Frequently Asked Questions

CPI training refers to evidence-based de-escalation and crisis intervention programs provided by Crisis Prevention Institute, the world's leading provider in this field. These comprehensive training programs equip staff with essential skills to reduce challenging behavior and help prevent future incidents.

CPI training programs extend beyond a single approach and include various specialized courses designed to address different workplace needs and situations. The training focuses on developing de-escalation techniques that staff can immediately apply in their work environments.

The training delivers measurable impact through CPI's train-the-trainer model, where organizations have their own Certified Instructors who conduct ongoing trainings using CPI courses and materials. This embedded approach ensures continuous skill development and reinforcement within the organization.

CPI training creates several key outcomes for organizations: it establishes a safe environment, provides staff with a common language for crisis intervention, and significantly boosts staff confidence challenging and disruptive behaviors.

Over 17 million individuals have been trained in CPI's de-escalation techniques and are making measurable impacts on workplace safety. This extensive reach demonstrates the proven effectiveness of CPI's evidence-based methodology in diverse organizational settings.

CPI stands for Crisis Prevention Institute. Since 1980, the Crisis Prevention Institute has been the world's leading provider of evidence-based de-escalation training and crisis prevention programs.

Crisis Prevention Institute is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. The US headquarters is located at 10850 W. Park Place, Suite 250, Milwaukee, WI 53224.

While CPI maintains six locations across the globe to serve organizations worldwide, the Milwaukee facility serves as the primary headquarters for this international training organization that has been committed to reducing workplace violence since 1980.

Yes, CPI offers comprehensive international training programs across multiple continents. As the world's leading provider of evidence-based de-escalation training, CPI has established a global presence to serve organizations worldwide.

CPI delivers training internationally through both Global Professional Instructors (GPIs) and a train-the-trainer model. Our Global Professional Instructors are dedicated CPI employees whose sole purpose is to train your nominated staff members to become Certified Instructors within your organization. These Certified Instructors then conduct ongoing trainings using CPI courses and materials for their colleagues.

CPI serves organizations in numerous countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates. Our international training programs are adapted to meet local regulatory requirements and cultural contexts while maintaining the same evidence-based methodology that has made CPI the global standard.

The training is available for diverse sectors internationally, including health care facilities, educational institutions, correctional facilities, behavioral health organizations, government agencies, and corporate environments. CPI's international programs ensure that organizations worldwide can access the same high-quality de-escalation and crisis intervention training that has equipped over 17 million individuals globally.

For organizations interested in international training, CPI provides consultation services to determine the most appropriate program configuration based on your specific location, industry requirements, and organizational needs.

Organizations have achieved substantial, measurable results after implementing CPI training across multiple key areas.

Quantifiable Improvements:

• 89% of schools improved staff skills and confidence
• 74% of health care facilities reduced challenging behavior
• 58% of organizations reduced workers' compensation claims by more than one-third

Organizational Benefits:
Organizations implementing CPI training across their entire staff experience quicker and more consistent crisis responses, increased staff retention and job satisfaction, better cross-departmental collaboration and communication, and more effective training outcomes for Certified Instructors.

Specific Success Stories:
Notable achievements include a 90% increase in staff retention at Braun Educational Center, 18,000 staff trained at Duke University Health System, and an 85% reduction in safety interventions at Hillside of Atlanta.

Sector-Specific Outcomes:

Education: Reduced misconduct, fewer fights and assaults, improved staff understanding, enhanced student success, increased staff confidence, decreased classroom disruptions, and stronger positive peer-to-peer relationships.

Correctional Facilities: Decreased staff injuries, reduced compensation liability from injury claims, decreased use of force, and improved connections between staff and residents.

Health Care: Improved staff satisfaction, increased staff and patient safety, enhanced proactive communication techniques, better staff debriefing processes, and improved retention of quality staff.

Since 1980, CPI has helped train more than 17 million people in evidence-based crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques, creating sustainable impact across organizations worldwide.

CPI training reduces workplace violence incidents through evidence-based de-escalation techniques and comprehensive crisis prevention strategies. The training equips staff with specific skills to manage disruptive and aggressive behavior before situations escalate into violence.

Measurable Results from CPI Training:
Real-world outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of CPI's approach. CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico achieved a 65% reduction in workplace violence incidents within two years of implementing system-wide CPI training. The hospital trained 90 associates across 10 departments in just 90 days, creating a cultural shift that increased staff confidence and readiness to de-escalate situations.

How CPI Training Creates Impact:
CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® and Verbal Intervention™ Training programs provide staff with practical techniques and tools to prevent incidents before they occur. The training builds staff confidence, enabling even non-clinical personnel to step in and effectively de-escalate challenging situations.

The programs use trauma-informed approaches that align with person-centered care philosophies, ensuring techniques are both effective and compassionate. CPI's train-the-trainer model embeds expertise directly within organizations through Certified Instructors, making ongoing training and skill reinforcement sustainable.

Additional Benefits:
Beyond reducing violence incidents, CPI training creates safer environments for both staff and those they serve, improves workplace relations, and reduces liability exposure. Organizations consistently report that CPI training becomes a cultural cornerstone, fundamentally changing how staff approach challenging situations.

Yes, CPI^® training can significantly reduce workers' compensation claims. Our evidence-based programs demonstrate measurable impact in this area.

Across organizations, 58% of facilities reduced workers' compensation claims by more than one-third after implementing CPI training. In behavioral health care specifically, the results are even more substantial, with 69% of facilities cutting workers' compensation claims by 20% or more.

The reduction in workers' compensation claims stems from multiple factors that CPI training addresses. Organizations report decreased staff injuries, reduced need for restraint and seclusion, and increased staff and patient safety. When staff are better equipped with de-escalation techniques and crisis prevention skills, they experience fewer workplace injuries that lead to compensation claims.

Real-world examples demonstrate this impact. Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility in Montana experienced both a decrease in staff injuries compared to their three-year average and a decrease in compensation liability from staff injury claims. Similarly, Baptist St. Anthony's Health System saw reduced worker compensation claims as part of their overall safety improvements.

The person-centered and trauma-informed approaches embedded in our training programs create safer work environments where staff feel more confident and prepared to handle challenging situations, ultimately leading to fewer incidents that result in workers' compensation claims.

CPI training demonstrates significant positive impacts on staff retention and burnout reduction across organizations. Evidence shows that implementing CPI training programs leads to measurable improvements in staff stability and workplace satisfaction.

Organizations report substantial increases in staff retention rates following CPI implementation. At Braun Educational Center, staff retention increased by 90% after incorporating regular CPI training. This dramatic improvement reflects how CPI training addresses key factors that contribute to staff turnover in challenging work environments.

CPI training addresses burnout by improving multiple aspects of the workplace experience. Staff report boosted morale and increased job satisfaction after receiving training. The training equips staff with a common language and evidence-based techniques that boost their confidence when handling difficult situations. This increased confidence and competency helps reduce the stress and uncertainty that often lead to burnout.

The training creates safer, more supportive work environments by providing proactive communication techniques and staff debriefing processes. When staff feel better prepared to handle crises and have the tools to communicate effectively, they experience less workplace stress and are more likely to remain in their positions.

Additionally, CPI training helps organizations retain quality staff by creating environments that support both staff and client well-being. Staff working in these improved environments report higher job satisfaction, which directly translates to better retention rates and reduced burnout across the organization.

Yes, CPI training has demonstrated effectiveness across multiple educational settings with measurable outcomes that support its evidence-based approach.

Research from school districts nationwide shows consistent positive results. Scotland County School System in North Carolina and School District U-46 in Illinois both reported reduced fights and assaults following CPI training implementation. School District U-46 also documented reduced out-of-school suspensions alongside improved school culture.

Academic and behavioral improvements are well-documented across implementations. Scotland County experienced reduced misconduct and improved student success, while Wauwatosa School District in Wisconsin saw increased academic achievement and decreased disciplinary issues after training all 13 schools in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention®. Los Angeles County Office of Education and Sunrise School District in Missouri both reported significantly reduced classroom incidents and decreased classroom disruptions respectively.

Staff development outcomes demonstrate the training's comprehensive impact. Multiple districts reported improved staff understanding, increased staff confidence, and enhanced skills in managing behaviors. Trillium Family Services noted that CPI training equips staff with a common language for crisis response, while Braun Educational Center achieved the elimination of seclusion practices entirely.

Environmental and cultural improvements further validate the training's effectiveness. Organizations reported creating safer, more healing environments that support both student success and staff well-being. Improved student-staff relationships, boosted staff morale and retention, and enhanced school culture demonstrate the program's broad organizational impact.

CPI has several key differentiators:

Evidence-Based Methodology and Proven Scale
CPI is the world's leading provider of evidence-based de-escalation training, with over 17 million individuals trained in our techniques who are making measurable impacts on workplace safety. Our approach is grounded in rigorous research and scientific findings that drive program development.

Comprehensive Training Portfolio
We offer unique training programs with specialized focus areas including Verbal Intervention™, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention®, NCI™ With Intermediate or Advanced Physical Skills programs, Dementia Capable Care, Prevention First™ Online Training, and specialty topics addressing mental health, trauma, ADHD, and autism. This tiered approach allows us to provide customizable solutions that fit every role and risk level.

Protected Intellectual Property
Our training materials and methods are protected by copyright and trademark, representing unique approaches developed through our extensive experience across education, health care, human services, and retail sectors. This intellectual property protection reflects the distinctive nature of our training methodologies.

Organization-Wide Implementation Philosophy
Unlike programs that focus solely on "high-risk" positions, we believe everyone has a role in creating safer workplaces. Organizations implementing CPI training across their entire staff experience quicker, consistent crisis responses, increased staff retention and job satisfaction, better cross-departmental collaboration, and more effective training outcomes.

Embedded Cultural Change Approach
Our methodology goes beyond technique instruction to facilitate comprehensive culture change within organizations. This embedded approach ensures that learning becomes a continual process where all participants serve as both teachers and learners.

CPI^® has been providing crisis intervention training since 1980. Over more than four decades, CPI has established itself as the worldwide leader in evidence-based de-escalation and crisis prevention training, helping to train more than 17 million people across service-oriented industries including education, health care, behavioral health, long-term care, human services, security, corporate, and retail.

CPI training has reached significant scale globally, with more than 17 million individuals trained in our evidence-based de-escalation techniques since 1980. This represents thousands of organizations across multiple industries worldwide who have implemented CPI programs to create safer work environments.

Our training spans diverse sectors including health care, education, human services, retail, and corporate environments. Organizations range from individual facilities to large health systems like Duke University Health System, which has trained 18,000 staff members. Educational institutions such as Braun Educational Center and human services organizations like Hillside of Atlanta have also implemented comprehensive CPI training programs with measurable results.

The widespread adoption of CPI training reflects our train-the-trainer model, where organizations develop their own Certified Instructors who then conduct ongoing training using CPI courses and materials. This approach allows for sustainable, organization-wide implementation that adapts to each workplace's unique culture and needs.

Many organizations implement CPI training across their entire staff rather than limiting it to high-risk positions, recognizing that everyone has a role in creating safer workplaces. This comprehensive approach has led to benefits including improved staff retention, enhanced cross-departmental collaboration, and more consistent crisis responses.

While the exact number of organizations using CPI training continues to grow, the 17 million individuals trained represents a substantial network of professionals equipped with crisis prevention and de-escalation skills across industries worldwide.

Yes, CPI training is evidence-based. The Crisis Prevention Institute is the world's leading provider of evidence-based de-escalation training. 

CPI programs are built on scientific foundations and deliver measurable results across diverse organizations. Over 17 million individuals have been trained in CPI's evidence-based de-escalation techniques, creating demonstrable impacts on workplace safety. Organizations consistently report quantifiable improvements, including reduced staff injuries, decreased use of force, fewer classroom disruptions, reduced misconduct, and improved staff confidence.

