A. Orientation Required Topics

The following topics are based on federal, state, accreditation, and agency requirements. These topics must be covered in the Hillcrest Education Centers orientation process in either New Staff Orientation or On Site Orientation.

1. Characteristics of Children Served
2. Symptoms and Behavioral Signs of Emotional Disturbances
3. Symptoms of Drug Overdose, Alcohol Intoxication, or Medical Emergency
4. Emergency and Evacuation Procedures
5. Preventing Abuse and Neglect/ Procedures for Reporting Abuse and Neglect
6. First Aid, CPR, and AED Initial Certification
7. Universal Precautions and Infection Control/Bloodborne Pathogens
8. Medication Policies/Side Effects and Special Precautions/Antipsychotic Medications (must be trained by an RN or MD)
9. Runaway Policy
10. Behavior Management Plans and Treatment Intervention Procedures
11. Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (must provide 28 hours of training and include skill demonstration post testing and written post testing with 70% accuracy)
12. The Organizations Mission and Goals
13. The Role of the Staff in the Growth and Development of the Student
14. The Relationship of the Staff and the IEP
15. Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
16. MCAS and Alternative Assessments
17. Transportation Safety
18. Student Records and Confidentiality
19. Civil Rights Responsibilities
20. Reporting of Safety and Quality of Care
21. Supervising and Monitoring Treatment Procedures and Plans
22. Performance Improvement and Safety Improvement Approaches and Methods
23. Fire Safety (response plan, use of extinguishers, drills, detection equipment, and secondary egress)
24. The Policies and Procedures of the Organization
25. Specific Job Duties and Responsibilities
26. Cultural Diversity and Sensitivity
27. Process Used to Address Ethical Aspects of Care
28. Knowledge of Growth and Development of Children and Youth
29. Hazardous Chemical in the Workplace
30. Harassment in the Workplace
31. Skills for Life
32. Professional Standards/Boundaries
33. Incident Report Writing
34. Physical Intervention Report Writing
35. Continuous Assessment of Physical Intervention
36. Bullying Prevention and Intervention
37. Child Development
38. Organizational Structure
39. Administrative Responsibilities at Program Sites

1. Annual Required Training Topics

All staff (including full time, part time, on call, new employees, interns, and volunteers) must participate in a minimum of 24 hours of training per calendar year.

The following topics are based on federal, state, accreditation, and agency requirements. These topics must be covered in the Hillcrest Education Centers’ on going mandatory training program:

1. First Aid, CPR, and AED Certification (every two years)
2. Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training for a total of 12 hours annually must be comprised of the following:

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Recertification – must include written post testing with 80% accuracy, practical post testing in Life Space Interview, protective interventions, and restraint techniques and provide 6 hours of training in the following: needs and behaviors of students served, individualized crisis management planning, building relationships, avoiding power struggles, de-escalation techniques, alternatives to restraint, thresholds for restraint, physiological impact of restraint, protective and physical intervention techniques, debriefing procures, and conducting life space interviews)

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Refresher Training- a minimum of three 2 hour refreshers must be attended for a total of 6 hours of annual refresher training in the following: needs and behaviors of students served, individualized crisis management planning, building relationships, avoiding power struggles, de-escalation techniques, alternatives to restraint, thresholds for restraint, physiological impact of restraint, protective and physical intervention techniques, debriefing procures, and conducting life space interviews)

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) Training of Trainers (TxT) Program: This intensive five-day TCI train-the-trainer certification course provides organizations with the opportunity to develop an in-house training capacity in the TCI curriculum. Participants will develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the TCI curriculum necessary to deliver the training to staff in their organizations. Participants will have the chance to participate, practice, and receive feedback in conducting activities to gain immediate training experience. Training techniques such as role playing, leading small group discussions, using guided fantasies, conducting practice sessions, and using audiovisual aids will be demonstrated. Participants will receive all the necessary materials to conduct the TCI training program in their agency. Participants will be able to:

• Proactively prevent and/or de-escalate a potential crisis situation with a child or young person
• Manage a crisis situation in a therapeutic manner, and, if necessary, intervene physically in a manner that reduces the risk of harm to children and staff
• Process the crisis event with children and young people to help improve their coping strategies
• Effectively deliver TCI training in their agencies

3. Emergency Response (must include, but not limited to, training on emergency responses, power outages, severe weather conditions, evacuation procedures, staffing problems, must detail specific staff roles and responsibilities in emergency situations)
4. Fire Safety and Use of Extinguishers
5. Transportation Safety
6. Universal Precautions and Infection Control/Bloodborne Pathogens
7. Medication Policies/Side Effects and Special Precautions/Antipsychotic Medications (must be trained by an RN or MD)
8. Runaway Policy
9. Civil Rights Responsibilities
10. Preventing Abuse and Neglect/ Procedures for Reporting Abuse and Neglect
11. Needs of the Population Served
12. Knowledge of Growth and Development of Children and Youth
13. Cultural Diversity and Sensitivity
14. Student Records and Confidentiality
15. Behavior Management
16. Incident Report Writing
17. Physical Intervention Reporting
18. Continuous Assessment of Physical Interventions
19. Policies and Procedures
20. Professional Standards
21. Harassment in the Workplace
22. Skills for Life
23. Bullying Prevention and Intervention
24. Child Development

C. Other Required Training Topics

The following topics must be trained to individuals designated by specific job duties and responsibilities:

1. Medication Administration (must be completed prior to administering medications)
2. Screening, Assessing and Managing Pain
3. Massachusetts Curriculum Framework (annual training requirement for educational staff)
4. MCAS and Alternative Assessment (annual training requirements for educational staff)
5. Prohibited Abbreviations (annual training requirement for medically licensed staff and medical providers)
6. Training occurs when job duties change
7. Hazardous Chemical in the Workplace (whenever a new physical or health hazard is introduced into work environment)
8. Harassment in The Workplace (additional training must be provided to any person assuming a supervisory or managerial role)
9. Asbestos Awareness (maintenance and housekeeping staff)
10. Pool Supervisor Safety Training (requirement for staff designated as individuals in charge of supervision and safety of pool usage on site)