The Core Competency Model for Corrections (CCM-C) Self-Directed Violence Prevention Training Toolkit was recently developed by the NC Department of Adult Corrections (NC DAC) and the UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center (VPC). This statewide corrections-academic partnership grew from a shared commitment to support prevention of suicide and self-injury, collectively referred to as self-directed violence (SDV), among incarcerated adults in NC prisons.
Incarcerated adults are among those at highest risk for SDV, yet historically, few prevention tools have been specifically designed for this population. Correctional BHCs are often tasked with preventing SDV, a demanding role that can have negative impacts on their overall well-being, underscoring the need to strengthen the well-being of correctional behavioral health clinicians (BHCs).
The CCM-C Toolkit is a free resource that provides training in evidence-based clinical care and clinician self-management for SDV prevention in carceral systems. It is designed for correctional system leadership and BHCs that support incarcerated adults.
CCM-C includes an array of resources, such as:
- Training Slide Decks
- SDV Risk Assessment and Management Training Participant Manual
- Self-Injury Assessment Protocol for Corrections Rating Sheet and User Guide
- Implementation Guide
The Toolkit can be used in clinical practice, supervision, degree training programs, and a variety of other settings.
The toolkit is the result of more than six years of work, beginning with the NC DAC Suicide Prevention Workgroup and culminating in a two-year pilot trial of the CCM-C training programs. A two-year grant secured from the NC Department of Health and Human Services supported NC DAC and UNC Charlotte VPC in jointly preparing, delivering, evaluating, and refining the CCM-C program. The process was a 50-50 effort: NC DAC served as the corrections subject-matter expert and led implementation of the training, while UNC Charlotte VPC created self-directed violence prevention content and led evaluation. In the future, NC DAC aims to partner with additional carceral systems to increase implementation and evaluation in other correctional and forensic settings.