This evidence-based approach ensures that CPI's crisis intervention and de-escalation skills are grounded in research and proven effective at reducing challenging behavior while preventing future incidents.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® (NCI™) is CPI's foundational training program that provides staff with evidence-based skills to safely recognize, respond to, and de-escalate everyday crisis situations. The program prepares participants to prevent and de-escalate medium to high-risk behavior using both restrictive and non-restrictive methods.

The training encompasses several core components designed to build confidence and competence in crisis situations. Participants learn a common de-escalation communication framework, proactive verbal de-escalation strategies, and safety intervention and disengagement skills. The program also teaches safe disengagements and restrictive interventions when necessary.

NCI™ training incorporates CPI's proprietary Crisis Development Model℠, which introduces a four-step process for turning crises into opportunities for positive outcomes. Additionally, the program utilizes the Decision-Making Matrix, a tool that creates an objective plan for responding to high-risk behavior and reducing the chance of severe outcomes.

The curriculum explores the psychological foundations underlying behavior, including the effects of trauma and brain psychology on both the person in crisis and the responding individual. This comprehensive approach helps staff intervene more safely when behavior becomes dangerous, while building the skills and confidence necessary to handle crises with minimal anxiety and maximum security.

Rational Detachment is the ability to maintain control by not taking negative comments or actions personally during challenging situations. This critical skill enables professionals to remain calm and composed when working with individuals who exhibit challenging behavior, preventing defensive and argumentative reactions that could escalate the situation.

When you practice Rational Detachment, you maintain professional composure without becoming emotionally reactive to difficult behaviors directed at you. This approach is essential for creating a supportive and safe environment for both clients and staff while preserving your own well-being.

The concept is particularly vital in human services settings, where failing to maintain Rational Detachment may lead to instinctive or defensive responses that only worsen challenging situations. By staying rationally detached, professionals can focus on contributing to solutions rather than exacerbating problems, ultimately helping individuals regain control and make positive choices.

Rational Detachment works by recognizing that your behavior directly affects the behavior of others—what you say or do in response to challenging behavior determines whether the situation escalates or de-escalates. This awareness, combined with other effective behavior management strategies, empowers professionals to defuse difficult situations and encourage positive behavior while maintaining healthy staff-client relationships.

The Integrated Experience is a foundational concept that recognizes your behavior can impact someone else's behavior—and that your behavior is the only thing you can truly control in a crisis. This principle emphasizes the dynamic relationship between individuals during challenging situations, particularly in crisis intervention scenarios.

This concept is embedded within CPI's Crisis Development Model℠, which serves as the foundation for our evidence-based training programs. The Integrated Experience helps staff understand that while they cannot control another person's actions or reactions, they maintain complete control over their own responses and behaviors during crisis situations.

By understanding this principle, professionals can focus their energy on what they can influence—their own conduct, communication, and intervention techniques—rather than attempting to control external factors beyond their influence. This approach supports more effective de-escalation strategies and helps create safer environments for everyone involved in crisis situations.

The Integrated Experience applies across all CPI training programs as part of our comprehensive approach to crisis prevention and intervention, helping participants develop the mindset and skills necessary for successful crisis management.

Precipitating Factors are the internal or external causes of behavior over which we have little or no control. These factors can trigger challenging behaviors and contribute to distress or crisis situations.

Internal precipitating factors may include physical conditions such as hunger, lack of sleep, or stress, while external factors could encompass issues at home, unexpected circumstances like transportation problems, or environmental changes. In health care settings, additional considerations include age, gender, ethnicity, physical well-being, cognitive disabilities, psychological well-being including mental health conditions, history of trauma, phobias, communication impairments, social and cultural factors, and alcohol or substance misuse.

Understanding precipitating factors is essential for effective crisis prevention and intervention. By recognizing these underlying influences, staff can better comprehend why challenging behaviors occur and respond more appropriately. For example, if a student consistently appears irritable in the morning, providing access to breakfast might address the precipitating factor of hunger and prevent disruptive classroom behaviors.

Carefully considering what may have led to challenging behavior helps practitioners maintain Rational Detachment and focus on support and de-escalation rather than taking behaviors personally. This understanding enables more targeted interventions that address root causes rather than merely responding to symptoms, ultimately leading to better outcomes for all involved.

The Verbal Escalation Continuum℠ is a foundational framework used in CPI training programs that illustrates the different stages of escalating behavior through a visual kite diagram. This model helps staff understand how situations can progress from initial anxiety through various levels of escalation.

The Verbal Escalation Continuum℠ works alongside CPI's Crisis Development Model℠ to provide concrete strategies for de-escalating behavior that may not meet positive behavioral expectations. It serves as a common de-escalation communication framework that teaches proactive verbal de-escalation strategies.

The continuum emphasizes understanding the anxiety stages and recognizing precursors to escalated behavior, helping staff identify when someone may be experiencing stress or agitation. This knowledge enables professionals to intervene appropriately before situations reach higher levels of the escalation process.

By understanding the stages represented in the kite model, staff can learn to avoid power struggles and prevent pushing situations to higher levels of escalation. The framework is integrated across CPI's training programs, including Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills training, providing a consistent approach to verbal intervention and de-escalation techniques.

This evidence-based tool equips professionals with the skills to recognize escalating patterns and respond with appropriate verbal intervention strategies to support individuals in crisis while maintaining everyone's safety and dignity."

The CPI Decision-Making Matrix℠ is a powerful assessment tool designed to evaluate behavioral risk factors and guide staff in crisis prevention and response. This evidence-based framework helps personnel determine the appropriate level of intervention based on the level of risk present in a given situation.

The Decision-Making Matrix℠ serves multiple critical functions. It assists staff in making informed decisions about the use of physical restraints when necessary, helping them select from lower-, medium-, and higher-level holding skills to safely manage risk behavior. Additionally, the tool provides risk assessment criteria that enable staff to evaluate perceived threats and determine the most appropriate response to ensure maximum safety for all individuals involved.

This systematic approach transforms potentially dangerous situations into manageable scenarios by giving staff a structured method to assess risk and respond accordingly. The Decision-Making Matrix℠ works alongside CPI's Physical Skills Review to support comprehensive decision-making in crisis situations.

By implementing this tool, organizations can reduce behavioral risk factors while ensuring their staff have the confidence and framework needed to navigate challenging situations safely and effectively.

The Supportive Stance℠ is a fundamental positioning technique used in de-escalation situations to communicate calm, respect, and non-threatening behavior while helping keep both you and the other person safe.

This technique involves specific physical positioning that demonstrates support and non-aggression during crisis situations. The Supportive Stance℠ is designed to help you maintain a safe distance while showing that you are there to help, not to threaten or intimidate.

The concept aligns with CPI's Crisis Development Model℠, which provides guidelines for responding appropriately at different levels of crisis. When someone is expressing anxiety, the model emphasizes the need to support them, and when situations escalate, it recommends taking a step back physically, emotionally, and psychologically while remembering the Supportive Stance℠.

This positioning technique is particularly valuable because it allows you to stay engaged with someone in crisis while maintaining appropriate boundaries. It demonstrates your commitment to helping them work through difficult moments rather than simply walking away, which is essential when working with individuals who may be resistant to help but still need support.

The Supportive Stance℠ works in conjunction with other de-escalation techniques, including verbal communication, empathic listening, and being mindful of nonverbal communication and personal space to establish rapport and provide effective support.

The directive approach in CPI is defined as "taking control of a potentially escalating situation by setting limits."

This approach goes beyond simply giving two choices and explaining consequences. At its core, the directive approach empowers individuals to consider the results of their actions while helping staff determine what to enforce and what not to enforce. When implemented effectively, this approach typically has a calming effect on people experiencing crisis situations.

The directive approach represents one way to take control of a potentially volatile situation through strategic limit-setting rather than reactive measures. By focusing on empowerment and thoughtful enforcement decisions, this evidence-based technique helps create safer environments while supporting individuals through challenging moments.

The CPI debriefing process is grounded in Therapeutic Rapport and the COPING Model℠, which provides a systematic approach for post-incident discussions following workplace violence or crisis situations.

The COPING Model℠ consists of six components:

Control - Ensure everyone involved has regained physical and emotional control before beginning the debrief. Staff requiring medical attention should address those needs first.

Orient - Review the basic facts of what occurred. Focus on what staff observed, heard, or noticed before, during, and after the incident.

Patterns - Identify behavioral patterns in how staff responded to the situation. This includes recognizing both effective response patterns that should be reinforced and problematic patterns that need improvement.

Investigate - Explore alternative approaches and determine if different responses would have been more effective. Consider whether there are better ways to approach similar situations in the future.

Negotiate - Reach agreement on next steps and establish clear expectations to prevent similar incidents. Focus on translating lessons learned into practical safety measures.

Give - Provide constructive feedback and encouragement to build staff confidence and capability for future interventions.

The debriefing process is typically conducted twice: once with the individual involved in the incident and once with the staff members who intervened. This dual approach creates learning opportunities for everyone involved and helps identify behavioral causes that can inform future care planning. The process emphasizes prevention, problem-solving, and continuous improvement rather than simply managing incidents as they occur.

Limit setting is a powerful de-escalation technique used to help steer situations back on track and guide individuals toward making positive choices when they're experiencing anxious, hostile, or challenging behavior.

The key distinction in effective limit setting is understanding the difference between setting a limit and issuing an ultimatum. When done properly, limits make the person feel respected and supported rather than threatened or cornered.

There are four essential considerations when setting limits:

• Avoid using fear, intimidation, obligation, and guilt
• Clearly state the specific boundary with a corresponding consequence
• Ensure the consequence is logical or natural and enforceable
• Use strategies to prevent power struggles and maintain connection

Predictable limits serve multiple important functions: they help individuals make sense of their world, provide security, and offer clear guidance for appropriate behavior.

CPI^® teaches a comprehensive 5-Step Approach to Setting Limits that incorporates preventive, verbal, and nonverbal strategies. This systematic approach helps professionals handle difficult situations while meeting both their goals and those of the person they're working with.

Effective limit setting is taught across multiple CPI training programs and serves as a foundational skill for crisis prevention and de-escalation. When implemented correctly, it becomes a respectful way to establish boundaries that support positive behavioral choices while maintaining dignity for all involved.

De-escalation training equips staff with evidence-based skills and strategies to safely manage disruptive behaviors and crisis situations before they escalate to violence. This type of workplace violence prevention training focuses on verbal techniques, communication frameworks, and intervention methods that help create safer environments for both staff and those they serve.

CPI's de-escalation training is customized for your workplace's unique roles and risk levels. Whether your organization follows a hands-off policy or requires physical interventions, the training ensures staff learn the specific skills necessary for their roles and the risks they may encounter.

The training encompasses several key components, including common de-escalation communication frameworks, proactive verbal de-escalation strategies, and safety intervention and disengagement skills. Programs range from Verbal Intervention™ training for departments with hands-off policies, to Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training that provides skills to safely respond to everyday crises, to advanced programs for facilities supporting individuals who display dangerous or complex behaviors.

To foster a system-wide culture of safety, all staff should receive de-escalation training appropriate to their specific roles and responsibilities.

CPI Verbal Intervention™ Training teaches several evidence-based verbal de-escalation techniques designed to effectively address challenging behavior. The program focuses on non-restrictive verbal interventions, including limit-setting strategies that help de-escalate disruptive situations.

The training incorporates a common de-escalation communication framework and emphasizes proactive verbal de-escalation strategies. These techniques are grounded in the Crisis Development Model℠ CPI's proprietary 4-step framework that transforms crisis situations into opportunities for positive outcomes.

The approach goes beyond surface-level techniques by helping participants understand the underlying factors that drive behavior, including the effects of trauma and brain psychology on both the person in crisis and the responding individual. This comprehensive understanding enables more effective intervention by addressing root causes rather than just symptoms.

The Verbal Intervention™ Training is specifically designed to instill confidence and skills for verbally de-escalating disruptive behaviors in low-risk crisis situations. By combining evidence-based methodology with practical application, the program equips staff to identify, respond to, and prevent challenging behaviors through targeted verbal intervention techniques.

De-escalating an aggressive person at work requires a systematic approach that prioritizes safety while using evidence-based techniques to reduce tension and restore calm.

