Guiding Today. Shaping Tomorrow.
A conference lasts only a few days, but the relationships formed there can influence a career for years to come.
That is the heart of the NCCHC Foundation’s Mentor Program.
Each scholarship recipient attending an NCCHC conference is paired with an experienced correctional health professional who volunteers their time to welcome, encourage, and guide them. Whether introducing a scholar to colleagues, discussing career paths between educational sessions, or simply offering encouragement over coffee, mentors help transform a conference experience into the beginning of a professional journey.
For scholars, having a mentor provides more than a friendly face—it offers access to knowledge, perspective, and a professional network that can last well beyond the conference.
For mentors, it’s an opportunity to give back to a profession that has shaped their own careers while investing in the next generation of correctional health care leaders.
As our 2026 theme reminds us, Shaping Tomorrow, Today begins with investing in people.
More Than a Pairing
While each scholar is matched with a designated mentor, the true strength of the program is the correctional health care community itself.
We encourage scholars to connect with as many experienced professionals as possible throughout the conference. Every conversation offers an opportunity to learn, ask questions, exchange ideas, and build relationships that can inspire a lifetime of service.
Likewise, mentors often discover that they gain just as much from the experience as the scholars they support.
Why Our Mentors Volunteer
“The most influential experiences in my career came from people who took the time to mentor me. That’s why I volunteer and encourage others to volunteer as NCCHC mentors; these interactions can open doors, build confidence, and change the trajectory of someone’s career.” — Seaaira Reedy, Psy.D., CCHP-MH, Centurion Health
“Mentoring is an opportunity to pay it forward and make a difference. It’s exciting to hear from eager early career professionals about their motivations for working in correctional help and to share creative solutions and lessons learned. I always learn something new from mentees and often get to stay in touch with the next generation of correctional health leaders.” — Alison O. Jordan, LCSW, ACOJA Consulting LLC
Help Shape Tomorrow
Mentoring is one of the many ways experienced professionals can help strengthen the future of correctional health care.
The NCCHC Foundation is also expanding opportunities through its National Workforce Development Hub, which connects volunteers interested in serving as mentors, preceptors, and other workforce development champions. Whether you’re guiding a scholar at conference or mentoring a student during a clinical rotation, your experience can help inspire the next generation of correctional health professionals.
Ready to Make a Difference? Become a Mentor or Preceptor
Because every accomplished professional can point to someone who opened a door, offered encouragement, or believed in their potential. Thank you to the mentors who continue to do that for others—one conversation, one connection, and one future at a time.
Visit the NCCHC Foundation’s National Workforce Development Hub to learn more about volunteer opportunities and help shape tomorrow’s correctional health care workforce.
