ABOUT US
About the Author, Dr. Steve Parese
Dr. Steve Parese has been an educator since 1986, teaching and developing programs for populations with special needs in a variety of therapeutic, community, and correctional settings. He is the founder of SBP Consulting, a small consulting firm which conducts training and technical assistance to agencies serving troubled individuals across the nation.
Steve received his Doctorate from George Washington University, and holds degrees from American and Cornell Universities as well. He has written over a dozen articles and programs, and has spoken at national, international, and regional conferences for at-risk youth, formerly incarcerated people, and welfare to work individuals throughout the world.
Steve was born in Germany, but grew up in the rural Mohawk Valley of Upstate New York. For the past 25 years, Steve and his wife Carolyn have lived in the small mountain town of Danbury, North Carolina, just 30 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are active in their church and community, and are blessed with two sons, two daughters-in-law, and six amazing grandchildren.
About the program, TACT2
Evolution of TACT2: The TACT2 program is based on over 20 years of research, development, field testing and use in group homes, emergency shelters, hospitals, residential treatment centers, wilderness camps, after school programs, and public or alternative schools. The original form of TACT was developed in 1994, with significant changes made to both verbal and physical intervention components in 1997 (hence TACT2). In 2006, in response to growing concern nationwide regarding the dangers of positional asphyxia, the prone takedown was replaced with seated and supine techniques.
Grounded in Theory: The practical works of William Glasser (Reality Therapy/Choice Theory) and of George Sugai & Robert Horner (Positive Behavior Support) have informed TACT2’s conceptualization of deliberate misbehavior. The inspirational works of Nicholas Long & Frank Fecser (Life Space Crisis Intervention) and of Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, & Steve VanBockern (Circle of Courage) have contributed greatly to our approach to emotional crisis. I have also been deeply influenced by Sandra Bloom’s research on trauma-informed care, and Nadine Burke-Harris' work on ACEs, which have helped our field see traumatized children and youth as injured rather than ill.
​
Physical Techniques: The TACT2 physical skills are derived largely from commonly practiced wrestling and self-defense techniques. While no blanket guarantees can be made, these highly effective techniques have been carefully engineered to protect the safety and dignity of both youth and staff. They have been adapted for the TACT2 program with the expert assistance of a trusted martial artist and a wrestling coach in Virginia, and modified as needed based on years of feedback.
​
Gratitude for Contributions: My thanks to the hundreds of dedicated TACT2 trainers who have skillfully delivered this program over the years, many of whom have contributed to its evolution over the past two decades. In particular, I wish to thank a number of talented individuals for their input and contributions to the current version of the program:
Chris Wolfel, Colonial Intermediate Unit #20, Easton, PA
Lynn Elliot, A2Z Strategies, Baltimore, MD
Teresa Lyons, Health Recovery Services, Athens, OH
Marit Westrich, Independent, Sioux City, IA
Leadership team, OmniVisions, Nashville, TN
Carolyn Parese, my wife, partner, and proofreader