CRMGTPV X202 - Stronger Together: Empowering Supportive Others Through Crisis

Behavioral health workers play a critical role in crisis intervention and provide essential support to individuals in distress. However, supporters and even supportive family members are often left unsure of how to help and may inadvertently escalate a crisis. This training provides evidence-based strategies for effectively including family members and support systems in crisis interventions to improve outcomes. Participants will explore research demonstrating the benefits of collaborative crisis response; discuss common scenarios involving mental health, substance use, trauma and medical crises; and gain practical skills for engaging and guiding a client’s loved ones during high-stress situations. At the conclusion of this training, attendees will have tangible techniques they can apply immediately to better support both individuals in crisis and their support networks.

What You'll Learn

After completing this training, participants will be able to...

• Identify at least three evidence-based benefits of including family members and loved ones in crisis response.
• Analyze different crisis scenarios and determine appropriate engagement strategies for family and supportive others based on best practices.
• Demonstrate practical skills for effectively guiding and supporting family members and loved ones during a crisis intervention.  

What You'll Earn

Social workers completing this training will receive 2.5 clinical continuing education clock hours under ACE.

This training is approved for 2.5 CE clock hours for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, as well as substance use counselors in domain C5 - family dynamics in the state of Ohio. 

Additional Information

Development Date: March 2025 

Target Audience: 988 crisis call line staff and other human services professionals

Content Level: Beginner

Training Outline

• The role of family and loved ones in crisis intervention (research overview)
• Scenario-based discussion: Mental health and suicide prevention
• Scenario-based discussion: Substance use and overdose intervention
• Scenario-based discussion: Trauma and medical crisis support
• Practical skills and techniques for engaging families effectively

Presenter

Jimmy Portner, LISW-S, LICDC-CS

Community Lecturer, The Ohio State University College of Social Work

Jimmy Portner, LISW-S, LICDC-CS, has been a social worker in mental health and substance use for 20 years, focusing on advancing evidence-based practices. He is accomplished in Motivational Interviewing (MI), clinical settings, teaching and research, bringing over a decade of leadership experience in the national MI VA program. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, Portner has extensive expertise in the core components of MI, fidelity assessment and effective delivery methods. Portner is also a certified trainer and provider of Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), a treatment targeting emotional overcontrol. Since 2014, he has practiced and taught RO-DBT, specializing in its application to complex, treatment-resistant cases. For over a decade, Portner has been a community lecturer at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. His professional interests include the intersection of culture and mental health, social signaling and innovative approaches to challenging conditions. Outside of work, Portner enjoys time with his wife, a fellow social worker, and their two children. He is dedicated to fostering connection and understanding, balancing leadership and mentoring with his passion for supporting the next generation of social workers.    

Continuing Education Approvals 

The Ohio State University College of Social Work provides approvals for continuing education for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists that are accepted by the state of Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board.

The Ohio State University College of Social Work has been approved by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals (CDP) Board as a provider of Continuing Education, approval number: 50-24068.

The Ohio State University College of Social Work, (Provider: 1628), is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The Ohio State University College of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 4/30/25-4/30/28. Social workers completing this course will receive 2.5 clinical continuing education credits.

Certificates & CE Reporting 

CE certificates will be available for download in your learner portal within 1 business day after submitting the evaluation survey.

Hours for those with Ohio licenses that are submitted with the evaluation survey will be reported to CE Broker every 14 days (twice per month). 

⚠️ Note: You may only complete this training once for CE credit. You may revisit the content, but only one certificate will be issued and credit will only be reported to CE Broker one time.

Cancellations, Refunds, Grievances, Accessibility Requests & Learning 

Please visit the Policies section of our website for more information on our processes for cancellations, refunds, grievances, training completions & certificates, participant conduct, and accessibility requests and learning accommodations. 

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you require an accommodation to participate in this training, please contact CSW Accessibility as early as possible and in advance of the training start date by email at csw-accessibility@osu.edu or call 614-688-1657. Requests received at least 14-days prior to the date you plan to begin a training will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the College will make every effort to meet requests that we receive regardless of lead time. 

Contact Us

For questions about the enrollment process, payment options, technology, or training records, please submit an inquiry and our Enrollment Support team will assist you within 24 hours during business days.

Submit an enrollment inquiry

If you have any questions, concerns or feedback about the training content or delivery format, please contact the CSW Office of Continuing Education at cswce@osu.edu. For questions related to the training content, our office will facilitate communication with the training instructor on your behalf and connect you, if applicable. Presenter contact information will be provided within the training for questions, feedback, or comments. 

The Ohio State University, College of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, 302 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210.

Phone: (614) 292-3032

Email: cswce@osu.edu 

Website: csw.osu.edu/continuing-education/