Crisis Consultant Group, LLC

Comparison of Crisis Consultant Group, LLC Facing Emergencies And Reacting, Crisis Intervention Training™ with: Child Welfare League of America, Best Practice Guidelines; Behavior Support And Intervention Training, © 2004

Child Welfare League of America Inc.
Headquarters
440 First Street, NW, Third Floor
Washington, DC. 20001-2085

With efforts to ensure only the most progressive, professional and effective training standards are met, we have conducted a comparison of our training courses to some of the recommendations made by the nations oldest, and largest membership based child welfare organization, (CWLA) and their “Training Program Assessment Tool”. This guide may be found in their publication mentioned above, and is strongly encouraged to be used when determining which Crisis Intervention Training vendor you may choose. Read on to see how CCG training compares to many of the training content standards recommended:

Read on to see how CCG training compares to many of the training content standards recommended:

1. Does the vendor have a solid commitment to reduction and eventual discontinuation of restraint and seclusion?: Yes. As with many organizations and human service providers, CCG believes that using restraint and seclusion only serves as a temporary fix to situations, which does not effectively reduce or solve behavioral issues for the future, and may in fact be more detrimental to the individual in crisis. Therefore, our training focuses on using all other methods of safe intervention, while avoiding mechanical restraints.
2. Does the vendor support healthy relationship building between staff and clients?: Yes. CCG believes that the intrapersonal connections, and professional relationships made between the staff and clients found in an organization is one of the most powerful steps in the elimination of aggressive, or out of control incidents. Sections of our curriculum specifically cover building rapport, and how professional relationships can affect crisis behavior.
3. Does the vendor training cover topics related to behaviors, symptoms, and disorders related to clients served?: CCG training covers many topics, in addition to learning about the precursors to aggressive behavior. The training also covers specific symptoms, and certain behavioral antecedents that may encourage a client to express dangerous behaviors as a result.
4. Does the vendor teach staff personal awareness of how interaction and individual personality type may affect behavioral support and interventions?: Yes. CCG spends a great deal of time discussing staff behavior in regards to crisis situations. We believe that it is imperative that each staff member identify their own preconceived judgments, stereotypes, and other possible barriers to effective intervention, and teach ways to avoid such situations from occurring. Prior to understanding a clients behavior, we must understand and have a basic understanding of our own.
5. Does the vendor teach the risks of physical restraint and intervention, as well as the following associated risks:: Intervention associated injury, Environmental risks, Psychological risks, Staff psychological risks, Cultural risk, Prohibited practice, Physical escorts, Prone restraints, Seated restraints, Standing restraints, Supine restraints, Seclusion, Escape and evasion, Duration of physical intervention, Justification of use / when, how, why

Yes. CCG fully covers these risks and others to provide staff members with the full understanding of the dangers inherently found whenever an individual goes to intervene during a crisis. CCG takes great pride in being one of the only programs that does not endorse, nor teach physical intervention techniques that place individuals on the ground in either supine or prone positions as we believe they are very dangerous and unnecessary. Nor do we teach techniques that are based on pain compliance, joint manipulation, awkward, or off balance positions. (For further details please go to the "FAQ’s" page on this site) CCG believes that physical intervention is the “last-resort”, and thus trains individuals in how to find alternatives to aggressive behavior, rather then rushing to physical intervention.
6. Does the vendor have data collection and sample forms?: Yes. When requested, CCG will provide your participants with sample forms to use to gain critical data, and related information in order to better track and identify crisis behavior and responses within your organization over a set period of time.
7. Does the vendor provide training on the following topics:: Listening and Communication skills, Use of de-escalation in accordance with behavioral support planning, Staff Stabilization of the environment, Staff / Organization understanding of environment and de-escalation, Staff stress management / Using peer support, Negotiation Tactics, Allowing individuals in crisis to “save face” during interventions, Use of non-physical interventions, Voluntary escort, Time outs / Difference of time out from seclusion, Emergency Physical Interventions taught with competency testing

