PREPaRE: Train-the-Trainer for Workshop 1

The PREPaRE curriculum is a two-part training developed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) that addresses both crisis prevention and response. Core Workshop 1 (WS1) is a one-day training focused on prevention and preparedness within a comprehensive school safety framework. The training can accommodate up to 100 individuals, and the target audience is those that serve on school safety and crisis teams and are responsible for developing and implementing the school/district’s crisis plan (emergency operations plan).

For those interested in becoming PREPaRE trainers, they must first complete the core workshops described above, in addition to the TOT (training-the-trainer) requirements. WS1 TOT is an additional 1.5 days. The TOTs will be limited to 10 participants. Once trained, PREPaRE instructors are able to independently offer the PREPaRE workshop 1, but the school/district/sponsor is responsible for ordering/purchasing materials for workshop participants whenever they provide a training ($45/materials for Core Workshop 1).

This training will be held at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Main Office, 475 E. Waterfront Dr., Homestead, PA 15210. Hotel Rooms are being reserved for you at Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh West Homestead/Waterfront 401 West Waterfront Drive West Homestead, PA 15120

PREPaRE trains school-employed mental health professionals and other educators how to best fill the roles and responsibilities generated by their membership on school crisis response teams. PREPaRE is the only comprehensive, nationally available training curriculum developed by educators (each of whom have firsthand school crisis response experience and formal training) for educators. The curriculum is based on the following assumptions:

The skill sets of school-based professionals are best utilized when they are embedded within a multidisciplinary team that engages in crisis prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. School crisis management is relatively unique and, as such, requires its own model. By virtue of their professional training and job functions, school-employed mental health professionals are best prepared to address the mental health issues associated with school crises.

Specifically, the PREPaRE model emphasizes that members of a school crisis response team must be involved in the following hierarchical and sequential set of activities:

P — Prevent and prepare for crises

R — Reaffirm physical health & welfare, and perceptions of safety & security

E — Evaluate psychological trauma risk

P — Provide interventions

a — and

R — Respond to mental health needs

E — Examine the effectiveness of crisis preparedness

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) will provide the following:

All WS1 trainer materials, including the School Crisis The PREPaRE Model, 3rd edition textbook (mandatory reading) will be paid for by the AIU and provided to all TOT Participants prior to the TOT Workshop 1 training in Pittsburgh on November 24 and 25, 2025, and hotel costs.

Note: The train-the-trainer event consists of WS1 ToT = 1.5 days + prep time to study trainer materials before attending the ToT workshops.

PREPaRE Trainers will agree to the following:

Trainers (or their employers) are responsible for covering the cost of all travel expenses and meals related to attending the WS1 TOT workshop as outlined above.

Trainers will need to conduct at least one PREPaRE training of Core WS1 in their region per year for the next 3 years and only charge for materials/incidentals and not for the cost of the training. Thus, this requirement exceeds the NASP requirements to earn full trainer status (see NASP Requirements below).

Trainers will confirm their educational/professional background is consistent with the following guidelines:

● have worked, or are currently working, in a school setting

● have had practical experiences with school crisis prevention and PREPaREdness

● have already developed the skills important to the delivery of professional development workshops

● have already developed strong communication skills

The following additional preparation is needed to complete the ToT workshops (in addition to workshop attendance described above):

● For those committing to WS1 ToT, they will need to have completed the CORE WS1 Training and commit approximately 7-8 hours between the date they are trained in Core WS1 and the date they are to attend WS1 ToT, to do their prep work for the WS1 ToT. This includes a multiple-choice Mastery test to pass that focuses more on WS1 content.

Other follow-up expectations for trainers are as follows:

● actively pursue opportunities to present workshops

● strive to find mentorship from more experienced trainers for consultation and co-facilitation of initial workshops

● invest at least 40 hours of additional study, preparation, and practice of workshop materials

● work to find ways to bring their unique school crisis prevention, PREPaREdness, response, and recovery experiences to the PREPaRE workshops

● be willing to remain current with the school crisis literature