Training & Evaluation helping communities respond to youth mental health and behavioral health crises with developmentally appropriate, relationship-centered approaches.
Communities across the country are searching for better ways to respond when youth experience mental health or behavioral health crises.
Through specialized Crisis Intervention Training (CIT Training) delivered by Clifford Sipes and Independent evaluation conducted by One Fire Associates, professionals across law enforcement, schools, courts, Tribal Nations, and community systems are strengthening their ability to recognize distress, de-escalate crises, and connect youth with support.
Youth in crisis often encounter systems designed for adults, not developmentally appropriate support.
Youth in crisis often encounter systems designed for adults, not developmentally appropriate support.
Youth mental health and behavioral health crises are increasing across communities. When these situations occur, first responders, school staff, and other professionals are often the first people called to help.
However, many systems were originally designed for adult crisis response, and many responders receive limited training focused specifically on youth.
Without developmentally appropriate approaches, youth in crisis are more likely to encounter responses that prioritize compliance or control rather than connection, understanding, and support.
Participants represented a wide range of professionals across systems, many serving communities with limited access to youth behavioral health resources.
Youth-Focused CIT Training
Youth-Focused CIT Training
To help communities respond more effectively, Clifford Sipes delivers youth-focused Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training designed specifically for professionals who encounter youth in crisis.
The training emphasizes:
Developmentally appropriate response
Trauma-Informed, culturally responsive practice
Safety centered, consent based engagement
Suicide safer care aligned with the 2024 National Strategy
Whole person, recovery oriented philosophy
Rather than relying solely on procedural responses, the training focuses on helping responders build connection and trust during moments of distress.
Evaluation findings show that participants frequently described learning to shift their approach "from control to connection" when working with youth in crisis.
Independent Evaluation Shows Participants Experienced:
Significant Increases In confidence responding to youth behavioral health crises
Major Improvement In understanding developmentally appropriate responses
Greater awareness of resources and partnerships available to support youth
High ratings of usefulness both personally and professionally
Real Impact on Youth Outcomes
Real Impact on Youth Outcomes
Beyond Improving knowledge and confidence, the training also Influenced how participants responded during real-world crisis situations.
Participants reported using the training to support alternatives to detention, jail, or school suspension by focusing on de-escalation, listening, and connection to resources.
In many cases, responders described spending time listening to youth and families, creating space for conversation, and connecting Individuals to services rather than defaulting to punitive responses.
Instead of punishment, youth were connected to support.
This approach resonates across mutiple systems, Including:
Schools
Juvinile Courts
Law Enforcement
Behavioral Health Services
What Responders Learn:
What Responders Learn:
Evaluation findings revealed several themes describing how the training changed the way participants approach youth crisis situations.
Evaluation findings revealed several themes describing how the training changed the way participants approach youth crisis situations.
Practical skills responders use in the moment:
Why Communities Are Investing In Youth Crisis Response Training
Why Communities Are Investing In Youth Crisis Response Training
This training helps communities:
Reduce unnecessary detention and suspension
Improve safety for responders and youth
Strengthen connections to behavioral health services
Support earlier Intervention and prevention
Bring Training To Your Community
Bring Training To Your Community
Evaluation Services
Evaluation Services
Communities across the country are seeking better ways to respond when youth experience behavioral health crises.
Youth-focused CIT Training can support:
Law Enforcement Agencies
School Systems and School Resource Officers
Courts and Juvenile Justice Programs
Tribal Nations
Behavioral Health Providers
Community Crisis Response Teams
Independent evaluation helps communities understand how training and programs Influence real-world outcomes.
One Fire Associates specializes In evaluating
training programs,
community Initiatives,
and systems change efforts
to help organizations Identify what Is working and where Improvements can be made.
Building Community Capacity for Youth Crisis Response
Building Community Capacity for Youth Crisis Response
A partnership combining training and Independent evaluation to strengthen community crisis response systems.
A partnership combining training and Independent evaluation to strengthen community crisis response systems.
Partners:
Clifford Sipes - Trainer One Fire Associates - Evaluation
Clifford Sipes - Trainer One Fire Associates - Evaluation
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