A-G to develop new research-backed training model to improve responses by correctional staff will deescalate crises and enhance safety for people in custody, medical and health care providers, and correctional staff

A-G Associates is proud to announce the award of a new Training Model to Improve Trauma-Informed Crisis Responses for People with Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities in a Carceral Setting grant. This one-year grant was awarded by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) in partnership with Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

With the goal of supporting correctional custody supervision in de-escalating crisis and decreasing the likelihood of violence and injury to people in custody, medical and health care providers, and correctional staff, NIC engaged A-G Associates to develop, implement, and pilot-test the Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) for Corrections train-the-trainer curriculum designed to educate staff in correctional facilities on how to respond to individuals with mental illness (MI), substance use disorders (SUD) and intellectual development disabilities (IDD) experiencing crisis. Working collaboratively with Crisis Response Programs and Training, and Recovery Innovations International, Team A-G will develop a research-backed, trauma-informed crisis response curriculum oriented to correctional staff employed in carceral settings, medical staff, front-line providers and other stakeholders in the community who are involved with individuals in custody who struggle with MI, SUD, and IDD. This 40-hour modular train-the-trainer curriculum will be implemented at two pilot sites, evaluated for efficacy, and tailored to become a unified national standard for crisis intervention best practices for federal, state, local, and tribal correctional agencies throughout the U.S.

“We are honored to partner with a wonderful team of crisis response training experts from RI International and Crisis Response Programs and Training to develop a critical resource to educate and train correctional staff to help in de-escalating crisis and decreasing the likelihood of violence and injury to people in custody,” says Associate Vice President for Program Evaluation Lizbeth Ericka Caceda. “The award from the National Institute of Corrections to develop a research-based Training Model to Improve Trauma-Informed Crisis Responses for People with Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities in a Carceral Setting is a step toward transforming crisis response systems in carceral settings through a unified validated framework for implementation by correctional teams nationwide. A-G Associates and partners are excited to be recipients of this opportunity to create a better path forward for change.”

This grant is A-G’s first with NIC, representing an exciting new partnership for the fast-growing SDVOSB driving evidence-backed innovation in the public health and safety domain.