TACT-2 Training in Crisis Intervention

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TACT-2 Crisis Intervention Training
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An increasing number of INCREASINGLY disturbed children and youth are being placed in residential treatment centers, group homes, alternatives schools and other settings across the nation. Many staff in these agencies feel unprepared for the level of dysfunction and delinquency they see on a daily basis.

Therapeutic Aggression Control Techniques (TACT-2) is a crisis intervention training program designed for staff working with challenging youth with both emotional and conduct disorders. Since 1994, this training has reached over 25,000 staff in more than 22 states.

While TACT-2 includes professional training in physical interventions (see "Restraints" at left), its primary focus is upon preventing crisis. Staff do this best by understanding the source of youth aggression, and by acknowledging their own role in escalating problems.

1-DAY INTRODUCTORY TACT-2 COURSE
Staff in this course learn:
1.  How to distinguish between deliberate misbehavior and true emotional crisis, and respond accordingly.
2.  How to prevent deliberate misbehaviors with reasonable rules and consequences, and how to interfere with deliberate problems by giving fair warnings.
3.  How to prevent emotional crises by recognizing early warning signs, and how to de-escalate emotional problems with effective listening.
4.  How to recognize when we as staff are engaging in power struggles, and how to withdraw from them without completely losing face.
(5.  How to protect oneself from assault, and to assist when crisis support staff are physically handling a dangerous youth. Optional: Requires 2 additional hours.)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS INFORMATION IN pdf FORM.

2-DAY BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT TACT2 COURSE
Staff in this course learn:
1.  How to distinguish between deliberate misbehavior and true emotional crisis, and respond as a team using a therapeutic decision making model.
2.  How to understand the underlying causes of deliberate misbehaviors, and prevent them by creating positive, needs-fulfilling environments and by establishing clear, values-based rules.
3.  How to understand the underlying dynamics of emotional problems, and prevent them by de-escalating youth during early stages of crisis.
4.  How to recognize individual adult anger traps, and disengage from destructive power struggles without completely losing face.
5.  How to calm and counsel youth in emotional crisis by mastering the skills of giving space, active listening, and therapeutic problem solving.

6.  How to distract and manage youth who are deliberately misbehaving by mastering the skills of using reminders, fair warnings, and reasonable consequences.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS INFORMATION IN pdf FORM.

3-DAY FULL CRISIS INTERVENTION TACT2 COURSE
In addition to the skills above, staff in this course spend a 3rd day learning:
1.  How to identify situations which legitimately justify physical intervention.
2.  How to protect themselves from assaults (including grabs, chokes, headlocks, hair pulls, and bites, if needed) without harming youth.

3.  How to use standing holds (including bear hug holds, cradle holds, and double arm bar holds) to prevent youth from assaulting others or harming themselves.
4.  How to work with another trained staff to escort an agitated youth from an unsafe area.
5.  How to work with another trained staff to calmly and safely restrain a dangerously out of control youth using minimal force. Techniques taught include one seated team restraint and two supine (face up) team restraints.


CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS INFORMATION IN pdf FORM.

TACT-2 is COMPETENCY-BASED TRAINING
To receive TACT-2 verbal certification, staff trained in the 2-day Behavior Management TACT-2 course must demonstrate their skills by:
1.  Attending all sessions on time and in a professional manner.
2.  Completing all in class team and individual assignments accurately, including both workbook exercises and role play demonstrations of behavior management and listening skills.
3.  Completing a 6-page reading related to the content.
4.  Passing a written multiple choice test at the 80% level.

To receive TACT-2 full certification, staff trained in the 3-day Crisis Intervention TACT2 course must demonstrate their skills by:
1.  Successfully complete all the above criteria.
2.  Participate fully and safely in all physical training exercises, including realistic role play scenarios.
3.  Successfully demonstrate all physical techniques during a 10-minute individual skills test with an instructor.

Training of Trainers
Many agencies prefer to have their own senior staff certified as in-house TACT-2 Trainers, rather than hiring contract trainers to come in and train their staff. Prior training in TACT-2 is recommended, but not required.

OPTION 1: Attend a regional 4-day Training of Trainers, held several times per year in various locations around the country.  The fee is $750/person, including all materials.  Annual 1-day Trainer recertification is required to maintain current status ($150/person annually).   See the Train the Trainer page for more information.

OPTION 2: Contract for an onsite 4-day Training of Trainers to certify up to 16 of your staff.  The 2009-2010 fee is just $8,000, including all materials, or $500 each with a full group, plus reasonable travel expenses. 

OPTION 3: Contract for a onsite 3-day Basic Staff Training with a co-Trainer option, allowing up to 4 of your senior staff to certified as trainers in the process.  Requires a 4th day for Trainers.  The 2009-2010 fee is just $4,000 for the 3-day Basic Training, including all materials, PLUS $500 each for Trainers (min 2, max 4), plus reasonable travel expenses. 

To join a TACT-2 Training of Trainers, click HERE to visit the "Train the Trainer" page, where you may download a registration form for one of our upcoming 2010 regional trainings. At present, these include:

Baltimore, MD (BWI)
February 8-11, 2010 (M-Th)
CANCELLED: PLEASE REGISTER FOR MAY 24-27, 2010
Recert: February 11, 2010 (Thursday) CONFIRMED

Atlanta, GA
April 19-22, 2010 (M-Th)
8:30AM - 4:00PM daily
Recert: April 22, 2010 (Thursday) 

Baltimore, MD (BWI)
May 24-27, 2010 (M-Th)
8:30AM - 4:00PM daily
Recert: May 28, 2010 (Thursday)

Lincoln, NE
July 20-23, 2010 (T-F)
8:30AM - 4:00PM daily
Recert: July 23, 2010 (Friday)

Baltimore, MD (BWI)
Aug 9-12, 2010 (M-Th)

8:30AM - 4:00PM daily
Recert: Aug 13, 2010 (Friday)

Atlanta, GA
Sept 28 - Oct 1, 2010 (T-F)

9:00AM - 4:30PM daily


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More Information About TACT-2
The FAQ page at left provides answers to many common questions about the TACT-2 program. The downloads below offer a great deal of additional information in support of safety and quality training.

Please contact Dr. Steve Parese directly at (336) 593-3533 or SBParese@aol.com with any unanswered questions.


"I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a student's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a student humanized or de-humanized."
           -- Dr. Haim G. Ginott
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Dr. Steve Parese     •    SBP Consulting, Inc.     •   SBParese@aol.com

Helping Staff Be At Their Best When Kids Are At Their Worst