Online Course: Sustaining and Supporting Well-Being in Public Defense

INSTRUCTOR LED COURSE DATES AND TIME:

Group Meeting on Zoom  (75 mins)
Mondays 9/15/25 – 12/8/25
10 am – 11:15 am  Eastern / 1:00 – 2:15 pm Pacific Time
Material to Review for Each Week  (1 hour)

Price;  $250 NAPD Members / $350 Non Members   You will continue to have access to the entire course after the completion of the small group sessions.

Deadline to register –  September 8, 2025

NOTE: California defenders can register for FREE through the Office of the State Public Defender at this link.

Once a year, the Office of the State Public Defender of California and the National Association for Public Defense jointly offer the instructor led ten-week version of the course Sustaining and Supporting Well-Being in Public Defense, created by Jenny Andrews and co-facilitated by faculty from around the country.

This ten-week course is intended for anyone working in indigent defense in any job category who would like to increase their tools and strategies to sustain their own well-being and support the well-being of other defenders. Working in public defense has very real impacts on our well-being. Though we must maintain our physical and mental health in order to provide high quality and client-centered representation to the people we represent, we must also navigate the impacts of exposure to trauma, occupational stress, and overworking.

Participants in this course will develop individual strategies to sustain well-being, community care strategies to create public defense culture supportive of well-being, and strategies to advocate for systemic transformation. This course is available on demand, to complete on your own schedule, or as an instructor led weekly course.

9/15/25     The value and importance of well-being. Working in the three spheres self-care, community care,
and system transformation.
9/22/25     The unique challenges of public defense work: Self-assessment and goals.
9/29/25     Motivation, identity, and boundaries.
10/6/25     The impacts of trauma exposure. Trauma informed public defense practice.
10/13/25   Building community care. Building supportive culture. Reducing moral injury.
10/20/25   Agency assessment and strategic planning for well-being.
10/27/25   Building systems that support well-being through leadership, training, and mentorship.
11/3/25     System transformation: External communication, media, budget advocacy.
11/17/25    System obstacles and strategies.
12/1/25     Conclusion. Future plans and goals. Celebration.

PLUS Optional Debrief/Feedback session 12/8/25