Safe Alternatives for Teens and Youths-Acute (SAFETY - A) Training (formerly known as FISP)

Training Features

  • Target Audience: Licensed behavioral health clinicians or those under supervision for licensure working with youth, young adults, and families.
  • Target Treatment Population: Youth and young adults (ages 10–24) who report suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior, and their caregivers.
  • Clinical Focus: Brief, trauma‑informed, behavioral suicide risk assessment and family‑based safety planning.
  • Training Structure: One 8‑hour training day.
  • Post‑Training Consultation:
    • Up to 6 open group consultation calls over six months.
  • Delivery Format: In‑person.

Full Description

Safe Alternatives for Teens and Youth–Acute (SAFETY‑A) is a trauma‑informed, cognitive‑behavioral, family‑based intervention designed for youth and young adults ages 10–24 who report suicidal ideation or a recent suicide attempt. The intervention uses the clinical encounter as an opportunity to reduce short‑term risk for repeated suicidal thoughts and behaviors while supporting engagement in ongoing mental health care.

SAFETY‑A focuses on building coping skills for youth and caregivers, enhancing motivation for follow‑up treatment, and improving linkage to outpatient services. Core components include reframing the suicide attempt as a problem requiring action, providing psychoeducation to families about the importance of outpatient treatment and means restriction, increasing family support, identifying triggers for suicidality, and developing a safety plan to enhance safe and adaptive coping.

The SAFETY‑A model includes three primary elements: staff training, a youth and family crisis therapy session, and follow‑up care‑linkage contacts. SAFETY‑A has been tested in emergency department settings and adapted for use in other settings, including inpatient, residential, outpatient, school, and community‑based programs. This training is offered in partnership with the UCLA-Duke Act, Support, and Protect (ASAP) Center