C.A.R.E. (Compassionate Assessment and Response in Education)

C.A.R.E. Training is a Washington-developed youth suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention training for school staff. This course has been designed specifically to meet the needs and requirements of school psychologists, counselors, nurses, and social workers in Washington state.

• What you’ll learn:
  • How to identify students in psychological distress across diverse identities.
  • How to have supportive conversations and ask about suicide directly.
  • Strategies for appropriate interventions.
  • Resources for effective referrals.
  • How to support grieving students and staff after a suicide (postvention).
  • How to foster a school environment that reduces stigma and strengthens protective factors.
• Approach: Script & scenario practice, small group discussions, postvention planning.

The CARE curriculum is approved by Washington State PESB (Professional Educators Standard Board) to meet the training requirement for all ESA certificate holders. ESD 113 has been approved by PESB to provide this training.