Immediate Response Strategies
When encountering an aggressive individual, maintain your composure and communicate in an even tone and manner. Stay calm and manage your own response, as how you react is often the key to defusing the situation. Keep a safe distance to avoid being physically assaulted while continuing to engage with the person.

Early Intervention Techniques
Recognize escalation early by watching for noticeable changes or increases in behaviors that signal distress. At the first signs of anxiety or agitation, implement simple interventions such as moving the person to a quiet space, offering comfort items like water or a comfortable chair, and engaging with them in a calm tone and manner.

Progressive De-escalation Approach
As distress increases, take a more active approach using a firm tone when providing clear directions regarding their behaviors. Continue using verbal de-escalation skills and strategies throughout the interaction. Consider precipitating factors—internal or external causes that may have led to the aggressive behavior, such as personal issues or unexpected circumstances—to help you detach from what the person is saying and focus on support.

Safety Protocols
If the situation continues to escalate, remove yourself from the area as quickly as possible and seek assistance from other staff or emergency services. Alert other staff in the area to request support and assistance. Never attempt a hands-on approach with an actively aggressive person unless required by your role and specifically trained to do so.

Essential Skills
Effective de-escalation requires proper training in techniques that focus on Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security℠ for everyone involved in the crisis. Key capabilities include setting limits, handling challenging questions, and preventing physical confrontations.

De-escalation and restraint represent fundamentally different approaches to managing crisis situations, with de-escalation serving as the preferred first-line intervention and restraint reserved only as a last resort.

De-escalation involves verbal and nonverbal techniques used to prevent or reduce the intensity of crisis situations before they escalate further. This approach focuses on recognizing early warning signs of potential crisis situations and employing communication skills to defuse tensions. De-escalation techniques are designed to address situations proactively through supportive interaction and understanding.

Restraint, in contrast, involves physical interventions used to limit a person's freedom of movement when they pose an imminent danger to themselves or others. Physical restraints should only be implemented when the person presents an immediate threat of harm and all nonphysical options have been exhausted.

The key distinction lies in timing and approach: de-escalation is primarily preventive and communication-based, while restraint is reactive and physical. The least restrictive form of intervention should always be considered and utilized first, prior to the use of any physical restraint. This means attempting de-escalation techniques before considering any physical intervention.

Restraint should only be used as a last resort when the person's behavior creates imminent danger to self or others, and the danger of the behavior outweighs the risks associated with using restraint. Any episode of restraint should be ended at the earliest possible moment when the person is no longer an imminent danger.

Both approaches require proper training, with restraint use necessitating ongoing, competency-based training that includes identifying signs of distress that might indicate the need to immediately end the intervention.

De-escalation techniques for the workplace focus on managing your response to challenging behavior and using evidence-based strategies to prevent situations from escalating to violence.

Core De-escalation Strategies:

Stay calm and manage your own response - Communicate in an even tone and manner while maintaining your composure. Your ability to remain calm directly influences the outcome of the situation.

Use nonverbal communication effectively - Your body language and positioning play a critical role in de-escalating tense situations.

Practice empathic listening - Listen with genuine understanding to what the person is communicating beyond their words.

Adapt techniques based on behavior level - For nervous or anxious individuals, use acknowledgment and show empathy. For frustrated or confused people, be relatable and give options. When someone is angry, set clear limits.

Set appropriate limits - Establish boundaries while continuing to use verbal de-escalation strategies throughout the interaction.

Maintain safe distance - Keep physical space between yourself and the person in crisis to avoid potential assault.

Know when to seek assistance - Alert other staff for support when needed, and remove yourself from the situation if it escalates further.

Handle challenging questions appropriately - Respond to difficult inquiries in ways that defuse rather than inflame the situation.

These techniques are grounded in Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security℠ principles and are designed to help you respond to difficult workplace behavior in the safest, most effective way possible. CPI offers customized de-escalation training programs tailored to your workplace's unique roles and risk levels.

CPI Verbal Intervention™ Training is a specialized program that prepares staff to identify, respond to, and prevent low-risk crisis behavior using non-restrictive, verbal intervention techniques. The training instills confidence and skills to verbally de-escalate disruptive behaviors through evidence-based approaches.

The program is built around three core components:

Crisis Development Model℠: CPI's proprietary framework introduces a 4-step process for turning crises into opportunities for positive outcomes.

Verbal De-escalation Techniques: The training teaches non-restrictive verbal interventions, such as limit-setting, that effectively de-escalate challenging behavior. Participants learn a common de-escalation communication framework and proactive verbal de-escalation strategies.

Understanding Behavior: The program explores the effects of trauma and the psychology of the brain on both the person in crisis and the responding individual.

Verbal Intervention™ Training provides staff with in-depth skills to identify, respond to, and prevent or mitigate challenging behavior with verbal intervention techniques. The program is particularly recommended for managers and is delivered through Instructor Certification Programs available in online and live virtual formats.

Trauma-informed care is an evidence-based approach that seeks to prevent re-traumatizing individuals in crisis while empowering them to cope more effectively. At its core, trauma-informed care recognizes that what may appear to be disruptive behavior could actually be a trauma response, fundamentally shifting how we understand and respond to challenging situations.

CPI addresses trauma-informed care through comprehensive training and practical tools that support this approach. Our Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training emphasizes learning to interpret behavior effectively as communication, which is particularly important when working with individuals who may have a trauma history. This training gives behavioral health professionals and human services staff the skills and confidence to recognize and respond to complex client behavior.

CPI recommends several evidence-based practices to avoid re-traumatization:

• Screen for trauma history using tools like our comprehensive De-escalation Preferences Form, available in our free trauma-informed care guide
• Employ person-centered, strengths-based thinking and language that supports individuals for who they are as people, not just how they behave in crisis
• Provide stability and empowerment through evidence-based limit-setting that supports decision-making opportunities for individuals in a crisis
• Choose the least restrictive physical intervention options as a last resort, recognizing that the safest restraint is the one that never happens
• Prioritize debriefing after crisis events to help foster resilience and develop successful coping skills

The COPING Model℠ serves as a key tool in this approach, helping both staff and the populations they serve process, recover, build resilience, and plan for prevention after crisis events. This comprehensive framework ensures that trauma-informed principles are embedded throughout the entire crisis prevention and response process, making facilities safer for everyone involved.

CPI training distinguishes itself in several ways:

Evidence-Based Foundation and Scale
CPI^® has trained over 17 million individuals worldwide, establishing it as the global leader in de-escalation training. This extensive reach reflects the program's proven effectiveness and broad acceptance across industries. CPI's evidence-based methodology ensures that training techniques are grounded in scientific research and continuously refined based on measurable outcomes.

Comprehensive Program Portfolio
Unlike many programs that focus on single approaches, CPI offers a complete range of training solutions customized for specific workplace environments and risk levels. This includes specialized programs for education, healthcare, human services, and other industries, ensuring that staff receive training tailored to their unique challenges and regulatory requirements.

Measurable Impact
CPI training delivers demonstrable results, as evidenced by customer success stories showing significant reductions in safety incidents. For example, organizations have reported up to 85% reductions in emergency safety interventions after implementing CPI training. These quantifiable outcomes underscore the practical effectiveness of CPI's approach.

Industry Leadership and Innovation
Since 1980, CPI has maintained its position as the industry standard for safety and security training. The organization's commitment to staying current with the latest research and trends ensures that training programs evolve with emerging best practices and regulatory changes.

Holistic Crisis Prevention Philosophy
CPI's approach emphasizes prevention rather than just reaction, focusing on building skills that help staff recognize early warning signs and intervene before situations escalate to crisis points. This proactive methodology helps create safer environments while supporting the dignity and well-being of all individuals involved.

The combination of CPI's extensive experience, evidence-based approach, and proven track record of measurable improvement makes it a comprehensive solution for organizations seeking effective de-escalation training.

CPI does not offer free training. CPI operates through a train-the-trainer model where organizations invest in certification programs to develop their own internal training capacity.

The CPI approach involves Certified Instructors who conduct ongoing trainings using CPI courses and materials within their organizations. Additionally, CPI provides live training sessions led by Training and Development Consultants for implementation advice and peer-to-peer strategy sharing, but these are part of paid program offerings rather than free standalone training.

For organizations seeking CPI training, the standard approach requires enrollment in CPI's certification programs, which provide the foundation for building internal training capabilities through qualified Certified Instructors.

Prevention First™ is a 30-minute, online, on-demand training program designed specifically for all individuals working in health care settings, including support staff, administrative personnel, clinicians, and physicians.

This evidence-based, trauma-informed training equips health care personnel with essential skills to identify escalating behaviors and respond safely before they lead to violence. The program establishes a common crisis response language that is consistent and predictable across all staff and departments, reducing confusion during crisis situations.

Prevention First™ teaches participants to recognize when it is time to ask for another staff member to assist in de-escalating challenging situations. The training is structured as four focused, interactive lessons and includes downloadable resources to reinforce key takeaways and keep essential skills accessible even after training completion.

The program's on-demand format allows staff to complete training when and where it works best for their schedules, limiting time off the floor while ensuring comprehensive crisis prevention education. Prevention First™ serves as the foundational, proactive level within CPI's program suite, designed for low-risk associated behaviors such as anxious behavior, disruptive behavior, and refusing care.

No, Prevention First™ Online Training is not the same as full CPI certification. Prevention First™ is foundational de-escalation training and does not qualify as an Instructor Certification Program. It is designed for all roles and risk levels, and delivered through flexible online, on-demand format with an interactive 4-lesson structure.

Full CPI certification, on the other hand, involves a more comprehensive train-the-trainer approach where CPI Instructors train select staff to become your organization's Certified Instructors. These Certified Instructors must attend a program facilitated by CPI every two years to maintain their certification and prevent training drift.

Prevention First™ is one of CPI's training options that provides foundational skills for organization-wide implementation, particularly suited for health care professionals who need essential de-escalation skills but may not require full instructor certification.

Prevention First™ is designed for all individuals working in health care settings. This comprehensive training program serves a broad range of health care personnel, including support staff, administrative personnel, clinicians, and physicians.

The program recognizes that workplace violence prevention requires involvement from every level of the organization. By targeting all health care roles—from front-line support staff to medical professionals—Prevention First™ creates a unified approach to crisis prevention across departments and ensures that everyone has the foundational skills to recognize escalating behaviors and respond appropriately.

CPI training helps organizations meet workplace violence compliance requirements through several key approaches that align directly with regulatory mandates.

Comprehensive Training Implementation
CPI's train-the-trainer model enables organizations to efficiently meet training requirements for both initial implementation and ongoing annual training. This approach makes it easy to schedule training for new employees and conduct the required annual trainings that many workplace violence prevention regulations mandate.

Customizable Content for Compliance
CPI training content can be easily applied and adapted to job-specific scenarios and incidents based on organizational policies and procedures. The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® Training program is designed to be easily customized, making it simple for staff to incorporate organizational policy into each discussion area within the curriculum.

Policy and Procedure Support
CPI provides comprehensive support for organizations developing workplace violence prevention plans. The training aligns with requirements for policies and procedures to prevent and respond to workplace violence, processes for reporting incidents, and follow-up support for affected individuals. CPI's Policy Development Series can be instrumental in helping organizations develop and review policies and procedures.

Proactive Compliance Strategy
Organizations use CPI training to stay ahead of regulatory requirements. For example, CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico proactively implemented CPI training to stay ahead of OSHA workplace violence training recommendations. This proactive approach helps organizations build robust, preventative training strategies that exceed basic compliance requirements.

Ongoing Support and Quality Standards
CPI maintains quality standards to help organizations achieve their intended outcomes, requiring Certified Instructors to attend refresher programs every two years to prevent training drift. This ensures sustained compliance and program effectiveness over time.

De-escalating an aggressive person in an educational environment requires a structured approach that prioritizes safety while addressing the underlying causes of the behavior. Here are evidence-based strategies that education professionals can implement:

Stay Calm and Maintain Rational Detachment
Remember that aggressive behavior typically isn't personal—it often reflects underlying issues or unmet needs. Use positive self-talk to remain composed, reframing your thoughts from "This disrespect is too much" to "This behavior is not about me. What's driving it, and how can I address it?". Maintaining your composure helps de-escalate tension and models appropriate emotional regulation for students.

