Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Teacher Training Program

Globally, mental health services are inadequate and often nonexistent. There are simply not enough trained professionals to meet the numbers of people suffering from traumatic stress reactions and depression. In addition, many of those suffering are not psychologically oriented and if they seek help, many will seek out a member of their social network rather than a therapist.

The Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Teacher Training program is designed to help both community members and professionals learn how to teach the CRM skills to those in their own community thereby providing resiliency training to a wider net of the populace and creating capacity in local communities. Communities throughout the world are encouraged to infuse their unique cultural lens in order to increase the efficacy of the CRM Skills.  

CRM Teacher Training Program

Overview of the CRM TT

The Community Resiliency Model Teacher Training (CRM TT) consists of a five-day training and follow-up consultation to ensure proficiency in the skills and in teaching CRM formally via CRM Workshops. Trainees learn the key concepts and six wellness skills of the CRM. The training is a combination of lecture, discussion, practice and student teaching. Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be provisionally-certified as Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Teachers, for a period of 6-months, if proficiency is demonstrated based upon the CRM Fidelity Instrument, as determined by the CRM Senior Trainer.

During the course, trainees learn key concepts of CRM, the biology of traumatic/stressful reactions and resiliency, CRM skills, and teaching methods to enhance their training abilities. Trainees practice the skills individually as well as in large and small group formats. The training also includes education on how to spot warning signs in participants that attend CRM Workshops as well as an orientation on how to access referrals to local mental health services.

The final part of the training is designated for student teaching in pairs or groups of three. Trainees spend time creating teaching plans in pairs or in groups of three, and then teaching the material back to CRM Senior Trainers. This approach builds competency in teaching the skills and in explaining the CRM key concepts.

The CRM Senior Trainer evaluates student teaching by using objectives (i.e. CRM Fidelity Instrument) provided to the trainees during their training. On a case-by-case basis, individualized plans are created to help the motivated trainer increase their competency if more time is needed to develop their skills toward becoming a CRM Teacher. The CRM Senior Trainer will work closely with trainees who are having difficulty with the skills to help them develop proficiency.

Attendance at the CRM TT does not guarantee a person will be made a CRM Teacher. At the outset of training, participants are provided a Statement of Understanding that explains the goals and objectives of the training. Competency in teaching the skills and concepts must be demonstrated before graduating to be a CRM Teacher. Ultimately, some individuals may not want to be CRM Teachers, but find the skills useful for self-care. Also, Senior Trainers may determine that a trainee’s abilities are not well suited to become CRM Teacher.

CRM TT Online Certification (TRI Learning Portal)

TRI uses Litmos, a cloud-based learning management system, to deliver, monitor and record the certification and re-certification process for provisionally-certified CRM Teachers online. In this way, provisionally-certified CRM Teachers will be able to complete their certification requirements in a user-friendly manner and will receive timely feedback on their certification submissions (listed below) as well as automatically receive their certificate of completion, once approved by TRI. Provisionally-certified CRM Teachers will have access to this online learning portal for a period of 6 months, starting from the last day of the in-person portion of the CRM TT, to complete the below requirements:

• Attend two of the three-monthly follow-up sessions during the first three months following the training either in person or by Zoom/Skype. In addition to follow-up sessions, technical assistance in implementing CRM trainings is offered by phone, Zoom/Skype as well as by email;

• Complete the take-home self-evaluation within 60 days of completing the training;

• Provide an outline of one projected CRM Workshop (e.g. Basic Three, 1-hour orientation, etc.);

• Provide one set of CRM Workshop evaluations;

• Prepare a strength-based personal story to interweave into the trainings;

• Prepare a referral list of local mental health practitioners and clinics;

• Provide a 30-minute video of teaching for community, if requested by the CRM Senior Trainer.

Full certification will be granted upon the completion and approval of the components listed above. If the provisionally-certified CRM Teacher does not complete these components within the 6-month period, they will lose their provisional status and will no longer be able to help provide CRM Workshops. Should this occur, the individual needs to contact their agency’s coordinator as well as TRI to make arrangements for completing their certification requirements. Proficiency in the subject material and ability to demonstrate CRM skills is required to become a CRM Teacher.

Follow-up group sessions are incorporated into the proposed training plan. Initially, group follow-ups are scheduled for three consecutive months post-training. Thereafter, TRI will provide quarterly group follow-up sessions for the three remaining quarters of the year. Follow- ups are provided via Zoom/Skype. Additional technical assistance in implementing CRM trainings is offered in-person through a site visit, as well as by phone, Zoom/Skype or email (see Becoming a CRM Informed Organization).

CRM Training materials are offered in English as well as Spanish, if requested. Provisionally- certified CRM Teachers who have successfully completed the training and have been approved by the CRM Senior Trainers to be a CRM Teacher may copy materials to use in CRM Workshops through their payment of the yearly use fee which is incorporated into the training fees for the first two years. CRM Teachers must operate within the scope of their position of employment or in the scope of their work in the community. It is required that an Agreement be signed between TRI and the CRM Teachers to protect the integrity of the materials.

Upon completion of certification, CRM Teachers can use the skills for both self- care and to teach individuals within their organization and community in formal or informal presentations within the scope of their job and/or work in the community. Because of the nature of CRM Trainings, CRM Teachers must teach in pairs. Only the Trauma Resource Institute can certify Community Resiliency Model Teachers.

It is important to underscore that the Community Resiliency Model is not mental health counseling or designed to take the place of mental health counseling.

The CRM Teacher Training certification program builds capacity within organizations and communities in the aftermath of human-made and natural disasters. The program is also being brought into more communities as a form of “prevention.”  Training programs can also be geared toward organizations working with children and adults.  Specific strategies are interwoven into the trainings taking into consideration the developmental age and culture of those being served by the trainers.  

TRI implemented a State of California, Mental Health Services Act project in San Bernardino County, CA, through its Department of Behavioral Health Innovations Department, which organized CRM county wide via a Teacher Training program. Community members from 7 underserved groups (designated by the Department of Behavioral Health) participated in training to become CRM Skills trainers. The 3-year project completed December 31, 2013.  Due to early successes in year 1, TRI received an extension to the Innovations Funding, which provided CRM training and a Teacher Training program to 44 active duty service members, veterans and their families.  The research has demonstrated a reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hostility at statistically significant levels. Over 80% of participants were people of color.