Crisis Prevention Institute Update from Tony Jace, CEO

March 23, 2020
Two pairs of hands clasped together.

Note: Bookmark this page to stay on top of important coronavirus updates from CPI.

First, let me begin with a thank you! I am so proud of our CPI community and the role we play in public health. Many organizations depend on us to provide our training and we are proud to be a part of their solution in times of public concern. That’s why we will keep CPI operating effectively, and adapting, to best support you.
 
As an increasing number of states, counties and municipalities have intensified their restrictions around large, and even small scale gatherings, we wanted to provide an update as to how CPI is handling these restrictions in light of the important training you need to provide your staff.
 
Blue Card® Recertification:
While CPI recommends that staff attend a formal training every 6-12 months, you and your organization have the responsibility to decide the length of Blue Card® confirmations. Some factors considered in this decision are organizational policies and procedures, legal or regulatory standards, depth of ongoing training, liability considerations, and staff competencies related to crisis intervention skills. Given the recent restrictive environment that is subsuming most locales, CPI has taken some discrete steps to keep CPI Certified Instructors on their current certification cycle, and we encourage you to do the same for your staff:
 
If you are refreshing previous Blue Card® holders (like CPI’s renewals) there are opportunities to address safety concerns whilst also recognizing they’ve already been through training. And given your staff have previously been deemed competent (since they are current Blue Card® holders), you could decide to:

  • Hold your training in a larger room, perhaps with smaller groups, so social distancing is respected.
  • Minimize nonphysical role-plays/exercises and forego any physical intervention exercises entirely.
  • Reduce risk by not rotating partners during physical activities or doing the physical section of the program in smaller groups.
  • Ensure there are non-latex gloves, sanitizers, and frequent breaks so your colleagues can practice CDC guidelines.

If your staff is ‘sheltered in place’ you can:

  • Allow your staff to refresh online using our Prevention FirstTM online training (for healthcare and human services) or our blended learning option (for all sectors).
  • Feel free to use video conferencing methods to meet with groups of five or so to discuss the online sessions and cover the refresher points we have in our Electronic Presentation and/or your Instructor Guide. (Hint: bring your Instructor Guide home if you think your community will be ‘sheltered.’)
  • Document this training—we will support you in what you deemed necessary to cover. Then later try to meet again for physical reinforcements when you are able.
  • We are also loading many physical training videos under ‘My Account’ on the website, which may help you meet some of your content needs.

If your organization decides to grant an extension to Blue Card® confirmations, it may be important to consider what other training options can help keep your staff competent and fresh during the extension. These options include:

  • Blended Learning courses
  • Virtual Training
  • Video on Demand
  • Sharing and reviewing CPI’s eBooks, blogs, and podcasts
  • Reinforcing learning through case studies, content reviews, practice, and other informal training activities

Update for CIs:
This week we are excited to announce that we are starting to offer Virtual Training Renewals on Wednesday! As a reminder:

  • Beginning March 23rd and until further notice, all Renewal programs will be fulfilled via virtual sessions only. If you have already registered to attend one of our open or onsite programs, you will be receiving instructions for how to participate in Virtual NCI Renewal training.
  • If your Certification is set to expire between now and June 30th but you have not yet registered for a program, we will soon be providing you with the information you need to register for a Virtual NCI Renewal.

ICPs:

  • Beginning March 23, all Instructor Certification Programs (ICPs) will be postponed until further notice. No need for you to cancel – we will work with you to reschedule into another program later this spring. We are monitoring state and local policies with regard to the safety of gatherings and will reschedule programs as soon as it is prudent to do so.
  • We are also exploring a Virtual ICP program if the current situation extends beyond April.

Physicals and Advanced Physical Skills:

  • We have yet to craft a virtual training delivery method that satisfies our standards of Care, Welfare, Safety, and SecuritySM. Accordingly, physicals and the Advanced Physical Skills curriculum will be delivered later in the year, in-person, when deemed safe to engage in close contact settings again.

If you have questions or need help navigating through this information, please contact Support Services at 877.877.5390.

In this historic moment, you have remained committed to the Care, Welfare, Safety, and SecuritySM of those in your care. You are truly remarkable, and we will get through this together!
 
Thank you.
 
