🎙️ Welcome to Healthy Happy Wise Wealthy (HHWW)! In this compelling episode, host Mary Meyer sits down with Dr. Davena Longshore, Executive Director of Research, Operations, and Development at the Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health. With a powerful blend of lived experience and deep academic expertise in trauma, policing, and correctional psychology, Dr. Longshore opens up about her journey working in high-security prisons, her pivotal role in law enforcement wellness research, and her mission to bridge divides between law enforcement and marginalized communities. Recorded on Juneteenth, this episode is an honest, nuanced conversation about institutional trauma, empathy, bias, police mental health, and the complex roots of systemic challenges—plus, real-world solutions and hope for change.

🌟 Topics Covered: -Dr. Davena Longshore’s background in correctional psychology and trauma -The origins and mission of the Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health -Wellness and mental health programs for law enforcement -The intersection of race, bias, and policing in America -Personal trauma and its impact on work in corrections and policing -Challenges and resistance to implementing mental health programs for police -Understanding the role of implicit bias and schemas in human behavior -Community-driven solutions to law enforcement and public trust -Best practices for bridging divides and creating officer/community wellness programs

Key Takeaways: -Empathy and trauma-informed care are essential in high-stress professions like corrections and policing, but they come with significant personal cost. -Acknowledging and addressing historical and systemic biases is crucial for real reform in law enforcement practices. -Programs aimed at officer wellness must also address masculinity norms, depression, PTSD, and substance use among officers—and should come from inside communities themselves. -Entrenching oneself in the lived experience of “the other”—whether that’s law enforcement or marginalized groups—can break down bias and foster understanding. -Positive, community-based policing—where officers become true members of the community—reduces crime, enhances trust, and creates real human connections.

Some Questions I Ask: -Can you share about the Cummings Foundation’s origins and mission in behavioral health? -What was it like working in a level four double-max security facility, and how did it shape your empathy and understanding of trauma? -How does trauma impact the personalities and home lives of corrections staff and law enforcement? -What are the systemic barriers to officer wellness, and how are your programs confronting resistance from police forces and communities? -How can people recognize and address their implicit biases—both inside and outside of law enforcement settings? -What are some real-world examples where community policing and wellness programs have made a measurable difference? -For listeners who want to bring these programs to their own communities, where should they start?

Learn More About Our Guest: -Connect/Get Support/Collaborate: Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health – https://cummingscfbh.org -Contact: info@cummingscfbh.org (general inquiry – see website)

Resources List: -Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: https://cummingscfbh.org -Harvard Implicit Bias Tests: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/ (for testing your own biases) -American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/ -American Academy of Clinical Psychology: https://www.aacpsy.org/ -Society for Criminal and Police Psychology: https://www.scpdchiefs.org/ -Community Policing Resources (examples mentioned): [General reference, check your local community policing programs]
— Follow and subscribe for more stories that inspire healing, growth, and solutions for a healthier, happier, wiser, and wealthier world. Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook @HealthyHappyWiseWealthy.

If you’d like to bring law enforcement wellness programs to your area, or to support community healing, visit https://cummingscfbh.org or email the foundation for more information.