Use Verbal De-escalation Techniques
Communicate in an even tone and manner throughout the interaction. Continue employing verbal de-escalation strategies consistently, focusing on understanding what the person is experiencing beyond their immediate words. These foundational skills help identify and manage escalating behaviors before they progress into more serious situations.

Maintain Physical Safety
Keep a safe distance from the aggressive individual to avoid potential physical confrontation. If the situation continues to escalate, remove yourself quickly and seek assistance from other staff members, administrators, or security personnel as necessary. Never attempt physical intervention unless you are specifically trained and authorized to do so.

Establish Consistent Response Protocols
Implement a schoolwide approach using common language and predictable responses to crisis situations. This consistency helps create a more stable environment and ensures all staff members can effectively discuss and address challenging behaviors.

Recognize When to Seek Help
Understand when the situation exceeds your ability to manage independently and requires additional support. Alert other staff in the area when needed, and don't hesitate to escalate to appropriate resources when the person's ability to think rationally appears significantly compromised.

These strategies work most effectively when staff receive proper training in CPI's de-esclation strategies, enabling them to manage difficult behaviors with both confidence and competence.

CPI offers training for schools and teachers through our Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® program. This evidence-based training equips educators with proactive de-escalation strategies to create safer, more positive learning environments.

Our approach involves training select teachers to become Certified Instructors for your school. These Certified Instructors then conduct ongoing trainings with their colleagues using CPI courses and materials. This train-the-trainer model ensures sustainable implementation and skill reinforcement throughout your educational organization.

The training provides teachers with essential tools for safe de-escalation, helping to decrease office referrals while increasing staff morale. School districts that have implemented CPI training report significant improvements including:

• More positive school culture and reduced disciplinary issues
• Decreased classroom disruptions and increased staff confidence
• Reduced fights, assaults, and out-of-school suspensions
• Improved academic achievement and positive peer-to-peer relationships

Our world-renowned Global Professional Instructors deliver engaging, interactive training sessions that prepare educators to begin each school year with effective strategies for managing challenging behaviors.

CPI also offers additional training options such as Reframing Behavior™, De-escalation Basics™, and De-escalation Basics™ for Bus Drivers to support a schoolwide culture of safety. 

CPI training can be enhanced with specialized autism-focused content that adapts core de-escalation principles for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The Person-Centered Perspectives: Autism Specialty Topic Training provides Certified Instructors with tools to customize CPI's foundational models and techniques for autism-specific needs.

This autism enhancement can be added to any of CPI's four foundational training programs: Verbal Intervention™ Training, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Intermediate Physical Skills, or NCI™ With Advanced Physical Skills. The specialty training helps staff understand how autism may impact behavior and apply proactive intervention strategies when working with individuals with autism.

The autism-focused training includes practical applications that help staff customize CPI's foundational models and de-escalation techniques to respond more effectively to individuals with autism in real-life situations. Instructors receive specialized tools including digital resources, worksheets, and supplemental guides featuring autism-specific strategies, examples, and activities.

This specialty topic training was developed based on direct feedback from Certified Instructors who requested more behavior-specific training content. The enhancement is particularly relevant across health care, human services, and educational settings where staff frequently encounter individuals with autism and need specialized approaches to ensure safe, effective interventions.

The training maintains CPI's evidence-based approach while providing the specialized knowledge needed to support individuals with autism through person-centered intervention techniques.

CPI training is specifically designed to be appropriate and effective for students with ADHD. CPI offers Person-Centered Perspectives: ADHD, which provides targeted tools and insights to adapt CPI training principles specifically for individuals with ADHD.

This specialized approach recognizes that ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder in K–12 students and addresses its impact on all behaviors, including risk behavior. The training helps Certified Instructors learn how to tailor CPI's core models and de-escalation strategies to better respond to individuals with ADHD in real-world scenarios.

ADHD-specific resources include comprehensive instructor support materials featuring ADHD-specific strategies, examples, and activities to enhance classroom engagement. Additionally, digital worksheets are available to help end learners apply CPI models specifically to students or clients with ADHD.

Four foundational CPI training programs can be enhanced with ADHD-specific content: Verbal Intervention™ Training, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Intermediate Physical Skills, and NCI™ With Advanced Physical Skills. This ensures that staff receive training tailored to their specific needs when working with students who have ADHD, helping them provide better support with confidence and clarity.

Reframing Behavior™ is a neuroscience-based schoolwide training program designed for all educators. This evidence-based program teaches educators how trauma and stress affect students' behavior and ability to learn, while providing them with the skills to regulate their own emotions.

The program is specifically designed for educational professionals who work with students carrying traumas, insecurities, pressures, and anxieties from their everyday lives. It serves all educators within a school system, helping them understand how the brain and body react to stress and anxiety, which can significantly impact both teaching and learning.

Reframing Behavior™ is built on four core elements that create a comprehensive framework for change:

• Reframe Your Perspective: Understanding how neuroscience connects to learning, behavior, and mental health
• Reframe Your Awareness: Practicing emotional regulation through interactive experiences  
• Reframe Your Actions: Recognizing that behavior is not solely a matter of choice
• Reframe Your Relationships: Learning powerful relationship skills for common situations

The program helps educators see all behavior through a neuroscience lens, helping students exit fight, flight, or freeze mode and enter learning mode. Available as an annual schoolwide subscription, it includes professional development curriculum, an on-demand learning library, activities for professional learning communities, and implementation training with ongoing support.

This training enables educators to build more positive, supportive learning environments and prevent disruptive behavior by understanding the neuroscience behind student responses.

Trauma-informed de-escalation training for teachers is specialized professional development that equips educators and support staff with evidence-based skills to effectively respond to challenging behaviors while understanding the impact of trauma on student behavior.

This training approach combines traditional de-escalation techniques with trauma-informed practices. Educators learn to recognize how various types of trauma affect student behavior, including distress and risk behaviors that can lead to crisis situations. The training emphasizes maintaining consistent, calm responses during challenging moments and teaches both nonverbal and verbal intervention strategies to set appropriate limits and de-escalate defensive behaviors.

The foundational skills taught include understanding how behavior escalates, learning practical conflict reduction techniques, and establishing a consistent schoolwide language for crisis response. Participants also develop the ability to recognize when additional assistance is needed to effectively de-escalate a situation.

Key benefits of implementing trauma-informed de-escalation training include decreased challenging behavior, increased academic achievement through more consistent learning environments, and improved staff retention as educators feel more confident and supported in their roles. This comprehensive approach addresses both immediate behavioral challenges and the underlying trauma factors that may contribute to student difficulties, creating safer and more productive educational environments for everyone involved.

Schools can significantly reduce student behavioral incidents through comprehensive staff training that focuses on evidence-based de-escalation techniques and understanding the root causes of challenging behaviors.

Key Training Approaches:

CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training equips staff with specific techniques and tools that create safer environments for both students and staff. This training prioritizes verbal intervention before physical responses, which has proven effective in reducing conflicts.

Schools implementing neuroscience-based training programs like Reframing Behavior™ help educators understand that students carry traumas, insecurities, pressures, and anxieties to school that can manifest as behavioral challenges. This training unpacks the latest neuroscience research to help educators build more positive, supportive learning environments that prevent disruptive behavior before it escalates.

Documented Results:

Schools using CPI training have achieved remarkable outcomes, including a 47% decrease in student incidents and 100% reduction in seclusion practices. Other districts report significant reductions in fights and assaults, fewer out-of-school suspensions, and decreased misconduct cases.

Additional Benefits:

Beyond incident reduction, this training approach improves overall school culture, increases academic achievement, and boosts staff confidence in managing challenging behaviors. Schools also experience improved staff retention rates, with one district reporting a 90% increase in staff retention.

The training's principle-based approach provides staff with multiple tools for various situations, creating environments where both students and educators feel safer and can achieve greater academic, social, and emotional success.

Neuroscience research reveals that challenging student behavior often stems from the brain's natural protective mechanisms rather than deliberate misbehavior. When students feel unsafe (whether physically or emotionally) their amygdala activates a fight, flight, or freeze response. This stress response can manifest as defiance, withdrawal, or aggression, not because the student is choosing to misbehave, but because their brain is doing its best to protect them.

Understanding behavior through a neuroscience lens helps educators recognize that students carry more than their backpacks to school. They carry traumas, insecurities, pressures, and anxieties from their everyday lives. When educators view behavior through this scientific framework, they better understand how stress affects both the brain and body, enabling them to implement more supportive and inclusive classroom strategies.

This neuroscience perspective emphasizes that challenging behaviors are often signs of stress and dysregulation rather than intentional defiance. By recognizing these signs, educators can use proactive strategies to co-regulate with students and guide them back to a place of calm and connection. This approach helps create a more positive, supportive learning environment and can prevent disruptive behavior from occurring.

The key insight from neuroscience is that behavior influences behavior—how educators react and present their emotions will impact how students respond as well. Rather than reacting to challenging situations, educators can use their understanding of the brain's stress responses to respond more effectively and compassionately.

Trauma-informed teaching in a K-12 classroom means understanding that many challenging student behaviors are actually trauma responses rather than intentional defiance. This approach recognizes that childhood trauma affects how students' brains develop and impacts their ability to learn and regulate emotions.

In practice, trauma-informed teaching involves several key elements:

Reframing behavior as communication. Instead of immediately applying disciplinary measures, educators learn to investigate what students are trying to communicate through their actions. As one practitioner noted, staff must ask, "Is this really a deviant behavior or is this a trauma response?".

Creating environments of felt safety. Trauma-informed classrooms prioritize building trust and consistent, safe spaces where students can learn and grow. This involves educators practicing calm behavior and emotional regulation to model these skills for students.

Using person-centered, consistent approaches. Rather than punitive responses, trauma-informed teaching focuses on understanding each student's individual experiences and background. The approach emphasizes building positive relationships and teaching social skills.

Supporting both academic and emotional needs. Trauma-informed teaching acknowledges that students cannot learn effectively when they're in survival mode. By addressing the underlying trauma responses, educators can create conditions that support both behavioral improvement and academic achievement.

This evidence-based approach helps decrease challenging behaviors, increase academic achievement, and create more supportive learning environments for all students.

Implementing CPI training across your entire school district follows a structured three-step process designed to ensure effective, fiscally responsible implementation.

Step 1: Schedule a consultation. Contact CPI at 877.877.5390 or schedule a consultation to evaluate your current crisis prevention programming. CPI will assess how to strengthen your district's approach to classroom management, de-escalation techniques, and positive behavior supports.

Step 2: Obtain a complimentary training program recommendation. CPI will design and recommend a customized training plan that strengthens your team in an effective and fiscally responsible way.

Step 3: Train your staff using the train-the-trainer model. CPI's Global Professional Instructors train select staff members to become Certified Instructors. These newly certified staff then train their colleagues throughout the district.

This approach ensures district-wide consistency in classroom management and de-escalation. CPI offers multiple training programs that accommodate all staff members, regardless of their role or risk level. The training is designed to decrease office referrals, increase staff morale, and enhance school safety and preparedness.

The train-the-trainer model makes implementation both scalable and sustainable, allowing your district to maintain ongoing training capabilities while creating a consistent approach to crisis prevention across all schools.

CPI training is not specifically mandated by law, but many states have legal requirements that CPI training helps schools fulfill. For example, New York State regulations require all school staff to receive annual training on evidence-based positive strategies, crisis intervention procedures, and de-escalation techniques. Staff who may implement physical restraints must also receive additional specialized training in safe and appropriate procedures.

CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® program is specifically designed to meet these types of legal requirements. The program provides evidence-based, person-centered training that addresses crisis prevention, de-escalation techniques, and safe physical intervention procedures. CPI training aligns with regulatory mandates by teaching staff to use physical restraints only as a last resort and provides interventions designed to reduce injury risk while allowing individuals to breathe freely.

