manager to explore how an exclusive training portal can be set up to benefit your entire department. Equip your team with the means to respond to the opioid crisis safely and effectively, while supporting individuals in crisis. Let's work together to ensure your officers are fully prepared for the challenges ahead.
Jodi Sporn
Program Manager
Email: ​[email protected]
Phone: 888.845.4131
Lauren Mastroianni
Program Manager
Email: ​[email protected]
Phone: 908.370.5299