NTTAP CoP: Advanced De-Escalation Techniques in Health Centers (On-Demand)
In this Community of Practice, participants will learn the verbal and non-verbal communication skills to effectively engage individuals with challenges, explore active listening techniques, identify strategies for collaborating with behavioral health professionals, develop protocols for referrals and follow-up care, and optimize organizational policies/procedures for patients.
4/29/2026 | 12:00–1:30 PM
Session 1: Recognizing warning signs, symptoms, and contributing factors of crisis behaviors
5/6/2026| 12:00–1:30 PM
Session 2: Implementing best practice techniques to reduce the likelihood of crisis behaviors
5/13/2026| 12:00–1:30 PM
Session 3: Identification of protocols for self-care to respond to challenging behaviors
5/20/2026| 12:00–1:30 PM
Session 4: Developing a crisis management plan for your organization
The AAFP has reviewed this Physical Mental Wellness and Crisis Interventions for Health Centers training and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. The term of approval is for one year. Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Each live session is approved for 1.25 AAFP Elective credits. Elective credits are available for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and medical assistants. Attendance at the entire live training and the submission of a post-training evaluation are required to receive credit.
On-Demand training is not eligible for CMEs.
Presenters
Christina Clayton, MS, BSN, RN
Director, Clinical Services, Renaye James Healthcare Advisors
Christina has over 13 years of experience as a nurse leader in community, hospital, health insurance, and regulatory settings. She held positions in nursing leadership, nursing management, case management, payer quality programs, program management, regulatory compliance, and nursing education.
As a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) nurse consultant, Christina provided accreditation oversight to Medicare’s acute care programs. She was the Diabetes Self-Management Training and Home Infusion Therapy accreditation Program Leads. She provided clinical support for Rural Health and Federally Qualified Health Center programs.
For Johns Hopkins Healthcare, LLC, Christina aligned measurable program goals with the organization’s mission and used quality improvement strategies. As a Program Manager, she collaborated with external stakeholders to improve health outcomes and decrease high utilization of members within the Complex Case Management and Disease Management Program.
Christina has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Coppin State University (Baltimore, Maryland) and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland).
Victor Welzant, PsyD
Director, Education and Training, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
Victor Welzant, PsyD, is the Director of Education and Training and a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, based in Ellicott City, MD. Victor previously served as Director of Acute Trauma Services for the Sheppard Pratt Health System and as a consultant to the State of Maryland, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in the area of disaster behavioral health. Victor maintains a private consulting and clinical practice in Towson MD, where he specializes in the treatment of Trauma and Stress related conditions, organizational training, and program development. Victor is the Clinical Director for the Anne Arundel Fire Dept. Critical Incident Stress Management team in MD, as well as a supervisor for the Sheppard Pratt Health Care CISM team development. He is a consultant to the Harford County Maryland Sheriff’s Department’s Crisis Negotiation, and Peer Support teams and serves on the adjunct faculty of Towson University in Psychology, Nursing, and Homeland Security. Victor currently serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health. Victor lectures and consults internationally on the topics Crisis Intervention, Critical Incident Stress Management, Suicide, Disaster Behavioral Health, and the impact and treatment of trauma.
Sharon Lipford, LCSW-C
Senior Behavioral Health Advisor, Renaye James Healthcare Advisors
Sharon Lipford has over 30 years of leadership in nonprofit, hospital, and government organizations. She brings extensive experience in strategic policy and operations in behavioral health, criminal justice, and hospital systems.
During her career, Sharon has worked with numerous stakeholders in planning, developing, and operating behavioral health crisis systems. She successfully led strategic partners to create and implement a multicounty, multihospital health initiative to address chronic health diseases. This initiative improved health outcomes and reduced unnecessary healthcare costs in the hospital systems.
Sharon holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) supervisor. She has the privilege of supporting a countywide crisis negotiation team as a mental health professional. Sharon serves on the board of directors of the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health System, New Day Wellness & Recovery Center (peer support), and the Harford County (Maryland) Public Library Foundation.