While laws vary by state, many jurisdictions have similar requirements for staff training in crisis intervention and restraint procedures. CPI recommends that educational institutions implement policies and procedures that align with CPI training philosophy and provides resources to help organizations update their policies effectively. The training helps ensure staff meet professional standards while creating safer environments for both students and staff.

Schools should consult their local and state regulations to determine specific training requirements, as CPI training can be an effective way to meet many common legal mandates in this area.

Based on the legislation tracked by CPI, several states have enacted requirements for de-escalation training in schools. For example, Utah Administrative Rule 277 requires all school employees who supervise students to receive foundational behavior support training that includes behavioral or emotional crisis management and de-escalation strategies, effective with the 2025-26 school year. Pennsylvania H.B. 301 provides grants specifically for evidence-based, trauma-informed de-escalation training.

However, state legislation requirements change frequently, and new laws are continuously being enacted across different states. For the most current and comprehensive information about de-escalation training requirements in your specific state, visit CPI's legislation page at crisisprevention.com/legislation. This resource is regularly updated and allows you to browse requirements by state and industry to find the most recent legislative developments that may impact your educational institution.

The legislation page tracks requirements across multiple states including California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and others, ensuring you have access to the latest regulatory information affecting school safety training requirements.

CPI offers specialized de-escalation training programs specifically designed for health care settings. As the industry-leading provider of de-escalation training for health care organizations, CPI has partnered with health systems for 45 years to implement customized training solutions that create safe environments for staff, patients, families, and visitors.

The training is fully customizable for all staff members in a health care organization, regardless of their job description, role, or risk level. This comprehensive approach ensures that everyone (not just those in "high-risk" positions) has a role to play in creating a safer workplace.

CPI's health care training programs equip staff with risk assessment criteria to evaluate perceived threats and provide a framework to assess potentially dangerous situations and determine appropriate responses. The training creates multiple benefits for health care facilities, including:

• Creating a safe environment
• Equipping staff with a common language
• Boosting staff confidence

Organizations that implement CPI training across their entire staff experience quicker and more consistent crisis responses, increased staff retention and job satisfaction, better cross-departmental collaboration and communication, and more effective training outcomes.

To determine the most appropriate CPI training solution for your specific health care facility, you can schedule a consultation to discuss customized options that align with your organization's unique needs and risk levels.

Health care facilities can reduce workplace violence through several evidence-based strategies that address prevention, response, and organizational culture.

Implement Clear Policies
Establish comprehensive policies and the measures to take in the event of inappropriate workplace behavior. These policies help ensure consistent action and a safer care environment.

Use Team-Based Approaches
Employ the "buddy system" in situations where hostility could occur, ensuring staff members are not alone when tensions may escalate. This collaborative approach provides additional safety and support during potentially volatile encounters.

Enhance Staff Training and De-escalation Skills
Focus on improving employees' de-escalation capabilities, which has proven successful in reducing workplace violence incidents. When staff feel their skills are enhanced, they experience renewed safety and security, leading to improvements in both staff morale and patient experience.

Establish Incident Response Teams and Support Systems
Create resources to support staff during incidents, ensure proper follow-up with affected personnel, and provide daily ongoing support. Implementing Incident Response Teams (IRTs) to assist during active incidents while promoting overall staff health and well-being builds organizational resilience and improves future incident response.

Provide Post-Incident Support
Ensure safe spaces, time, and opportunities for staff to debrief with peers and leadership following workplace violence incidents. This approach helps staff feel safer at work and builds team resilience for managing future situations.

Take a Proactive, Data-Driven Approach
Organizations must seriously examine what types of incidents occur in their specific locations and understand their negative impact on staff, providers, and patients. A proactive approach to prevention, rather than reactive measures, is necessary to create meaningful change in workplace violence dynamics.

CPI^® training is widely used throughout human services and the social work profession. Certified Instructors within social work agencies conduct ongoing trainings using CPI courses and materials.

Social workers frequently encounter individuals with complex behavioral needs, whether in child protective services, mental health settings, hospitals, schools, or community-based programs. CPI's evidence-based training programs provide social workers with essential de-escalation skills and crisis intervention techniques that align with social work values of dignity, respect, and person-centered care.

Several CPI training programs are particularly relevant for social workers:

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® provides foundational skills in recognizing crisis development, verbal de-escalation techniques, and safe intervention strategies. This training helps social workers respond effectively to challenging behaviors while maintaining therapeutic relationships.

Verbal Intervention™ focuses specifically on communication skills for preventing and de-escalating crisis situations through verbal techniques alone.

Dementia Capable Care training is valuable for social workers in geriatric settings, providing specialized approaches for supporting individuals with dementia and related conditions.

CPI's train-the-trainer model allows social work agencies to develop internal capacity by certifying their own staff as instructors. This embedded approach ensures that crisis prevention skills become integrated into the agency's culture and daily practice, providing ongoing skill reinforcement and cost-effective training delivery.

Many social work agencies, health care systems, and educational institutions have adopted CPI training as their standard for crisis prevention and intervention, recognizing its alignment with trauma-informed care principles and evidence-based practice standards.

Yes, CPI offers comprehensive training programs specifically designed for dementia care providers. As the provider-of-choice for person-centered dementia care, CPI delivers evidence-based training that empowers caregivers with the tools needed to optimize quality of life for individuals living at all stages of dementia.

CPI's dementia training programs focus on the Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security℠ of individuals living with dementia and their care staff. The training teaches empathetic approaches to behavior management that prioritize quality of life while providing safe de-escalation techniques to minimize distress behavior.

Available Programs Include:

Dementia Capable Care - An evidence-based program that teaches staff to safely de-escalate distressing situations and reduce pharmacological interventions with a person-centered approach.

Verbal Intervention™ - Ideal for dementia care roles requiring a hands-off approach, focusing on verbal de-escalation strategies informed by understanding the reasons behind distressing behavior.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® - Teaches staff caring for dementia patients how to de-escalate crisis situations using both restrictive and nonrestrictive techniques.

Training Benefits:

• Improves quality of life for patients through personalized care that preserves dignity and independence
• Fosters empathy and understanding through person-centered frameworks that build trust
• Reduces caregiver stress and burnout while increasing job satisfaction

CPI also offers Certified Instructor programs through a train-the-trainer method, allowing organizations to develop internal capacity for ongoing dementia care training. Additionally, CPI Dementia Care Specialists provides Continuing Education opportunities for several programs.

CPI's approach to workplace violence prevention in hospitals centers on a prevention-first philosophy that emphasizes proactive de-escalation and early intervention to create safer environments for staff, patients, and visitors.

The foundation of CPI's methodology is evidence-based training that has supported hospitals for more than 40 years, helping to train over 17 million people worldwide. This approach focuses on equipping staff with the skills to recognize early warning signs of potential crisis situations and respond with appropriate nonverbal and verbal de-escalation techniques before situations escalate.

Central to CPI's workplace violence prevention strategy is comprehensive de-escalation training that serves as a critical component of any workplace violence prevention program. The training emphasizes prevention by teaching staff to identify behavioral indicators and respond appropriately to minimize risks in the hospital environment.

CPI employs a systematic 4D approach (discover, diagnose, design, and deliver) to create customized, sustainable workplace violence prevention programs tailored to each organization's unique needs and risk levels. This methodology includes conducting risk assessments to ensure staff are trained at appropriate levels based on their specific roles and responsibilities within the health care setting.

The approach incorporates trauma-informed, person-centered training that provides staff with risk assessment criteria to evaluate perceived threats and determine the safest course of action. CPI's Crisis Development Model℠ teaches staff to recognize identifiable behavior levels during crisis situations and provides guidance on appropriate responses to effectively de-escalate challenging behaviors.

Beyond training delivery, CPI supports organizations in developing comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs, including policy development, incident reporting processes, and ongoing consultation to ensure alignment with regulatory standards and best practices.

CPI training programs directly support Joint Commission compliance by addressing key standards outlined in the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals.

Risk Assessment and Management
CPI training provides evidence-based risk assessment criteria that staff can use during perceived threats to evaluate potentially dangerous situations and respond appropriately to ensure maximum safety for everyone involved. This systematic approach aligns with Joint Commission Standard EC.01.01.01, which requires hospitals to plan activities that minimize environmental risks.

Workplace Violence Prevention
The training focuses on prevention by teaching staff to recognize early warning signs of potential crisis situations and equipping them with nonverbal and verbal de-escalation skills. Staff learn to identify signs of aggression and read situations for violence indicators, directly supporting Joint Commission Standard EC.02.01.01 regarding safety and security risk management.

Policy Development and Implementation Support
CPI provides consultation and support for organizations developing workplace violence prevention plans. The Policy Development Series helps organizations create and review policies and procedures that align with Joint Commission standards. CPI's implementation team assists in identifying appropriate staff to manage compliance processes and ensures alignment with Joint Commission requirements.

Comprehensive Training Approach
CPI's train-the-trainer programs and advanced curriculums offer a comprehensive array of options to support violence-free workplaces with emphasis on crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques. The training helps staff intervene more safely during dangerous behaviors while preserving the professional care environment health care workers establish with patients.

This multi-faceted approach ensures organizations can meet Joint Commission expectations while creating safer environments for staff, patients, and visitors.

CPI offers several training programs for emergency department staff, with options tailored to different roles and risk levels.

For comprehensive emergency department training, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® provides staff with essential de-escalation and crisis intervention skills. This evidence-based program equips personnel with techniques to reduce challenging behavior and prevent future incidents.

Emergency departments with higher-risk situations can benefit from Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills training, which provides additional physical intervention techniques beyond verbal de-escalation. This program emphasizes using the least restrictive form of intervention first, with advanced physical skills available when necessary.

For broader staff coverage, Prevention First™ Online Training for health care offers foundational skills that work well for organization-wide implementation across all emergency department personnel, regardless of their specific role or risk level.

CPI's training programs are specifically designed to meet compliance requirements for emergency departments. The programs align with trauma-informed approaches and teach staff to recognize precipitating factors including mental illness, substance use, environmental stressors, and trauma. Staff learn to use CPI's Decision-Making Matrix℠ to assess the likelihood and severity of harm, enabling them to determine appropriate responses to crisis situations.

The training is customizable for all staff members regardless of job description or role, ensuring everyone from clinical staff to security personnel can gain relevant skills. Organizations implementing CPI training across their entire emergency department staff typically see benefits including quicker crisis responses, increased staff retention, and improved collaboration.

De-escalation training reduces staff turnover in health care by addressing core factors that drive health care professionals to leave their positions. When staff receive comprehensive de-escalation training, they gain the confidence and skills needed to handle challenging patient interactions and crisis situations effectively.

The training builds staff confidence by teaching them to recognize and prevent workplace violence before incidents escalate. This increased confidence translates directly into higher job satisfaction, as health care workers feel more equipped to manage difficult situations rather than feeling helpless or overwhelmed.

By providing hands-on training that addresses real-life scenarios health care staff encounter daily, the training gives professionals relevant, practical skills they can immediately apply in their work environment. This relevance helps staff feel more competent and prepared, reducing the stress and anxiety that often contribute to turnover.

The training also helps manage crisis behavior more effectively, which reduces burnout—a significant driver of health care turnover. When staff can successfully de-escalate tense situations, they experience less emotional exhaustion and workplace stress, leading to improved overall job satisfaction and retention rates.

Additionally, de-escalation training creates a safer work environment by stopping incidents before they start. Health care professionals are more likely to stay in positions where they feel physically and emotionally safe, and where they have the tools to maintain that safety consistently.

The systematic approach ensures all staff receive foundational skills, creating a supportive culture where everyone is equipped with the same evidence-based techniques for managing challenging situations. This unified approach reduces the isolation and frustration individual staff members might feel when dealing with difficult patients without proper training or support.

For hospital staff, CPI offers a comprehensive suite of de-escalation training programs designed to meet the diverse needs and risk levels across health care facilities. The optimal training approach depends on your staff's specific roles and the types of situations they encounter.

