The Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit (BVIU) continues to strengthen crisis intervention capacity across Southwest Pennsylvania through Therapeutic Aggression Control Techniques – 2nd Version (TACT2). TACT2 is a trauma-informed, competency-based program focused on behavior management, crisis de-escalation, and understanding the impact of childhood trauma. Much of this work is led by Dr. Chris McCabe, who became a TACT2 Master Trainer in October 2024.
Dr. McCabe notes that what sets TACT2 apart from other de-escalation and restraint programs is its highly practical decision-making model and its deep grounding in trauma-informed practices. He explains that the de-escalation strategies “are very practical and relevant to today’s classroom,” and that a significant portion of the curriculum is dedicated to understanding childhood trauma, including its effects on the youth’s brain and its impact on a child’s emotional, physical, and social well-being. He adds that TACT2 helps educators learn what they can do to be more trauma-sensitive in their teaching practices.
“When educators better understand a student’s underlying trauma, they can respond with compassion instead of frustration, and that shift alone can change the entire trajectory of a potential crisis,” Dr. McCabe said. The physical intervention skills taught in TACT2 are designed to be safe, effective, appropriate, and capable of managing even the most complex behaviors.
Districts also benefit from having their own staff trained as TACT2 instructors. Dr. McCabe emphasizes that when districts have in-house trainers, the content can be delivered efficiently to any employee, and the trainers’ familiarity with their own schools, communities, and students allows them to make the training more relevant, engaging, and meaningful than an outside provider could. The most recent TACT2 Trainer Re-Certification, held yesterday, was the final session of 2025.
This year marked significant growth for the BVIU’s TACT2 program. In 2025, BVIU trained and certified 15 new TACT2 trainers and re-certified 35 current trainers. In less than three years, the number of TACT2 trainers in Beaver County has increased from just 2 to 50. Eight of the county’s 14 school districts—along with one charter school—now have certified TACT2 trainers on staff, and in 2025 alone, these trainers certified more than 300 district employees.
Looking ahead, BVIU will offer several initial TACT2 Train-the-Trainer sessions in 2026 for those interested in becoming new trainers, along with numerous re-certification opportunities for current trainers. Training dates will be published in early January.
TACT2 is a trauma-informed, competency-based crisis intervention program that provides training in behavior management, crisis de-escalation, and understanding childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences. The Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit, located in southwestern Pennsylvania, serves as a national TACT2 training center, supporting districts across the region in building safer, more supportive learning environments.
For questions about TACT2, please contact Dr. Chris McCabe at christopher.mccabe@bviu.org.