WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, INC. (FLCOA)
Welcome to The Florida Correctional Officers Association!
Creation Care or Stewardship Genesis 2:15: The Religious Nonprofit's Foundation for Responsibility
While a distinct organization, the Correctional Officers of America (COA) (of which FLCOA is a part or partner) explicitly uses a Christian mission in its stated goals, which can be extended to advocate for environmental action:
Direct Biblical Mandate:
The COA's mission statement encourages officers to "put on the full armor of God"(Ephesians 6:10) and is dedicated to the spiritual health and wellness of Correctional Officers. The broader Christian worldview links spiritual faith to practical action, particularly the concept of Creation Care or Stewardship (Genesis 2:15). A religious nonprofit has the responsibility to guide its members in applying these biblical principles to all areas of life, including the protection of God's creation, such as the unique and threatened Florida Keys ecosystem.
Community Health and Public Safety:
The mission of FLCOA is generally focused on supporting the personnel and services of the Department of Corrections in the interest of public safety. Environmental degradation in the Keys—from water quality issues to rising sea levels—threatens the safety, health, and economic stability of the local community, including correctional officers stationed there. By encouraging officers to participate in conservation, the organization is supporting the physical well-being and stability of the communities where their members live and work, aligning with its core mission of officer support and community partnership.
Holistic Wellness:
The COA mission is dedicated to the mental, physical, financial, and spiritual health and wellness of officers. In the Christian context, spiritual wellness often involves living a life that reflects God's values, which includes a concern for justice and the care of creation. By mobilizing officers for an environmental cause like saving the Keys, the organization provides a positive, purpose-driven outlet for service, which contributes to the mental and spiritual resilience of its members.
Practical Application to Saving the Florida Keys
Be Good Stewards: Apply the principle of biblical stewardship to their personal choices (e.g., responsible waste disposal, energy use) and public advocacy concerning Keys conservation, reef health, and water quality.
Use Law Enforcement Skills: Correctional officers are law enforcement officers (LEOs). Their training in adherence to law and public safety can be applied to supporting local conservation efforts, such as volunteering with marine debris cleanups, monitoring for illegal activities in marine sanctuaries, or simply promoting responsible boating and fishing practices among their peers.
Community Mobilization: The association can leverage its platform to organize or promote specific Keys conservation initiatives (like coral reef restoration or canal cleanup) as faith-based volunteer opportunities, connecting their members' professional identity and spiritual faith with tangible environmental action.
Save the florida keys 5k
The Florida Correctional Officers Association (FLCOA) will serve the Florida Keys community by hosting a "Save The Florida Keys 5K" in three key ways: fundraising, community engagement, and promoting officer wellness and public safety. First, the event will function as a powerful fundraising mechanism, ensuring that all proceeds are directly channeled to critical local conservation efforts, such as supporting vital coral reef restoration projects, marine debris cleanup, or scientific research into water quality that is essential for the Keys' ecosystem. Second, the 5K will drive community engagement by providing a highly visible platform for correctional officers, their families, and local citizens to unite for a common cause.
This action reinforces the FLCOA's role as a dedicated community partner, moving beyond its institutional focus to visibly invest in the ecological stability and long-term health of the region. Finally, hosting a physical, purpose-driven event directly contributes to promoting officer wellness and public safety; it encourages physical fitness among personnel and provides a positive outlet for service, thereby enhancing the mental resilience and overall stability of the officers who are integral to the community's security.