Prevention First™ serves as an excellent starting point for organizations implementing system-wide training. This 30-minute online training teaches all staff how to recognize crisis situations and call for support, making it ideal for creating enterprise-wide awareness and building a foundation of safety across your health system.

For more comprehensive skills development, CPI offers three main training levels:

Verbal Intervention™ is designed for departments with hands-off policies, providing staff with confidence and skills to verbally de-escalate disruptive behaviors involving anxious, disruptive, or care-refusing patients.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® offers more extensive intervention skills and techniques to safely de-escalate crisis situations, including safe disengagements and restrictive interventions for mid-to-high risk behaviors such as trauma-induced behavior, disrespecting care staff, and using abusive language.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills addresses the highest-risk situations involving destructive behavior, physical aggression, and individuals causing harm to self or others.

The most effective approach involves implementing a customized training plan that provides appropriate skills for each role and risk level throughout your health system. This comprehensive strategy helps reduce workplace violence, ensure regulatory compliance, strengthen financial performance, and boost staff satisfaction while building an enterprise-wide culture of safety.

To determine the best training combination for your facility, CPI offers complimentary consultations to evaluate your current crisis prevention programming and design a tailored training recommendation.

CPI training programs align comprehensively with OSHA workplace violence prevention guidelines through several key areas:

Prevention and Recognition Training
CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® program provides staff with risk assessment criteria to evaluate perceived threats, empowering them to assess potentially dangerous situations and respond appropriately. The training equips individuals with skills to identify and assess workplace violence through person-centered, trauma-informed approaches.

De-escalation and Intervention Techniques
CPI training offers effective prevention techniques, including verbal de-escalation strategies and physical disengagement skills, to manage incidents that staff cannot successfully prevent. The program emphasizes proactive measures by identifying early warning signs of potential crisis situations and educates staff on recognizing signs of aggression and appropriate responses.

Training Implementation and Customization
CPI's train-the-trainer model makes it easy to schedule training for new employees and conduct required annual trainings. The content can be easily applied and adapted to job-specific scenarios and incidents based on organizational policies and procedures. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® is designed to be simple for staff to incorporate organizational policies into each discussion area within the curriculum.

Incident Reporting and Documentation
CPI recommends that all incidents of violence be thoroughly documented as part of the post-incident review process, with staff assessing each incident through the lens of CPI training to identify opportunities for adjusting intervention strategies at earlier stages of the crisis.

Comprehensive Program Development
CPI's approach to organizational assessment—discover, diagnose, design, and deliver—creates effective, impactful, and sustainable workplace violence prevention training programs. Using proprietary tools, CPI can complete risk assessments for all staff, ensuring they receive training at the appropriate level based on their roles and responsibilities.

The Joint Commission requires annual workplace violence prevention training for all staff at accredited behavioral health care and human services organizations, effective July 1, 2024.

The training must be comprehensive and include specific components. Annual training requirements mandate coverage of verbal de-escalation techniques, nonphysical intervention skills, and physical intervention skills. For appropriate roles, the training must also address response to emergency codes.

Beyond the technical skills, The Joint Commission specifies that workplace violence prevention training must address three critical areas:

Recognition and Awareness: Training must help staff understand what constitutes workplace violence, including recognition of different types of physical and nonphysical acts and threats occurring in the workplace.

Intervention Techniques: Education must focus on de-escalation and intervention techniques when confronted with incidents of workplace violence, emphasizing both prevention and response strategies.

Reporting Processes: Training must cover the reporting process for workplace violence incidents, incorporating violence prevention tools and encouraging use of simple and accessible reporting procedures.

The Joint Commission's requirements are prescriptive, meaning organizations must deliver training that meets these specific regulatory standards. The regulation applies to all Joint Commission-accredited behavioral health care and human services organizations and represents part of a broader framework to help these organizations develop and reinforce workplace violence prevention efforts.

CPI addresses trauma-informed care in human services settings through comprehensive training programs, practical tools, and evidence-based approaches that help professionals understand trauma's impact on behavior and respond appropriately.

Understanding Trauma's Impact
CPI's approach recognizes that trauma significantly influences thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of both clients and colleagues in human services settings. The training emphasizes learning to interpret behavior effectively as communication, particularly when working with individuals who may have a trauma history.

Practical Tools and Resources
CPI provides a Trauma-Informed Care for Human Services Professionals guide that includes principles for applying a trauma-informed approach, tips to identify and prevent vicarious trauma, and a De-escalation Preferences Form to use with clients and colleagues. This comprehensive screening tool helps gather the right information to provide trauma-informed care to children or adults.

Evidence-Based Practices
CPI recommends specific practices to prevent re-traumatization while empowering individuals to cope more effectively:

• Screening for trauma history using structured assessment tools
• Employing person-centered, strengths-based thinking and language
• Providing stability and empowerment through evidence-based limit setting that supports decision-making opportunities
• Considering physiological, psychological, and social risks of physical interventions, choosing the least restrictive option only as a last resort
• Prioritizing debriefing after crises using the *COPING Model℠* to help foster resilience and develop successful coping skills

Integration Across Programs
CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training specifically emphasizes trauma-informed practices as a means of safer and more caring crisis prevention. The philosophy maintains that the safest restraint is the one that never happens, reflecting a trauma-informed understanding of the risks associated with physical interventions.

Through this comprehensive approach, CPI helps human services professionals distinguish between deviant behavior and trauma responses, ultimately improving both staff safety and client well-being.

CPI^® offers de-escalation training programs for IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) care providers to help support individuals with cognitive and developmental differences.

Primary Training Programs for IDD Care:

Verbal Intervention™ is particularly well-suited for IDD care environments that require hands-off approaches. This program instills confidence and skills to verbally de-escalate complex behaviors and prevent further escalation, making it ideal for organizations with non-restrictive policies.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® provides staff with skills to safely recognize and respond to everyday crisis situations involving more challenging behaviors. This evidence-based program is designed to help achieve compliance with current legislative initiatives and best practices, which is especially important in IDD care settings where regulatory requirements are stringent.

For higher-risk scenarios, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills equips staff with decision-making skills to confidently assess and address risk when facing complex behaviors, combining verbal intervention strategies with advanced physical skills when necessary.

Person-Centered Approach:

Our training programs emphasize person-centered approaches that prioritize understanding the individual behind the behavior. This philosophy is particularly crucial in IDD care, where behaviors often stem from communication challenges, sensory sensitivities, or unmet needs. Staff learn to identify triggers, understand the function of behaviors, and implement proactive strategies that respect individual dignity and autonomy.

Specialized Considerations for IDD Care:

IDD care providers benefit from training that addresses communication adaptations, sensory processing differences, and the importance of routine and predictability. Our programs teach staff to recognize early warning signs, modify environmental factors, and use clear, consistent communication strategies that reduce anxiety and confusion.

As the world's leading provider of evidence-based de-escalation training, CPI^® offers customized consultation services to tailor programs to your organization's specific needs and the unique population you serve.

Yes, nonprofit organizations can access CPI training even with limited budgets through several practical approaches and funding strategies.

Cost-Effective Training Options
CPI offers scalable training solutions that can help nonprofits maximize their investment. The train-the-trainer model allows organizations to develop internal Certified Instructors who can then train multiple staff members, significantly reducing per-person training costs over time. This approach is particularly valuable for nonprofits with larger staff populations or high turnover rates.

For organizations seeking foundational skills across their entire workforce, CPI provides more accessible options like Prevention First™ Online Training for health care settings, Reframing Behavior™ for educational environments, and De-escalation and Violence Prevention Training for Retail. These programs offer essential de-escalation skills at a lower cost point than comprehensive certification programs.

Funding Opportunities
Many nonprofits successfully secure external funding for CPI training through grants and legislative support. State funding initiatives, such as Oregon's Senate Bill 283, demonstrate how government entities recognize the value of CPI training and provide financial support. Nonprofits should explore state and federal grant opportunities, particularly those focused on workplace safety, violence prevention, or staff development.

Foundation grants represent another viable funding source, especially from organizations that prioritize workplace safety, mental health, or community well-being. Many foundations view crisis prevention training as an investment in both staff welfare and service quality.

Strategic Implementation
Organizations with limited budgets should consider phased implementation strategies. Start by training key personnel or those in high-risk positions, then gradually expand training to additional staff as resources become available. This approach allows organizations to demonstrate measurable outcomes that can support future funding requests.

Group training rates and multi-year contracts often provide cost savings. Additionally, collaborating with similar organizations in your region may create opportunities for shared training costs while still maintaining the quality standards that make CPI training effective.

The investment in CPI training typically yields returns through reduced staff turnover, decreased workplace incidents, and improved organizational culture—factors that can ultimately reduce operational costs for budget-conscious nonprofits.

CPI offers several training programs designed to meet the unique needs of social service workers across various settings and roles.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® serves as the foundational program for social service professionals. This comprehensive training equips staff with evidence-based de-escalation techniques, crisis prevention strategies, and safe physical intervention skills when necessary. The program creates a common language across teams and builds staff confidence in managing challenging situations.

For organizations seeking to build internal training capacity, CPI's train-the-trainer model allows social service agencies to certify their own instructors. Certified Instructors can then conduct ongoing training using CPI courses and materials, ensuring consistent skill reinforcement throughout the organization.

Specialized programs address specific social service environments:

• Programs focused on trauma-informed care approaches
• Training for residential treatment facilities
• Child welfare and family services-specific curricula
• Community-based program adaptations

CPI recognizes that effective crisis prevention extends beyond frontline staff. The institute offers foundational training options that can be implemented organization-wide, promoting consistent responses and better cross-departmental collaboration. This comprehensive approach helps social service agencies create safer environments for both staff and the individuals they serve.

The training emphasizes practical expertise and vocabulary that social workers can immediately apply in their daily interactions. By focusing on prevention and de-escalation, these programs help reduce challenging behaviors while improving overall behavior management capabilities.

Social service organizations implementing CPI training typically experience increased staff retention, improved job satisfaction, and more effective crisis responses across all departments.

CPI offers several training programs designed for behavioral health settings, each tailored to different intervention needs and staff roles.

Verbal Intervention™ is ideal for behavioral health roles requiring a hands-off approach. This program teaches staff verbal de-escalation strategies that mitigate distressing behavior through understanding trauma and nonrestrictive interventions.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® Training provides mental health professionals with skills to safely de-escalate crisis situations using both restrictive and nonrestrictive interventions.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills teaches safe, advanced physical intervention techniques for situations involving individuals displaying hazardous complex behaviors, while also covering the less restrictive interventions from the VI and NCI™ courses.

These training programs are built on core principles of behavioral health de-escalation, emphasizing staff and client safety as top priorities. The training empowers staff to understand challenging behavior through person-centered approaches, manage their own emotional responses before intervening, and utilize physical interventions when necessary while maintaining safety for both staff and clients.

CPI's behavioral health training solutions are trauma-informed and person-centered, providing staff at all levels with the skills and confidence to recognize and respond to even the most complex client behavior. The programs focus on verbal, restrictive, and nonrestrictive techniques to prevent and safely de-escalate mental health-related risk behaviors.

CPI offers three primary de-escalation training programs for psychiatric and residential staff, each tailored to different roles and risk levels.

Verbal Intervention™ is ideal for departments with hands-off policies. This program teaches verbal de-escalation strategies that mitigate distressing behavior through an understanding of trauma and nonrestrictive interventions.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® provides skills to safely respond to everyday crises, including safe disengagements and restrictive interventions. This program teaches mental health professionals the skills needed to safely de-escalate crisis situations through both restrictive or nonrestrictive interventions.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills is designed for facilities supporting individuals who display dangerous or complex behavior. Staff learn safe, advanced physical intervention techniques for situations involving individuals displaying hazardous complex behaviors, while also learning the less restrictive interventions presented in the VI and NCI™ courses.

All programs focus on the Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security℠ of every person involved and provide evidence-based crisis prevention skills. The training is customized for your workplace and its unique roles and risk levels.

To get started, you can schedule a consultation where CPI will evaluate your current crisis prevention programming and provide a complimentary training program recommendation.

