The Correctional Officers Association of Delaware (COAD) is proud to serve as a co-host of the 1st Responder Mental Health & Wellness Conference, coming to Wilmington, Delaware, on September 14–15, 2026.

The two-day conference will be held from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, and will bring together first responders, public safety professionals, clinicians, peer supporters, leaders, and wellness advocates for two days dedicated to mental health, wellness, education, and connection.

Making Sure Corrections Has a Seat at the Table

For COAD, co-hosting this conference represents more than simply supporting another public safety event.

It represents our continued commitment to ensuring that correctional officers are recognized as first responders and that the unique mental health challenges facing correctional professionals are part of the larger public safety wellness conversation.

Correctional officers routinely work in high-stress environments characterized by violence, trauma, hypervigilance, mandatory overtime, staffing shortages, and cumulative exposure to critical incidents. Those experiences do not simply disappear when an officer walks out of the institution at the end of a shift.

The effects can follow officers home, impact their families, affect their physical and mental health, and ultimately influence the longevity of their careers.

COAD believes addressing those challenges requires more than acknowledging that they exist. It requires education, resources, strong leadership, peer support, access to qualified mental health professionals, and a culture where asking for help is viewed as a strength rather than a weakness.

Co-hosting the 1st Responder Mental Health & Wellness Conference is another opportunity for COAD to help move that mission forward.

Two Days Focused on First Responder Wellness

The conference is designed for professionals throughout the public safety community, including:

• Correctional officers and correctional professionals
• Law enforcement
• Firefighters
• EMS professionals
• 911 dispatchers and telecommunicators
• Military members and veterans
• Coroners
• Chaplains
• Retired first responders
• Spouses and family members
• Professional staff
• Clinicians
• Others who work in or around public safety

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in training while connecting with professionals from across disciplines who understand the unique realities of working in public safety.

A Certificate of Attendance will be offered upon completion of the conference, and Delaware EMS professionals will receive eight CEUs.

Registration also includes breakfast, lunch, a networking social, SWAG bag, and raffles.

COAD Member Vouchers Are Still Available

As part of COAD’s commitment to making mental health and wellness resources accessible to our membership, COAD still has a limited number of conference vouchers available for members interested in attending.

COAD members who would like to request a voucher should contact:

Secretary Amos Callaway
Amos.Coad@gmail.com

All voucher requests must be received no later than August 20, 2026.

Members requesting a voucher should include their name, facility/work location, and contact information in their email.

Because vouchers are limited, members interested in attending are encouraged to reach out as soon as possible.

Conference Information

1st Responder Mental Health & Wellness Conference

Dates: September 14–15, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Chase Center on the Riverfront
Address: 815 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Standard Registration: $400, plus registration platform fees
Late Registration: $420, plus registration platform fees

The conference is presented by 1st Responder Conferences and co-hosted by the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware.

Continuing to Advocate for Our Officers

COAD’s responsibility to our members extends beyond wages, benefits, working conditions, and representation. It also means advocating for the health and well-being of the correctional officers who report for duty every day to perform one of the most demanding jobs in public safety.

Mental health is an officer-safety issue.

It is a family issue.

It is a retention issue.

And it is an issue that the correctional profession can no longer afford to ignore.

By helping bring this conference to Delaware, COAD is working to ensure correctional officers are included in the first responder mental health conversation and have opportunities to access the education, resources, and support they deserve.

We encourage our members, public safety partners, and first responder community to join us in Wilmington this September.

COAD members interested in receiving a conference voucher must contact Secretary Amos Callaway at Amos.Coad@gmail.com by August 20, 2026.