CRMGTPV X208 - The Myth of “There is No One”: Engaging Natural Supports for Callers Experiencing Chronic Crises

First responders and helping professionals often hear people say, “This client has no one; they burned all of their bridges.” Relationships are one of the strongest predictors for favorable outcomes. When first responders or paid supports are seemingly the only people available for crisis support, there is an opportunity and obligation to build connections with natural supports. Ultimately, rebuilding bridges and connections can lead to more sustainable outcomes, lowering the need for emergency and crisis services. This training will provide tangible tools to assist in identifying new and existing supports with the intention of reducing the need for emergency services.

What You’ll Learn

After completing this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify the role of natural support in sustaining outcomes and reducing the need for system involvement.
• Recognize the challenges of sustaining natural relationships for clients who experience chronic crises.
• Collect tools to assist in engagement and recruitment of natural supports.

What You’ll Earn

• Social workers completing this training will receive 3 clinical continuing education clock hours under ACE.
• This training is approved for 3 CE clock hours for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists in the state of Ohio.

Additional Information

Development Date: January 2026

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

Content Level: Intermediate

Training Outline:

• Introduction and goals for the training; supply check; moment of regulation; goals for the training; neurobiology of relationships and their role in outcomes
• Relationships as predictors of outcomes; relational poverty; circles activity; intentional collaboration
• RREACT and TBR to enhance relational opportunities and outcomes for clients
• Parallel process; warm hand-offs and relationship-building; engaging and building natural support networks
• Video; case examples; identification of supports; tools/resources

Instructor: Kristina Knight, MSW, LISW-S
Trauma-Informed Care Administrator at The Buckeye Ranch

Kristina Knight, MSW, LISW-S, is the trauma-informed care administrator at The Buckeye Ranch. She earned her MSW from The Ohio State University. She is a phase II certified clinician in the Neurosequential Model (childtrauma.org) and works across the organization, training team members and supervisors while participating in program development and integrating trauma-informed principles across the agency. Knight works with the professional development team supporting the implementation of employee development strategic initiatives. Knight has an extensive background in child welfare, with specialized expertise in working with transition-aged youth. She also works in private practice as a trainer in mental health didactics for companies and organizations, including several police departments, the state of Ohio, CPD, Spectrum and Adena Health. “Farm-Stress” certified by The Ohio State University, she is also trained in Stress First Aid and Mental Health First Aid and sits on the OSU College of Social Work Alumni Board. Knight is a member of The Ohio State University’s Stakeholder Advisory Council for the Adolescent Health and Resiliency Project and continues to act in a consulting capacity for high acuity cases involving transition age youth.

Instructor: Rachel Thomas, MS
Taskforce Officer on the RREACT Team

Rachel Thomas, MS, is in her 12th year with the Columbus Division of Police and serves as a taskforce officer on the RREACT Team. Prior to working on the taskforce, she worked on the Mobile Crisis Response Unit implementation pilot and patrol. Thomas is a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) coordinator and assists in the training of CIT students. She is also a certified Forensic Experiential Trauma Interviewer. Prior to her career in law enforcement, she worked in child welfare in Franklin County in both direct mental healthcare and case management roles. Thomas received her BA in psychology at The Ohio State University and an MS in communications and marketing at Franklin University.

Continuing Education Approvals
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 College of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 4/30/25–4/30/28. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits.

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.

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 988 training team at 988trainings@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.

Email: 988trainings@osu.edu
Website: csw.osu.edu/continuing-education/988-lifeline-series