CPI addresses crisis prevention in mental health facilities through comprehensive, evidence-based training programs that emphasize prevention, de-escalation, and culture change. Our approach focuses on equipping staff with verbal, restrictive, and nonrestrictive techniques to prevent and safely de-escalate mental health related risk behaviors.

The cornerstone of our approach is Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training, which prioritizes prevention and de-escalation techniques as alternatives to restraint. This program helps staff identify underlying causes of challenging behaviors and understand how staff and resident behaviors affect each other.

Key components of our crisis prevention approach include:

Prevention and Early Intervention: Our training emphasizes evaluating risk of harm and signs of distress, enabling staff to intervene at earlier stages of the crisis. Staff learn to interpret behavior effectively as communication, particularly when working with individuals who may have a trauma history.

De-escalation Techniques: We teach evidence-based de-escalation methods that support a trauma-informed care approach, helping prevent re-traumatization while empowering individuals to cope more effectively.

Physical Intervention as Last Resort: When physical intervention becomes necessary, we provide training in safer, less restrictive holding skills to be used only as a last resort. Our philosophy emphasizes that the safest restraint is the one that never happens.

Documentation and Debriefing: Our programs include proper incident documentation and debriefing strategies using our *COPING Model*℠ to help prevent incidents from recurring and build resilience.

Culture Change: Rather than a top-down approach, our training facilitates comprehensive culture change, creating a continual learning process where staff develop unified approaches to patient care. This results in decreased use of restraints, greater staff cooperation, and improved quality of care.

Our customizable solutions fit every role and risk level, using person-centered approaches that focus on the Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security℠ of everyone.

Trauma-informed care is an approach guided by a detailed understanding of how trauma shapes an individual's perceptions and behavior. This approach recognizes that trauma can stem from single or multiple experiences, may involve actual or perceived threats to well-being, and can negatively impact daily coping mechanisms while distorting ongoing perspectives and behavioral responses.

In behavioral health settings, trauma-informed care seeks to prevent re-traumatizing individuals in crisis while empowering them to cope more effectively. This approach is particularly critical because many individuals in behavioral health care have experienced various types of trauma, including acute trauma, complex trauma, crossover trauma, or vicarious trauma.

Key Applications in Behavioral Health:

Assessment and Understanding: Professionals screen for trauma history using comprehensive tools and learn to interpret behavior as communication rather than simple defiance. As one professional noted, it's essential to distinguish whether behavior represents "a deviant behavior or a trauma response".

Person-Centered Approach: Staff employ person-centered, strengths-based thinking and language that sees individuals for who they are as people, not just how they behave in a crisis. This includes building rapport and understanding life experiences to provide more tailored services.

Intervention Strategies: Trauma-informed care emphasizes providing stability and empowerment through evidence-based limit setting that offers decision-making opportunities. Physical interventions are considered only as a last resort when someone poses danger to themselves or others.

Recovery and Resilience: The approach prioritizes debriefing after crisis events to help foster resilience and develop successful coping skills, utilizing tools like the COPING Model℠ to help both staff and individuals process and recover.

Trauma-informed care benefits both the individuals receiving care and the professionals providing it, creating safer environments and more positive outcomes across behavioral health settings.

CPI training addresses workplace violence in behavioral health settings through evidence-based de-escalation strategies and comprehensive staff preparation. The training equips staff with essential skills to identify early warning signs of potential crisis situations and respond with appropriate verbal and nonverbal de-escalation techniques.

The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® program provides staff with risk assessment criteria to evaluate perceived threats, empowering them to assess potentially dangerous situations and respond appropriately. Staff learn both prevention techniques, including verbal de-escalation strategies, and physical disengagement skills when prevention efforts are unsuccessful. Physical intervention strategies are emphasized as last resort measures only.

Real-world results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. CHRISTUS Health Southern New Mexico achieved a 65% reduction in workplace violence incidents within two years of implementing system-wide CPI training across 90 associates in 10 departments. The training created measurable improvements in staff confidence and readiness to de-escalate situations, with non-clinical staff gaining the confidence to step in during challenging situations.

CPI training also establishes a common language and framework across departments, creating cultural consistency in violence prevention approaches. Staff report increased confidence, improved communication, and enhanced collaborative problem-solving abilities.

The training aligns with Joint Commission requirements for workplace violence prevention programs, addressing recognition of workplace violence, de-escalation techniques, intervention skills, and proper incident reporting processes. This comprehensive approach creates safer environments for both staff and clients while reducing the need for restrictive interventions like restraint and seclusion.

CPI training supports restraint and seclusion reduction through a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that emphasizes prevention, proper assessment, and safe implementation when necessary.

Prevention-Focused Training
CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® program prioritizes prevention by teaching staff to recognize early warning signs of potential crisis situations through the Crisis Development Model℠. Staff learn nonverbal and verbal de-escalation techniques to address situations before they escalate to the point where restraint or seclusion might be considered.

Least Restrictive Approach
The training emphasizes that the least restrictive form of intervention should always be considered and utilized first, before any physical restraint. CPI employs a Decision-Making Matrix℠ that helps staff assess the likelihood of behavior and severity of potential harm, ensuring that restrictive interventions are only used as a last resort when someone's behavior creates imminent danger to themselves or others.

Proper Assessment and Monitoring
CPI training includes comprehensive instruction on recognizing signs of physical and psychological distress during interventions. Staff learn to continuously monitor individuals face-to-face and understand specific behavioral changes that indicate when restraint or seclusion is no longer necessary.

Measurable Results
Health care organizations implementing CPI training have demonstrated significant outcomes, including a marked decrease in the need for and use of restraints or seclusion. Some facilities have completely eliminated the use of seclusion while improving staff confidence and patient safety.

Post-Incident Learning
The training emphasizes post-incident debriefing to understand what led to incidents, identify alternative approaches, and modify care plans to prevent future occurrences. This continuous learning approach helps organizations systematically reduce their reliance on restrictive interventions over time.

CPI training supports restraint and seclusion reduction through a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that emphasizes prevention, proper assessment, and safe implementation when necessary.

Prevention-Focused Training
CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® program prioritizes prevention by teaching staff to recognize early warning signs of potential crisis situations through the Crisis Development Model℠. Staff learn nonverbal and verbal de-escalation techniques to address situations before they escalate to the point where restraint or seclusion might be considered.

Least Restrictive Approach
The training emphasizes that the least restrictive form of intervention should always be considered and utilized first, before any physical restraint. CPI employs a Decision-Making Matrix℠ that helps staff assess the likelihood of behavior and severity of potential harm, ensuring that restrictive interventions are only used as a last resort when someone's behavior creates imminent danger to themselves or others.

Proper Assessment and Monitoring
CPI training includes comprehensive instruction on recognizing signs of physical and psychological distress during interventions. Staff learn to continuously monitor individuals face-to-face and understand specific behavioral changes that indicate when restraint or seclusion is no longer necessary.

Measurable Results
Health care organizations implementing CPI training have demonstrated significant outcomes, including a marked decrease in the need for and use of restraints or seclusion. Some facilities have completely eliminated the use of seclusion while improving staff confidence and patient safety.

Post-Incident Learning
The training emphasizes post-incident debriefing to understand what led to incidents, identify alternative approaches, and modify care plans to prevent future occurrences. This continuous learning approach helps organizations systematically reduce their reliance on restrictive interventions over time.

CPI schedules more than 500 training events annually in North America alone, making it easy to find a training program in your area. To locate CPI training near you, you can use CPI's training finder tool.

In addition to scheduled public training events, CPI offers flexible training delivery options to meet your organization's specific needs. If you prefer on-site training, a CPI Global Professional Instructor can facilitate training at your organization with your designated Certified Instructors. For organizations without appropriate staff to serve as Certified Instructors, CPI also provides direct delivery, where CPI comes to your organization and trains your staff directly.

To help determine the optimal CPI training program options for your situation, CPI has a consultation process that includes questions about your industry or profession and the behaviors you face. You can schedule a consultation to learn how CPI's training programs can benefit your organization.

CPI offers a pre-training online curriculum that you must complete before your live training begins. This online training reviews course content, explores CPI modules in greater depth, and provides essential facilitation strategies to maximize your training experience.

You will receive an email invitation to access this online training approximately 10 days prior to your scheduled live training event . This online component is a required prerequisite that must be completed before attending the in-person portion of your training.

Yes, your organization can arrange on-site CPI training. We offer multiple on-site training options designed to accommodate your organization's specific needs and staff schedules while minimizing time away from daily operations.

Our on-site training delivery includes two primary approaches:

CPI Trains at Your Organization: A CPI Global Professional Instructor comes to your facility to work with your designated Certified Instructors to facilitate training.

Direct Delivery: If your organization doesn't have appropriate staff to serve as Certified Instructors, CPI will come directly to your organization and train your staff.

Additionally, we follow a train-the-trainer model where CPI Instructors train select members of your staff to become your organization's Certified Instructors. This approach allows training to be embedded within your organization's culture and enables ongoing skill reinforcement.

To explore on-site training options for your organization, you can schedule a consultation to discuss your specific needs and determine the best approach.

CPI training effectiveness doesn't depend on a specific minimum number of staff members being trained. Instead, the focus should be on comprehensive implementation across your organization.

We believe everyone has a role to play in creating a safer workplace, not just those in "high-risk" positions. Organizations that implement CPI training across their entire staff see significant benefits, including quicker and more consistent crisis responses, increased staff retention and job satisfaction, better cross-departmental collaboration and communication, and more effective training outcomes for Certified Instructors.

For optimal implementation, CPI recommends a 1:50 Certified Instructor to staff ratio, allowing each Certified Instructor to perform two, 25-person trainings each year. Additionally, establishing one Certified Instructor per building helps empower your staff and leads to quicker, more efficient crisis response times.

The key to effectiveness lies in selecting the right Certified Instructors, as they will have a significant impact on the overall success of your CPI training program. For organizations looking to implement foundational skills organization-wide, CPI offers specific training options designed for easy, comprehensive deployment across different industries and roles.

The duration of CPI training varies depending on the specific program and training type. 

For those seeking to become Certified Instructors, the train-the-trainer component takes 3 hours. This instructor training prepares individuals to conduct ongoing trainings for their colleagues using CPI courses and materials.     

For participants taking CPI courses, the Dementia Capable Care program requires 3.5 hours to complete.

For other CPI programs, training times are tailored to each program's content and objectives.

Yes, CPI training is fully customizable for organizations. CPI training can be customized for all staff members in an organization regardless of their job description, role, or risk level.

CPI uses a comprehensive 4D approach to customize training for each organization's unique needs. This process includes four phases: Discover, Diagnose, Design, and Deliver. During the Discover phase, the CPI Professional Services team works with you to understand your goals and motivations. The Diagnose phase provides specific recommendations based on data and your unique needs. In the Design phase, CPI partners with key stakeholders in your organization to develop your implementation strategy, discussing technology implementation, direct delivery versus instructor certification, prioritization of training, training cadence, and logistics. Finally, the Deliver phase includes establishing your certified staff and delivering training to your staff.

CPI also gathers information about your industry, profession, and the specific behaviors you face to determine optimal training program options. You can select the CPI program that best aligns with your organization's needs, with options to enhance your training with trauma, mental health, and autism spectrum disorder content.

CPI training is available in multiple delivery formats to accommodate your organization's needs, including on-site training with your Certified Instructors, direct delivery where CPI trains your staff directly, or attending scheduled training events.

To become CPI certified, you need to attend training conducted by CPI Global Professional Instructors who will train select staff from your organization to become Certified Instructors. This certification process applies to CPI's core training programs, including CPI Verbal Intervention™ Training, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® with Intermediate Physical Skills, and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills.

Once certified, you must attend renewal training every two years to maintain your certification. The renewal process ensures you stay current with the most updated de-escalation techniques while sharpening your confidence and skills through refreshed scenarios and networking opportunities with peers.

To begin the certification process or renew an existing certification, you can start at https://www.crisisprevention.com/event-registration.

The CPI Blue Card^® is a confirmation of training that participants receive upon completing CPI training programs. This serves as documentation that an individual has successfully completed their training in CPI's core programs, which include CPI Verbal Intervention™, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Intermediate Physical Skills, or Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills.

