More About TCIS

Why TCIS?

W-FL BOCES is committed to fostering trauma-sensitive best practices that ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and staff.  The threshold concepts of the TCIS training support schools building a culture of care.

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) is a comprehensive crisis management system that helps school communities: 

  • Prevent and de-escalate potential crises. 

  • Manage crises in a caring and therapeutic manner. 

  • Equip staff with strategies to respond to challenging behaviors through a trauma-sensitive lens. 

  • Empower children by addressing challenging behaviors that often stem from trauma and pain. 



TCIS Benefits for Schools and Staff

  • Prevent crises from occurring. 
  • De-escalate situations before they escalate into crises. 
  • Effectively manage acute physical behaviors. 
  • Reduce the risk of injury to students and staff. 
  • Teach students essential emotional regulation skills and coping strategies. 
  • Foster a learning organization focused on trauma-sensitive practices. 

TCIS Benefits for Students

  • Develop trust in adults as a source of strength. 
  • Learn and experience success in managing emotions. 
  • Discover adaptive strategies for coping with emotions. 
  • Feel a sense of safety, belonging, and competence. 
  • Achieve academic success alongside emotional growth. 

All of our Special Education sites and CTE sites have TCI trainers who provide supports to their respective buildings.

TCIS is housed under the Residential Child Care Project.  It continues to grow with researched informed best practices offering training to state agencies and school settings. 



Where is TCI used?

TCI trainers are located throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Vietnam, and the Republic of Korea. The RCCP has offered TCI since the 1980's. 

TCIS is housed under the Residential Child Care Project.  It continues to grow with researched informed best practices offering training to state agencies and school settings. 

The Residential Child Care Project (RCCP) is administered by the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (BCTR), housed within Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology. 

The BCTR’s mission is to enhance professional and public understanding of risk and protective factors that influence the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities. These efforts aim to strengthen families, promote child well-being, and foster positive youth development. 

What is Translational Research? 

Translational research, as defined by the College of Human Ecology and the BCTR, is the systematic process of applying research findings to create innovative interventions, practices, and policies. These applications are designed to improve health and well-being. 

This dynamic process ensures that the knowledge gained from these interventions informs and inspires future research, creating a continuous cycle of learning and improvement. 

WFL BOCES Mission

Currently, WFL BOCES has TCIS trainers at all educational sites, providing staff with the knowledge and skills needed to apply TCIS effectively. These trainers also offer ongoing support and training to enhance the application of these skills. 

WFL BOCES also supports component districts and addresses regional needs by helping districts build capacity within their own buildings. This includes providing direct training and facilitating partnerships with Cornell University to train district staff, enabling them to effectively train their own teams.