R-6 employees learning to handle hostile situations

SIKESTON -- An increasing number of Sikeston R-6 employees are learning to thwart hostile situations by using an international program that teaches effective, nonviolent strategies.

During Tuesday's regular monthly meeting of the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education, Cindy Griffin, assistant superintendent for elementary/special services, provided an update on the nonviolent crisis intervention training taking place throughout the district.

"Two years ago when we started hearing so much about the possibility of seclusion and restraint policies being required of school districts, we had a conversation at the board office about how we needed to get a jump on this," Griffin recalled. "I attended training in St. Louis provided by Crisis Prevention Institute and became a trainer."

The Crisis Prevention Institute's nonviolent crisis intervention training focuses on prevention and equips staff with proven strategies for safely defusing anxious, hostile or violent behavior at the earliest possible stage, according to its website.

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