Miami Beach Police Department Pilot Nutrition Program

The holistic wellness program, STEPP, is based on the concept that overall wellness should encompass all facets of our lives. The acronym STEPP includes: Support Systems, Tactical Knowledge & Skills, Emotional Well-being, Physical Health and Personal & Financial Stability. One of the biggest obstacles first responders face is maintaining healthy nutritional habits. The Miami Beach Police Department in Florida was awarded a grant to create a six month nutrition pilot program. The purpose of the program was to help officers improve their nutritional knowledge and learn healthier eating habits, especially as they handle stressful calls, long hours, varying shifts and overall cumulative stress. Goal was to assess and evaluate this program in order to create a departmental nutrition program that could be combined with a physical fitness program.

  • Upon completion, the participant will be able to define the purpose of a nutrition program and why it is necessary for first responders.
  • Upon completion, the participant will be able to demonstrate how nutritional knowledge and healthy eating behaviors can be implemented in your wellness program designed to improve physical health.
  • Upon completion, the participant will be able to list the steps their department would need to take to implement a successful nutrition program ? including research, selection, implementation, cost analysis and evaluation.

Elise Spina-Taylor

Lieutenant/ Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Miami Beach, Florida, Police Department

Elise Spina-Taylor is currently employed with the City of Miami Beach Police Department. She has worked for the department for over 28 years, currently at the rank of Lieutenant assigned as the Commander of the Training Unit and Department Wellness Program. Elise was an investigator for over 18 years of her career assigned to Burglary/Property Crimes, Major Crimes, Internal Affairs (IA), and Commander of the Street Crimes Unit. While working full-time for the police department, Elise obtained her Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. Elise has developed and conducted training classes for first responders as well as in the corporate sector and educational institutions. Elise continues to utilize her education, clinical, and law enforcement experience as the commander and psychologist consultant of the Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT), the Peer Support Team, and the Miami Beach Wellness Program called S.T.E.P.P.

Noel Castillo, PhD

Officer/Training Unit

Miami Beach, Florida, Police Department

Ofc. Noel A. Castillo has worked in the law enforcement/correctional field for the past twenty-five years. As a police officer with a sound academic background, he has conducted and assisted with research in the areas of body worn cameras, officer wellness, use of force and juvenile issues. Noel has received awards for his work as a Hostage Negotiator, Training Officer and for the implementation of community outreach programs. Noel has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida International University, Master of Public Administration from Barry University, and a PhD in Criminal Justice from Nova Southeastern University. He is a US Army veteran.

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