Trauma-Informed Care in Action: The National Center for Children and Families’ Organization-Wide Approach to Crisis Prevention

At the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF), trauma-informed care isn’t just a value—it’s a commitment woven into every aspect of their work. Supporting vulnerable youth and families across 23 diverse programs, NCCF serves Washington D.C. and Maryland by creating real change in communities for those with varying levels of need, risk, and complexity. 

To ensure staff were fully equipped to meet these challenges, NCCF partnered with CPI to deliver organization-wide training in crisis prevention and verbal de-escalation. Today, more than 300 team members have been trained, with 9–10 Certified Instructors on staff leading the charge. Their story shows how CPI training—matched to staff roles, program needs, and tailored for trauma-impacted clients—can improve safety, communication, and confidence for both clients and providers. 

Training That Matches Risk Levels: Customizing De-escalation Skills for 23 Programs 

NCCF’s 23 programs span a wide spectrum of services—from residential care for high-risk youth to supportive housing and community-based family services. Each program operates within a unique context, with distinct client needs, staff responsibilities, and levels of behavioral risk.  

“Within a year, we could touch more than 1,000 families,” says Kameko Johnson-Styles, NCCF director of youth, family and community engagement and Certified Instructor.  

With such a broad reach, a one-size-fits-all training model wouldn’t meet the needs of NCCF’s staff—or the clients they serve. That’s why the organization took a targeted, program-specific approach to implementing CPI training. The flexibility of CPI’s framework gave instructors room to tailor the content—providing verbal intervention strategies in community settings, while preparing others to manage more acute challenges using Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® (NCI™), and in one residential program, NCI™ With Advanced Physical Skills. 

From the start, Certified Instructors at NCCF have played a crucial role in this customization. Because they know the specific demands of each setting, they’re able to deliver training scenarios and techniques that feel relevant from day one. 

The result? Staff across all levels feel more prepared and supported. Each program benefits from a shared foundation of trauma-informed de-escalation techniques, which prioritize both staff safety and client well-being.  

This consistent, trauma-informed approach strengthens communication, reinforces organizational values, and ensures a unified response across services. 

As NCCF’s Training Management Administrator, Krystal Holland, explains: “There’s importance in having the entire organization trained in the same crisis prevention model. There is similar language and style and techniques that we're all using.” 

The Impact of Proactive De-escalation Training in Reducing Restraints 

After CPI training was rolled out, NCCF staff began to view it as more than just a program—it became their go-to toolkit, explains Kevon Calhoun, director of child care services at NCCF’s residential sector and Certified Instructor. A toolkit, he says, that emphasizes non-restrictive, verbal interventions to proactively prevent incidents from escalating into violence. 

“It (CPI training) gives us the tools to de-escalate before we get to a point where physical interventions would have normally been needed,” says Calhoun. 

Anticipating and intervening early in escalating behavior has significantly reduced the need for physical restraint in NCCF's residential sector. According to Calhoun, it’s the understanding of what happens before a crisis moment—and the tools to respond early—that has made the biggest difference. 

This trauma-informed culture of prevention has not only reduced the need for restraints, but has also helped build stronger, more trusting relationships between staff and youth. With a shared language and consistent approach to behavior support, staff feel empowered to set limits and respond with empathy—even in high-stress situations. 

 

This shift toward proactive, confident intervention reflects more than just a change in technique—it’s part of NCCF’s deeper commitment to trauma-informed care. For an organization working with individuals who may carry histories of complex trauma, understanding the why behind behavior is just as important as knowing how to respond to it. 

The Importance of Including Trauma-Informed Care in De-escalation Training 

At the heart of NCCF’s mission is the belief that clients should be supported with dignity and love. To do so means understanding that behavior is often a form of communication—especially for youth and families who have experienced trauma, systemic inequity, or chronic instability.  

CPI’s trauma-informed framework supports this understanding, equipping staff to look beyond behavior and consider the unmet needs, stressors, or past experiences that may be contributing to a crisis moment.  

Holland notes this alignment as one of the key reasons NCCF chose to partner with CPI: 

“I realized that a lot of CPI's training models are not just focused on the crisis,” she says. “There’s a lot around relationship-building, trust-building, and keeping a safe environment. That’s what convinced our executive leadership to train the entire organization in the same model—because whether you're in a group home or a custom program, the consistency matters.” 

Rather than labeling behavior as “defiant” or “aggressive,” staff learn to recognize Precipitating Factors—emotional triggers, unmet needs, or environmental stressors—that may be driving the behavior. This shift in perspective fosters more compassionate intervention strategies that prioritize safety and dignity.  

In the residential sector designated specifically for males, ages 12-20, Calhoun often sees the impact of trauma on NCCF’s most at-risk population: “They have their own traumas—some behavioral, some mental. We understand that we might have a behavioral child that is a hitter. So, we equip ourselves to prevent that.”  

With trauma-informed strategies embedded into every level of CPI training, NCCF ensures that staff aren’t just reacting—they’re connecting, preventing, and building trust in moments that matter most. 

Choosing CPI as a Partner in Prevention 

For NCCF, CPI isn’t just a training solution—it’s a long-term partnership grounded in prevention, adaptability, and support. With over 300 staff trained and multiple Certified Instructors on site, CPI has become embedded in the culture of the organization. 

“We kind of use CPI daily,” says Calhoun. “Not in the sense of restraining people or disengagement—but with the continuum of verbal escalation, the responses to youth behavior. It’s part of the way we work.” 

That everyday relevance is a big reason CPI has remained a core training across NCCF’s 23 diverse programs. Staff across different programs appreciate how flexible the model is. 

“I enjoy CPI. It's adaptable to what our agency can offer, and it has so many different elements,” shares Johnson-Styles. “Some of our programs don’t use physical skills, while others do. So yeah, we have a good blend—because we're such a large agency.” 

This flexibility also fuels connection among team members. Staff regularly share real-life examples of using CPI strategies, not just in the workplace, but even in their personal lives. 

“We try to connect the stories to even our colleagues,” Johnson-Styles adds. “Using CPI skills to de-escalate—we really have fun with it.” 

And when challenges arise, CPI’s support team is there. 

“Your organization has always been responsive,” Holland shares. “If we need a rush order of books, we get them in days. If we’re troubleshooting blended learning, someone always answers the phone. I don’t have any challenges—your customer service is great.” 

A Future of Safety and Support 

For NCCF, CPI has become more than a training—it’s a shared language and a daily tool for building safer, trauma-informed environments. Staff are better equipped to prevent crises, respond thoughtfully, and support every client with dignity. 

By investing in trauma-informed, adaptable training, NCCF has built a framework of trust and consistency that strengthens every program. And with CPI as a partner, that foundation continues to grow—supporting not just the people they serve, but the professionals who care for them.