CPI provides recommendations on how long the the Blue Card^® is valid for, but this is to be established by the Certified Instructor and their organization, consisent with their policies. 

This system ensures that individuals maintain current knowledge and skills in crisis prevention and intervention techniques, supporting the highest standards of safety and professional competency in their respective work environments.

Certified Instructors can verify a Blue Card^® through an automated system within their instructor profile. 

To print training record verification letters for participants, log into your instructor profile and locate the training in your list. You'll find a "Print Training Record" button that allows you to generate contact hour letters and verification documentation.

It's important to ensure all training information is entered accurately when initially documenting the class, including participant details and expiration dates, as the verification letters are automatically generated based on this submitted information.

If corrections are needed to verification letters due to data entry errors, you'll need to contact CPI by phone 877.877.5390 or email info@crisisprevention.com.

There are two distinct pathways in CPI training programs:

Participant Attendance refers to the standard training that staff members receive in CPI's programs. This is the foundational level where individuals learn the core skills and techniques.

Instructor Certification is an advanced pathway through the Instructor Certification Program, where CPI Global Professional Instructors train select staff members to become Certified Instructors for their organization. 

The key differences include:

Certified Instructors gain significant additional capabilities:

• Authority to deliver CPI training programs to other staff within their organization
• Flexibility to conduct training based on timing, location, and frequency needs
• Ability to deliver appropriate sections of training based on specific audience requirements
• Scalability to train the entire organization
• Role as internal experts who provide ongoing advice and support violence prevention efforts
• Access to refresh and update training with mentoring from CPI Global Professional Instructors

Selection for instructor certification requires careful consideration, as these individuals significantly impact the overall success of the training program and help set the tone for all participants. Organizations must commit sufficient time and resources to support Certified Instructors in their expanded role.

Essentially, participants receive training, while Certified Instructors receive training plus the authority and skills to train others.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® (NCI™) certification is professional training that equips individuals to become Certified Instructors capable of teaching crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques within their organizations.

The certification process involves completing an Instructor Certification Program that provides comprehensive training in evidence-based crisis intervention methods. Upon successful completion, participants earn their certification and can deliver Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training to staff in their workplace.

CPI offers several NCI™ certification options to meet different organizational needs:

Standard Certification Programs:

• 3rd Edition Instructor Certification Program available in classroom or blended classroom formats
• Certification renewal programs for maintaining current instructor status

Specialty Topic Options:
The program includes optional specialty topics that focus on specific populations or trauma-informed approaches:

• Trauma specialization
• Mental health specialization
• Autism specialization
• ADHD specialization

Advanced Training Levels:

• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Intermediate Physical Skills certification for situations requiring additional intervention techniques
• NCI™ With Advanced Physical Skills training for more complex, high-risk crisis situations

CPI certification programs are accredited by multiple professional organizations and provide continuing education units (CEUs). This ensures the training meets professional development requirements across various industries including health care, education, and human services.

CPI training offers Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through various accreditations and affiliations to ensure participants can receive continuing education credit alongside their de-escalation training.

CPI maintains program approvals, accreditations, sponsorships, and providerships through numerous entities, each governed by its own set of rules and policies regarding credits, hours, and units.

IACET Accreditation
CPI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) with Provider Number 5480900-2, valid through May 31, 2027. Through this accreditation, CPI offers varying CEU amounts for different programs:

• Verbal Intervention™
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Intermediate Physical Skills
• Nonviolent Crisis Interventio^®n With Advanced Physical Skills
• Prevention First™
• De-escalation Basics™
• Classroom Culture
• Specialty Topics
• Refresher Training
• Dementia Capabile Care

Additional Affiliations
CPI maintains continuing education affiliations with various professional organizations and licensing boards within the United States. The California Board of Nursing is specifically mentioned as providing approval for online courses.

Credit Issuance
CPI provides continuing education credit to learners who complete training delivered by a CPI instructor or through online training modules, though CPI does not award post-secondary academic credit. Certified Instructors can print training record verification letters for participants through an automated system.

The specific continuing education credits available depend on your professional licensing requirements and the particular CPI program completed.

CPI Instructor Certification Renewals require attendence in a live in-person training program for Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® with Intermediate Physical Skills, and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®  with Advanced Physical Skills. Verbal Intervention™ requires attendence in a live virtual program. Both are facilitated by CPI every two years.  The renewal process involves attending a renewal training that sharpens your confidence and skills through refreshed scenarios and networking with peers to learn from their unique experiences.

While you can initiate the renewal process online, the actual certification renewal must be completed through attending a CPI-facilitated training program rather than through online coursework alone. Your renewal cycle begins on the day of your original certification, and renewals are required to maintain your certification and ensure your ability to provide the most updated de-escalation techniques.

CPI Instructor Certification is valid for 2 years from the date of your original certification. Participants who recieve a Blue Card^® credential should refer to the expiration date written on the card or refer to your organization's CPI Certified Instructor or policies and prodedures for additional guidance. 

To maintain the Instructor Certification, you must attend a renewal training every two years. The renewal process is designed to sharpen your confidence and skills through refreshed scenarios and networking opportunities with peers to learn from their unique experiences. Renewals are required to ensure your ability to provide the most updated de-escalation techniques.

Your renewal cycle begins on the day of your original certification, so it's important to track this date to ensure you renew on time.

Renewal and Refresher courses serve different purposes and have different requirements within CPI's training system.

Renewal training is a mandatory requirement for Certified Instructors to maintain their certification status. Certified Instructors must attend renewal training every two years. This renewal process focuses on sharpening confidence and skills through refreshed scenarios and networking opportunities with peers to learn from their unique experiences.

Refresher training, on the other hand, is optional and can be attended at any time. Certified Instructors can attend refresher trainings for their program at any time prior to their renewal dates. The purpose of refresher training is to help Certified Instructors regularly review and renew their own training to build proficiency, prevent training drift, and update their knowledge.

In essence, renewal training is a mandatory certification maintenance requirement with a fixed two-year schedule, while refresher training is a voluntary professional development opportunity available whenever a Certified Instructor feels they need to strengthen their skills or knowledge.

CPI's train-the-trainer model works by certifying your organization's staff members as Certified Instructors who then conduct ongoing trainings using CPI courses and materials with their colleagues.

This approach ensures that training and related materials are easily customizable to meet the specific needs of your staff. The model incorporates practice, role-playing with real-life scenarios, and problem-solving activities to keep participants engaged throughout the learning process.

CPI's eLearning components are designed to be highly interactive and engaging, incorporating numerous learning strategies proven effective with adult learners.

This embedded approach makes it easy to roll out training organization-wide while allowing for organic change from within your organization, as your own certified staff members deliver the training using CPI's evidence-based methodology.

To become a CPI Certified Instructor, you must complete CPI's comprehensive train-the-trainer certification process. CPI Instructors train select staff from your organization to become Certified Instructors, enabling you to deliver evidence-based crisis prevention training internally.

The certification process typically includes several key components:

Prerequisites and Selection
Organizations work with CPI to identify appropriate candidates who demonstrate strong communication skills, teaching ability, and commitment to the training philosophy. Candidates should have experience working with the populations they'll be training and possess the interpersonal skills necessary to facilitate learning in potentially sensitive situations.

Instructor Certification Program (ICP)
Selected candidates attend an intensive ICP conducted by experienced CPI trainers. This program covers both the content knowledge and instructional methodology required to effectively deliver CPI training. Participants learn not only what to teach but how to teach it, including facilitation techniques, group management, and handling challenging training situations.

Program-Specific Training
Certification requirements vary depending on which CPI program you'll be teaching—whether Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®, Verbal Intervention™, or other specialized programs. Each has specific learning objectives and skill competencies that must be mastered.

Ongoing Requirements
Certified Instructors must maintain their certification through periodic recertification training to ensure they stay current with program updates and best practices. This reflects CPI's commitment to evidence-based methodology and continuous improvement.

The train-the-trainer approach allows organizations to embed crisis prevention skills organically within their culture while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of CPI's proven methodologies. This model ensures sustainable skill reinforcement and creates internal expertise that can adapt to your organization's unique needs and challenges.

Organizations implement CPI training at scale through a structured train-the-trainer approach that builds internal capacity and ensures sustainable program delivery.

Select and Certify Internal Instructors
The foundation of scalable implementation is selecting the right Certified Instructors within your organization. These individuals will have a significant impact on the overall success of the CPI training program and are equipped with the principles and skills needed to effectively address crisis situations throughout your organization.

Follow Recommended Staffing Ratios
CPI recommends a 1:50 Certified Instructor to staff ratio, allowing each Certified Instructor to perform two, 25-person trainings each year. Additionally, establishing one Certified Instructor per building helps empower staff, leading to quicker, more efficient crisis response times.

Train Organization-Wide
Rather than limiting training to "high-risk" positions, CPI believes everyone has a role to play in creating a safer workplace. Organizations that implement CPI training across their entire staff see benefits through quicker, consistent crisis responses, increased staff retention and job satisfaction, better cross-departmental collaboration and communication, and more effective trainings for Certified Instructors.

Maintain Ongoing Training
Once certified, your internal Certified Instructors conduct ongoing trainings using CPI courses and materials. To ensure quality and prevent training drift, Certified Instructors are required to attend a CPI-facilitated program every two years.

This embedded approach allows organizations to build crisis prevention capabilities from within, ensuring training is sustainable, cost-effective, and culturally aligned with your organization's specific needs.

CPI provides comprehensive ongoing support to ensure your success continues well beyond your initial certification. You'll receive free refresher training, dedicated phone support for questions and concerns, and access to online resources.

As a Certified Instructor, you'll have access to CPI Training Development Consultants during normal business hours who can answer questions and provide guidance as you train your colleagues. CPI also supplies you with all the materials you need to conduct effective training sessions, including electronic presentations, instructor guides, and workbooks.

To maintain your expertise and certification, CPI requires you to attend renewal training every two years. These renewal sessions are designed to sharpen your confidence and skills through refreshed scenarios and valuable networking opportunities with peers, allowing you to learn from their unique experiences. Your renewal cycle begins on the day of your original certification.

This ongoing support structure ensures you're never left to navigate challenges alone—CPI remains your partner in delivering effective crisis prevention training throughout your certification journey.

As a Certified Instructor, you have access to comprehensive CPI resources and materials to support your training delivery. You receive CPI-supplied materials including electronic presentations, instructor guides, and workbooks for the programs you're certified to teach.

Your access includes materials for Verbal Intervention™, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^®, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Intermediate Physical Skills, and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® With Advanced Physical Skills, depending on the program you're certified to teach.

Beyond the training materials themselves, CPI provides ongoing support through Training Development Consultants who are available during normal business hours to answer questions and provide guidance as you conduct trainings with your colleagues. This ensures you have the resources and expert support needed to deliver effective CPI courses and materials within your organization.

The Certified Instructor Professional Association (CIPA) is CPI's professional membership organization designed specifically for Certified Instructors who deliver CPI training programs within their organizations

CIPA serves as a professional community that connects CPI Certified Instructors across various industries and settings. The association provides resources, support, and opportunities for professional development to help Certified Instructors enhance their teaching effectiveness and stay current with best practices in crisis prevention and de-escalation training.

Key Benefits of CIPA Membership
CIPA membership typically includes access to exclusive resources such as updated training materials, professional development opportunities, networking with other Certified Instructors, and ongoing support to maintain certification requirements. Members receive updates on new research, training methodologies, and program enhancements like the recent 3rd Edition Training that incorporates the latest evidence-based research on trauma and brain science.

Support and Contact Information
For questions about CIPA membership, benefits, or enrollment, you can contact CPI's customer support team at 877.877.5930, Monday through Friday between 7:30 AM - 8:00 PM CT, or email info@crisisprevention.com.

CIPA represents CPI's commitment to supporting the ongoing professional development of Certified Instructors who serve as the foundation of our train-the-trainer approach, ensuring that crisis prevention skills are effectively embedded within organizations and consistently reinforced over time.