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Controlling Board approves waiver to buy proprietary TBRI training; agency cites favorable study results
Summary
The Controlling Board approved a waiver of competitive selection for trust-based relational intervention (TBRI) training from the Karen Purvis Institute at Texas Christian University; department officials cited studies showing reductions in suicide watch and use of force in juvenile settings.
The Ohio Controlling Board approved a waiver of competitive selection to obtain Trust‑Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training from the Karen Purvis Institute at Texas Christian University for the Department of Youth Services.
Senator Chavez questioned why the department was contracting with an out‑of‑state program. Anna Garber, DYS chief fiscal officer, said the TBRI program is a proprietary curriculum developed by the Karen Purvis Institute and that the department researched multiple care modalities before selecting this program. “This is actually a proprietary developed training through the Texas Christian University Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development,” Garber said.
Behavioral health chief Ryan Smith told the board that published and preliminary studies associate TBRI with favorable outcomes, including reductions in suicide-watch placements and use of force. “TBRI at TCU has shown through several studies to have really favorable outcomes. In one, it was associated with a reduction of 90 percent suicide watch, 30 percent reduction in use of force,” Smith said, and noted an ongoing NIH study on TBRI in juvenile justice settings.
Board action: The board approved the waiver with no objections. Members asked whether in‑state programs or local institutions such as Ohio State University could develop similar practices; agency staff said they are in conversation with OSU about related practices and future development.
Next steps: DYS will proceed with contracting for TBRI training and continue conversations with in‑state partners about developing comparable practices.