Yes. CCG effectively covers all of these topics thoroughly and has competency based testing to ensure full understanding by all participants.
8. Does the vendor cover these topics having to do with physical interventions:: Monitoring client for signs of injury, distress, danger, Ensuring that physical intervention is observed by an outside individual not directly involved in the incident, Understanding of how to return physical environments back to normal functioning after crisis incidents, Minimizing the likelihood of future occurrences, Ensuring accurate documentation of the incident in compliance with organizational policies and procedures, Ensuring any and all medical or physical problems as a result of the intervention are attended to by proper support staff, Debriefing the individual after the crisis, Observation of individuals emotional status after the Incident / Ongoing / Continual, Preparing individual for re-entry if appropriate, Debriefing Staff

Yes. In addition to covering these topics we also cover many others mentioned here in the courses section of this site.
9. Does the vendor provide participant manuals, resources, and bibliographies?: Yes. All participants will receive their own training manuals in addition to other various training materials to aid in the learning process. Full bibliographies are also made available to allow for further follow on research should a participant choose to do so.
10. Is at least half of the vendors training program devoted to prevention, verbal de-escalation, and other non-physical intervention skills?: Each of our courses spends a minimum of 6, to a maximum of 30 hours of instruction on non-physical aspects of crisis intervention, depending on which training option is chosen. Our Beginner Course only covers non-physical intervention skills and techniques for those organizations and individuals that do not wish to learn physical intervention skills at all. Please click here to learn more about the benefits of each course.
11. Does vendor retrieve informed consent forms, in addition to having a written description of training prior to the course start? Does the vendor also provide opportunities for participants to ask questions about the training?: Yes. CCG has individual release forms which clearly document all necessary requirements of the training. Additionally, CCG offers a “Participant Guidelines” form which is sent to each organization prior to the actual training date. This allows all prospective organizations and individuals to show up on the first day of training having a full understanding of what is to be expected. Also, in every section of the training program there are question and answer periods provided to ensure full comprehension of materials covered.
12. Does the vendor have pairs of trainers conduct the training?: Yes. The Beginner Course, or the SOLVE Workshop™ may be taught by one Master Instructor, due to the fact that no physical techniques are included in the curriculum. The Advanced and Train- The-Trainer Course, are taught by a minimum of 2 instructors to ensure safety, and enhance the learning experience through multi-day training.
13. Does the vendor offer a “Train the Trainer” option?: Yes. Please see our Train-the-Trainer page for further explanation.
14. Does the vendor offer refresher courses in order to remain certified and avoid “training drift?": Yes. CCG is one of the only programs available that offers a Free* 6 month refresher course for all in house “Certified Trainers”. CCG instructors will return to your facility and provide this refresher for prior certified trainers upon request. All of our training courses require annual recertification to ensure that minimal training drift occurs, and that competency levels are maintained every year. We believe that one class in a year is a minimum at least, though all students and organizations are urged to continually practice the skills and techniques taught in our courses to maintain proficiency throughout the year. *(Travel charges will be added for travel required by CCG Master Instructors)
15. Does the vendor maintain accurate records of those participants certified, while maintaining all documentation of informed consent and copies of certificates?: Yes. CCG maintains all copies of documentation, testing, releases, certifications, and provides free training rosters to every organization annually, and upon request for their licensing or accreditation requirements.
16. Does the vendor have documentation of all trainers and their experience and qualifications?: Yes. We are happy to provide this information upon request. We are proud and confident in our Instructors. CCG would not risk staff, or client lives by entrusting anyone other then highly experienced and professional persons to present our courses.
17. Does the vendor have a process in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the training content?: Yes. We collect Pre and Post Training Evaluations from each participant to ensure that our content information is accepted as highly effective, professional, and appropriate to the participants and their organizations. Copies of these evaluations are available upon request.

This comparison lists what we believe as the most important factors in comparing our training to the CWLA checklist as mentioned above. By making this comparison, we do not make any claims to say that we are endorsed, affiliated, or in partnership with the CWLA. We simply believe that their recommendations can be used as an effective guideline when making determinations on which crisis intervention training vendor you choose.