Supervising Suicide Risk Assessments and Safety Planning in FCS Programs

Brought to you by HCA and FCS:
Date & Time
Apr 15, 2026 02:00 PM in
Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Description
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the role of supervisors in guiding FCS staff to assess and respond to suicide risk in community-based services.
2. Identify how the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) can be used as a validated tool to support accurate suicide risk assessment.
3. Explain how structured risk assessment can inform crisis service needs and help mitigate unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations.
4. Demonstrate how the Stanley & Brown Safety Planning Intervention can be used to collaboratively develop safety plans with individuals in FCS programs.

Description of Webinar:
Supervisors in Foundational Community Support (FCS) programs play a critical role in supporting staff to respond effectively when individuals experience crises. This 90-minute webinar will review practical approaches to assessing suicide risk, with a focus on using structured tools to guide crisis planning and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations. Participants will learn how the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) can support accurate and consistent risk assessment in community-based settings. The session will also introduce the Stanley & Brown Safety Planning Intervention, a collaborative, evidence informed approach that FCS staff can use with individuals to strengthen coping strategies, increase safety, and support recovery in the community.

Name of Presenter: Amy Banko MS, LPC, NCC, CIPS, CPRP
Shorter Bio of Presenter:
Ms. Banko is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, where she serves as a trainer and implementation consultant at the Integrated Employment Institute. In this role, she facilitates trauma-informed supported employment (SE) and supported education (SEd) training and provides implementation support to enhance practitioner competencies and program outcomes.