In partnership with Lives in the Balance, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is making training resources available to support implementation of Massachusetts' updated restraint and emergency seclusion requirements. The Lives in the Balance training series and implementation guide were developed by Dr. Ross Greene and the Lives in the Balance team to help schools and programs move from reactive crisis management toward proactive practices that identify and address the unmet expectations contributing to challenging behavior.
The modules are intended for districts, charter schools, educational collaboratives, and approved special education schools. Participants are encouraged to complete the modules in order and use the accompanying implementation guide to support planning, reflection, and changes to local structures and practices.
Module 1: Moving from Crisis Management to Crisis Prevention (Transcript )This introductory module explains a proactive approach to reducing restraint, seclusion, and other reactive crisis practices by addressing challenging behavior before crises occur.
Module 2: Introduction to Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (Transcript )This module provides a deeper introduction to the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model. Participants will learn how unmet expectations contribute to challenging behavior and how educators can work collaboratively with students to identify concerns and solve problems proactively.
Module 3: Implementing Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (Transcript )This module focuses on the systems and organizational changes needed to implement Collaborative and Proactive Solutions and reduce reliance on crisis interventions.
Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Implementation Guide The implementation guide accompanies the three training modules and provides tools to help leadership teams assess current practices, identify priorities, and plan for implementation. Schools and programs may use the guide throughout or following the training series to support discussion, action planning, and continuous improvement.
Schools and programs may use these resources for individual learning, team-based professional development, or leadership planning. Local implementation should also include consideration of program-specific policies, procedures, student needs, and staff responsibilities.
Last Updated: August 31, 2026