Covid-19 FAQ

If you are concerned about completing your annual training requirements, call us at 909-758-0322. We are granting 30-day extensions for anyone who contacts us prior to expiration. The extension may be re-evaluated if necessary.

Pro-ACT and Pro-ACT Restraint Certification trainings that were scheduled prior to the stay-at-home orders going into effect are now being rescheduled and conducted via live stream.

Because of the format change, the overall number of participants per class is being reduced. To accommodate the reduction in class size, additional training dates have been added to the calendar.

As a result of these changes, some registered participants may be asked to reschedule their training for an alternate date. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience and appreciate your flexibility in this unusual time.

The answer to that question is based upon your ability to accurately assess a participant’s skills. Because you, as an In-service Instructor, provide the certification, the decision to certify is yours along with your agency Sponsor. Certification should be based upon the assessment criteria provided in the evaluation section of your manual. Pro-ACT, Inc. provides that rubric for evaluating competency of each Principle with the Beginner Level being the minimum standard for certification.

General Training Information:
In accordance with the guidelines referenced above, any organization should carefully assess the risk of transmission along with the need for mass training. If your organization makes the decision to conduct mass training, Pro-ACT, Inc. recommends that:

• Participant numbers should be kept to a minimum to allow at least 6’ of distance between participants through all didactic portions of the course.
• To accommodate the increased distance, all small group activity should be converted to large group discussions, facilitated by the Pro-ACT In-service Instructor.
• Limit training to didactic portions only, for example, the Introduction up to Chapter 7, training remaining portions later.
• Agencies currently using Advantage e-Learning should advocate the use of Advantage in at-home environments.
• Agencies not using Advantage e-Learning may consider its implementation for remote learning and training of early content.

Following are training suggestions if your organization makes the decision to conduct mass training that includes evasion and restraint. Pro-ACT, Inc. recommends that:

• All participants be encouraged to practice good hygiene by allowing opportunities for handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds prior to and following any physical contact with other participants, lunch and personal breaks.
• Hand sanitizer, gloves and face masks should be available to all participants.
• Participants who do not feel comfortable in a mass training event should be given special consideration.

The close and caring work that you do may put you in proximity with a number of people. To reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Pro-ACT, Inc. strongly encourages you to follow the guidelines established by your employer, which are best based on the recommendations put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and your city and state governments and public health authorities.
As questions relate to the potential for crisis behavior, please recognize that Pro-ACT Principles are intended to decrease the likelihood of escalation and crisis behavior which will reduce the potential for physical contact. Especially in this time, strongly encourage the use of Pro-ACT Purpose, Professionalism and Preparation Principles along with alternatives to escalation as essential to reducing your risk and the risk of others in your environments.
Pro-ACT advocates the use of continuous assessment, increased observation, reasonable and assertive communication, and employee self-control, along with evasion and/or distance from the client. The intent of these Principles is to intervene early, address the needs of the client, and minimize the potential for crisis and physical contact. All these Principles are in line with protocols encouraged during the coronavirus crisis.
In situations in which staff evaluate the use of physical contact as the safest response, the health risk of coronavirus must also be considered in the same way that any other physical, health, or trauma risk is evaluated.

Advantage e-Learning is an online training option that can be accessed by your employees anywhere they have a computer and internet service. The Advantage content covers the first half of Pro-ACT certification training, providing employees with the fundamental skills they need to effectively and safely interact with clients while also providing a range of de-escalation strategies. Advantage can be used to begin the training certification process now with the final portion of training completed at a later date, when training limitations have been lifted.

Site-based Pro-ACT In-service Instructor training will only be held in locations where state and local guidelines allow. In those locations, the following provisions will be in place:

• Class size will be limited to 16 or less and not to exceed local restrictions.
• Each participant will have her/his own designated table from which to work.
• All participants must wear a mask that covers nose and mouth throughout the entire training. Participants can bring/wear personal masks. If no personal mask is available, a mask will be provided by the Pro-ACT, Inc. Trainer.
• A minimum of 6′ of social distance will be maintained throughout the training.
• Additional hand washing breaks will be provided throughout the day.
• Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes will be available for surface cleaning.

Pro-ACT makes training available through open registration and contractual agreement. Open registration training dates can be found on the website. Organizations interested in arranging a Pro-ACT training for employees of their organizations are welcome to contact the Pro-ACT, Inc. office at the address or phone number listed below or by sending an e-mail to info@proacttraining.com.