Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Representatives from Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office Attends NDAA 2026 Wellbeing Conference
(ZANESVILE, OH)
Representatives from the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office recently attended the National District Attorneys Association’s (NDAA) 2026 Wellbeing Conference held in Burlington, Vermont. The conference, titled “Sustaining Purpose: Strategies for Prosecutorial Wellness, Resilience, and Long-Term Success,” brought together prosecutors and multidisciplinary professionals from across the country to focus on wellness, resilience, and maintaining longevity in the field of prosecution.
“All the team members in the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office are exposed to terrible traumas suffered by victims,” said Prosecutor Ron Welch. “The things we see and hear stay with us and if not managed correctly can result in burnout. For us to continue doing our jobs at a high level it is important to have the tools necessary to sustain our mental and physical wellbeing. Conferences such as this provide team members with the tools necessary to maintain a healthy work/life balance.”
Throughout the conference, attendees participated in interactive sessions and workshops focused on the unique challenges faced by prosecutors and criminal justice professionals working in high-stress environments. One of the challenges discussed that professionals face working in a prosecutor’s office include:
• Vicarious and Secondary Trauma – this type of trauma can cause justice professionals to experience a gradual shift in their worldview, fundamental beliefs, and sense of meaning after prolonged indirect exposure to traumatic events and graphic evidence such as domestic violence, sex crimes, child abuse and neglect, and homicides.
The training also emphasized how to recognize and prevent burnout as a result of being exposed to vicarious and secondary trauma.
Additionally, sessions highlighted practical ways offices can support employee wellbeing through workplace culture, wellness resources, peer support, and strategies aimed at promoting healthier and more sustainable work environments.
The conference provided an opportunity for attendees to connect with professionals from across the country while bringing back ideas and resources that can continue supporting staff wellness and professional growth within the office.
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