The Prince Albert Catholic School Division Board of Education had an opportunity to learn about some training that occurs in the division.
During their regular meeting on, Jan. 26 trustees learned about verbal intervention and non-violent intervention training in the division.
Superintendent Robert Tessier gave the presentation. Tessier is one of the two trained and certified instructors in the division along with Coordinator of Student Support Services Terri-Lynn Tremblay.
Director of Education Lorel Trumier said the training is necessary on both counts in the division.
“Verbal intervention and non-violent crisis intervention training is a form of training that we have used for our support staff, in particular, who work hand over hand with children with special needs,” Trumier said.
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training is provided to Educational Assistants and School Associates, Administration and Student Support Teachers. Verbal Intervention Training is provided to teaching staff. Trumier said that it is a way to positively engage students.
“It really is that idea of being proactive and supportive of the learning style of the child and how to support them in a positive way to engage in the classroom or to engage in their work,” Trumier explained.
The purpose of the program is to build on existing knowledge and skills. The program enhances the ability to manage crisis behaviours in a way that is both human-centred and trauma informed.
The behaviour is assessed using a decision-making matrix and identifies preventative strategies to mitigate risk and choose and appropriate response to student behaviour.
“If a child is at risk of hurting themselves or others, then that is where they would continue to move things and de-escalate things,” Trumier explained.
Staff learn strategies and approaches that build trust and relationships even during distress behaviour, help work with the person and tailor their responses and help to understand that people communicate with distress differently.
“I think that the best way I can explain it in short is that children who do not have the ability to communicate with words will often communicate with behaviour,” Trumier said. “If we are better in tune of how we can be proactive to support positive behaviour, the better it will be.”
The matrix is used to make a judgement about the level of risk and the severity of harm that is likely as a consequence. Based on that judgement the person chooses a response that is defendable as a last resort, reasonable and a proportionate action. There are two types of actions defined, one is non-restrictive or using a verbal and environmental intervention and the other restrictive or disengagement with the individual.
The program uses the CPI model and behaviour defined as crisis includes anxiety, to which staff respond with being supportive. Another example of a behaviour defined as crisis is defensive behaviour to which staff respond with directive behaviour. It is also based on integrated experience where the person’s attitudes and behaviour is influenced by the person who is being intervened and vice versa.
“The non-violent crisis intervention, which really is indicating that if we’re prudent parents in what we’re doing with students at school and supporting them. And again, to be proactively positive, then we’re in a better position to support learning,” Trumnier said.
The Division has received a $10,000 grant from the Ministry of Education for nonviolent crisis intervention training. Superintendent Charity Dmytruk provided an update on the grant during a meeting in December.
The first part was to train two staff who would then train the other staff. The second portion was used to pay for a portion to train all Educational Assistants (EAs), teachers, school administrators and other staff.
The meeting was also held during the switch between the first and second semester when staff would have taken the training according to Trumier.
“We’re at this time during semester turnaround (where) we take advantage of these two days to do professional development for our staff,” Trumier said. “They would have been involved in ED over the last couple of days here … and so it was timely as well as it was linked to some professional focus that we’re doing in our system.”
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
