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Editorial revision: October 7, 2026. External course availability and provider requirements may change.

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This pathway helps school personnel understand student behavior, recognize behavioral health concerns, reduce escalation, and support a coordinated response to youth in crisis.

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This core sequence begins with adolescent development and trauma, then moves into behavioral health awareness, de-escalation, and coordinated youth crisis response.  An additional SRO course is provided as a role-specific extension.
 

Who This Pathway Is For

The core sequence is for school safety and security personnel, SROs, administrators, and staff who support students that may be experiencing distress or conflict.  Learners should consider each course in relation to their assigned duties.  The additional course is intended for SROs or personnel whose responsibilities align with the content.
 

What You Will Learn

• Recognize how adolescent development and trauma can affect student behavior.

• Identify behavioral health concerns and opportunities for support.

• Apply de-escalation and coordinated crisis response principles within your role.
 

Understanding Concerns and Roles

Student distress, behavioral health concerns, a crisis, and a potential threat are different concepts and shouldn’t be treated as interchangeable.  A concern calls for attention and appropriate referral; identifying it doesn’t by itself determine whether it represents a threat.
 

These courses support recognition and coordinated response.  They don’t constitute a complete behavioral threat assessment training sequence.  Use your school’s established reporting and referral process so designated personnel can review concerns, consider what remains uncertain, and determine the appropriate response within their responsibilities.

Step 1 

Adolescent Development

Colorado School Safety Resource Center

Explore adolescent development, communication with teens, protective factors, and when a referral may be needed. A Colorado TRAIN account is required.

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Step 4 

Conflict De-Escalation for Schools K–12

Develop skills for reducing conflict and responding to challenging situations in a school setting.
Ohio School Safety Center
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Role-Specific Extension-Interventions for School Resource Officers
This additional course examines intervention approaches for student threats and high-risk behavior.  It is intended for SROs and personnel whose responsibilities align with its content; it is not part of the five-course core sequence.

Optional Extension

Interventions for School Resource Officers

Ohio School Safety Center
Examine intervention approaches for student threats and high-risk behavior. This optional course is oriented toward the SRO role.
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Put Your Learning Into Practice
How can our team recognize student distress earlier and strengthen the way we connect students with support? 
Directors may use this question for a team discussion. Individual learners can note one practical action to take in their own role.
 

Apply and Review
Choose one situation relevant to your role. Discuss what you would recognize, what information is still needed, who should be involved, what action fits your responsibilities, what should be documented, and how you would review the outcome.
 

Keep Your Learning Records
Keep any completion certificates or records offered by the training providers. Team leaders may establish their own documentation and completion requirements. Application notes are for the learner or team and do not need to be submitted to NASSO.
 
Completing a NASSO Compass pathway documents learning; it does not by itself demonstrate competency or establish qualification to perform a specialized function. Apply the learning within your role, training, and school or agency procedures.

Step 2 

Module 2 — Trauma-Informed Approaches

Learn how trauma can shape student behavior and how a trauma-informed approach can support interactions with students.
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
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Step 5 

Crisis Intervention First Look: Focused Response for Youth

COPS Training Portal
Explore a collaborative, structured response to youth in crisis using the Crisis Intervention Team model. A provider account is required.
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Step 3 

Module 3 — Behavioral Health Awareness

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

Build awareness of behavioral health concerns and the importance of connecting students with appropriate support.

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