Tony Jace
CEO, Crisis Prevention Institute

BLOG POST  |  MARCH 16, 2020  |  CPI

CPI’s Response to COVID-19, from Tony Jace, CEO

For 40 years, the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) has been diligently serving thousands of customers, and millions of professionals, in managing life’s daily “crisis moments” as they occur in the workplace. Our core tenet of Care, Welfare, Safety and Security™ has never wavered, nor will it. Having served as the leader of CPI for the past decade, I can honestly say I have never been more proud, or honored, to witness how the CPI team, and our customers / Certified Instructors, have responded to this unprecedented challenge. Some of you have identified the need for CPI training as more important than ever before, and we accept the responsibility to be with you every step of the way. Others of you have decided that at this time it is not appropriate for you to attend the training, as our society seeks to slow the COVID-19 transmission rate.
 
Over the past two weeks, we have held all programs as scheduled, either in our open forum or onsite at a customer’s location. We have met, and exceeded the new safety standards placed on our events regarding social distancing, drastic minimization of physical interaction, hygienic environments and healthy CPI Professional Instructors and attendees. We respect every person’s choice to attend, or postpone, given their specific situations and interpretation of the guidelines. Importantly, we’ve also been able to train those new Certified Instructors, and renew current Certified Instructors, in critical skills that are so crucial to managing the volume of patients entering our healthcare system. Again, we can never be more proud to serve you.
 
As we embark on the next few months, and assess the changes in guidelines around “shelter in place”, we have taken some specific steps to accelerate our virtual training programs for our customers:

  • Beginning March 23rd, and until further notice, all Renewal programs will be facilitated via virtual sessions only.  If you have already registered to attend one of our open or onsite programs, you will be receiving instructions on how to participate in CPI’s Virtual NCI Renewal Training. If your Certification is set to expire between now and June 30th 2020, but you have yet to register for a program, we will soon be providing you with the information you need to register for this Virtual NCI Renewal, available for you at any time.
  • Also beginning March 23rd, all Instructor Certification Programs will be postponed until further notice. There is no need for you to cancel – we will work with you to reschedule into an upcoming program.  We are monitoring state and local policies with regard to the safety of gatherings, and will reschedule programs as soon as it is prudent to do so.  We are actively pursuing virtual training options for Instructor Certification Programs should protocols around gatherings remain intact through April.

Finally, we also know that many of you are seeking the Institute’s guidance on alternative ways to renew your Blue Cards. We will be sending those recommendations to Certified Instructors directly this Friday, at the latest.
 
These are extraordinary times. The Care, Welfare, Safety and Security™ of all those we serve has always been, and will always be, our primary focus. We believe providing the safest possible training options is our responsibility and we will continue to evaluate and pursue every possible option. We will be communicating updates as frequently as necessary to keep you informed, and we will be updating our blog with the most up to date information as our plans develop.
 
With utmost respect,
 
Tony Jace
CEO, Crisis Prevention Institute
 

BLOG POST  |  MARCH 16, 2020  |  CPI

Important Coronavirus Update From CPI

With the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continuing to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19, we wanted to assure you that the Crisis Prevention Institute is actively monitoring developments in the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. At this time, we are not suspending any training programs unless mandated by local government regulations or your company policies.

While there are no reported cases of the coronavirus in any of the training programs we conduct, we are following guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and are taking the following steps to protect Certified Instructors, class participants and staff from all common germs and viruses, including the coronavirus. We are:​

  • Requiring all attendees to read, assess and sign CPI’s self-assessment form at the beginning of each class day.​
  • Equipping each training program with a wellness kit, which includes CDC-recommended cleaning supplies (to reduce the spread of germs) and disposable, medical-grade gloves (for when person-to-person contact is required).​
  • Reminding attendees about thorough hand-washing and other healthy habits.​
  • Limiting physical interactions.
  • ​Monitoring training program absences to identify illness trends.​
  • Ensuring that people who have flu symptoms are sent home.
  • Reviewing our plans for virtual learning should our training venues close.​

Steps to take if you are facilitating a training​

  • Prep training rooms using CDC-recommended cleaning supplies to reduce the spread of germs and use disposable, medical-grade gloves when person-to-person contact is required.​
  • Remind attendees about thorough hand-washing and other healthy habits: put up signs, offer hand sanitizer, do not share communal snacks at breaks, etc.​
  • Follow guidance and recommendations from the CDC.​
  • Ensure that people who have flu symptoms are sent home and have attendees report absence and symptoms to the appropriate staff member. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately.​
  • Have attendees report travel to any of the banned countries or sustained community transmission states, counties, or cities and quarantine for fourteen (14) days and follow government requirements. ​

Important resources

  • Bookmark this page to stay on top of coronavirus updates from CPI.
  • Contact our support services team if you have any questions about CPI’s response to the coronavirus.
  • Visit the CDC website for the latest guidance and recommendations from the CDC.

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