How it works

Confidential support, built around the realities of the job

Off The Record is a confidential support network and wellness infrastructure for corrections, law enforcement, military, and other public safety professionals. Through participating organizations, staff gain access to facilitator-led venting sessions, practical resources, confidential check-ins, on-demand tools, and crisis support information within one independent platform. Staff get support they can trust. Organizations gain a clearer understanding of where support may be needed, without access to individual conversations or activity.

A first responder in a calm, private one-on-one conversation with a peer supporter

The OTR model

One network. Four parts that work together.

Structured Venting Sessions

Confidential, facilitator-led group sessions bring together people in similar roles, ranks, or stages of the job. Staff can talk openly, listen to others, or simply be present. Trained, neutral facilitators maintain clear ground rules, balanced participation, and a productive close.

Practical Support On Demand

Members can access short videos, confidential check-ins, grounding and sleep tools, practical resources, and crisis support information when they need them. Everything is created specifically for corrections, law enforcement, military, and other public safety professionals.

Independent by Design

OTR operates separately from participating employers and agencies. OTR does not provide organizations with individual conversations, check-in responses, participation details, or platform activity. Limited safety and legal exceptions are explained before participation.

Workforce Insight Without Individual Exposure

Depending on the services selected, organizations may receive broad, de-identified themes and aggregate engagement information. No names. No individual statements. No reports identifying who participated. Insights are shared only when enough information is available to protect individual privacy.

Flexible by design

Built around what your organization already has

Some organizations already have trusted peer teams, chaplains, EAP services, wellness programs, one-to-one support pathways, or resources their staff use. Others need a more complete system. OTR can provide the platform, organize and deliver your existing offerings, combine them with our resources and support network, or help build the full wellness infrastructure.

Add the Platform

Bring your existing programs, contacts, videos, training, resources, and support pathways into one private, organized, easy-to-access hub.

Blend Yours With Ours

Keep the services and resources that are already working, then add OTR venting sessions, check-ins, on-demand tools, practical programming, and facilitator training.

Use the Full OTR System

OTR can provide the platform, programming, venting-session structure, facilitator training, implementation support, and ongoing program development.

You do not have to replace what works to add what is missing.

From setup to ongoing support

How OTR works for your organization and your staff

  1. 1

    Build the Right Fit

    We begin with what your organization already offers, where the gaps are, and what your workforce needs. Choose the platform, selected OTR services, a blend of existing and OTR resources, or the complete infrastructure.

  2. 2

    Launch a Private Network

    OTR configures a dedicated support environment for your organization while remaining separate from workplace systems. Staff receive clear access instructions, privacy information, available session options, resources, support pathways, and crisis information.

  3. 3

    Give Staff Multiple Ways to Engage

    Staff can join a confidential venting session, watch a short video, complete a check-in, try an on-demand tool, or connect with support options already available through their organization. No one is required to speak during a session. Staff may share, listen, or take time to become comfortable with the space.

  4. 4

    Turn Patterns Into Better Support

    Depending on the selected reporting model, designated organizational leaders may receive broad, de-identified themes showing common pressures, emerging needs, and possible gaps in support. These insights are designed to improve organizational awareness and guide support efforts, not monitor or evaluate individual employees.

Privacy with a purpose

Staff stay protected. Their needs still get heard.

OTR gives staff room to speak honestly while helping organizations better understand what their workforce may be carrying.

What Stays Private

  • Individual participation
  • Session conversations
  • Check-in responses
  • Individual platform activity
  • Names and identifying details
  • Direct statements or quotations

What Organizations May Receive

  • Aggregate participation or engagement totals
  • Broad, de-identified workforce themes
  • Common areas of pressure or concern
  • Resource and support gaps
  • Program-level trends over time
  • Recommendations for strengthening available support

Aggregate insights are reported only when there is enough information to protect individual privacy.

Protect the individual. Hear the workforce. Strengthen the organization.

The research behind the model

Structure is what makes the difference

Simply giving people a place to rant is not the OTR model.

Why venting alone falls short

Research does not support the idea that repeatedly expressing anger automatically makes it disappear. Unstructured ranting and rumination can keep people activated or reinforce anger rather than help them move through it.

What structure changes

OTR sessions are structured, time-bounded, and led by trained, neutral facilitators. Clear ground rules prevent personal attacks, repetitive spirals, reckless talk, and sessions that become nothing more than complaint meetings, moving the conversation from release toward reflection, connection, grounding, useful resources, and an appropriate close.

One part of a broader strategy

Public-safety peer-support guidance similarly emphasizes specially trained peers, clear policies, confidentiality standards, professional referral pathways, ongoing training, and program evaluation. Peer support is positioned as one part of a broader wellness strategy, not a substitute for professional care.

Ashley Miller, PMHNP-BC
Research and program design are led by Ashley Miller, PMHNP-BC, Chief Program Officer and correctional psychiatric provider with 10 years of correctional experience. She is currently completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, with advanced training in evidence-based practice, program implementation, and outcomes evaluation.

Ready to bring OTR to your organization?

Thirty minutes to review your current support system, where the gaps may be, and whether OTR is the right fit.