DEFUSE: Safety through De-Escalation

Safety through De-escalation

DEFUSE is a first of its kind de-escalation training! It is asynchronous, interactive, experiential, and available online whenever is convenient for the learner.

People who complete DEFUSE show significant improvements in empathy, stigma, self-efficacy, behavioral self-report, and actual behavior change (Hacker & Horan, 2019).

People who complete DEFUSE report overall satisfaction with the breadth of the course content and training experience (Hacker & Horan, 2019).

DEFUSE was developed to overcome barriers to access, standardize curriculum, ensure consistent content delivery, provide ample opportunity for skills practice, and minimize the required time, personnel, and financial burden.

DEFUSE makes it possible for everyone to learn and practice effective, evidence-based de-escalation skills.

DEFUSE has won numerous awards!
2015: Arizona State University Graduate Research Support Award
2016: American Psychology-Law Society Grant-in-Aid
2017: American Psychological Association Criminal Justice Section Outstanding Dissertation Award
2024: University of Colorado Growth and Development Award
2025: Avielle Initiative Seed Grant for Brain Health Research and Innovation

Data

Expectations

Feelings

Unite

Self Regulate

Equip

The DEFUSE Skills are evidence-based strategies that help regulate the nervous system.

Empowers Professionals to Respond Not React

Safety for Law Enforcement

DEFUSE for Law Enforcement is tailored to support officers who respond to calls that involve people who are agitated or in crisis. This foundational de-escalation training ensures officers understand common behavioral health symptoms and develop the skills to respond effectively. With adequate training, officers can experience increased safety, improved job performance, and greater well-being.

Safety for Public Transit

DEFUSE for Public Transit is tailored to support transit workers who respond to people who are agitated or in crisis. This foundational de-escalation training gives transit workers the tools to recognize behavioral health symptoms and the skills to respond effectively. With adequate training, public transit workers can experience increased safety, improved job performance, and greater well-being.

Safety for Healthcare

DEFUSE for Healthcare is tailored to support all workers in healthcare settings who respond to people who are agitated or in crisis. This foundational de-escalation training ensures all healthcare workers understand common behavioral health symptoms and develop the skills to respond effectively. With increased risk for violence in these settings, DEFUSE for Healthcare supports the safety of providers, staff, and patients.
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Interested in DEFUSE for your organization?