Resources | Stophurtingkids

There Are Other Ways to Keep Kids Safe

School teams trained in practices that put relationships and building trust first are succeeding in creating safe, inclusive schools free of seclusion and restraint. Learn more!

Creating a 'relationship-first vs. rules-first' environment.

Ukeru

Be the person who, at long last, identifies the lagging skills and unsolved problems that have been contributing to challenging episodes.

Lives in the Balance

Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) creates schools where all students succeed.

PBIS

Office for Civil Rights: Restraint and Seclusion Data

The office for Civil Rights (OCR) has published its summary analysis of the most recent Civil Rights Data Collection for the 2023-24 school year, including detailed statistics on rates of restraint and seclusion by various demographic characteristics.

Restraint and Seclusion: How Policy Has Failed to Curtail the Use of Dangerous Practices in US Public Schools

This 2024 Brookings article argues that weak oversight and inconsistent state policies on restraint and seclusion allow for continued misuse, and calls for stronger federal and state laws, accountability mechanisms, and better educator training to eliminate these practices from public schools.

Prevention

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has published The Business Case for Preventing and Reducing Restraint and Seclusion Use.

15 Principles

Since 2012, the U.S. Department of Education has encouraged states to use a checklist of 15 principles that can help provide additional protections for children from restraint and seclusion.

The Kids We Lose

This short video describes the experience of students with disabilities in the classroom and explores the training teachers need support those students.

Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint

Restraint, Seclusion, and Corporal Punishment: A No Consent Letter

This resource explains how parents can use a “No Consent” letter to formally communicate that they do not agree to the use of restraint, seclusion, or corporal punishment on their child at school. It provides guidance and sample letters to help families advocate for trauma-informed, supportive alternatives while documenting their position with the school.

Positional Asphyxia

The Crisis Prevention Institute Inc. has published Risks of Restraints: Understanding Restraint-Related Positional Asphyxia.

Combating Improper Seclusion in Schools

The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice's resources on improper seclusion in schools.

Transforming School Discipline

Originally published in the Childhood Education Journal, this article from Ross Greene discusses the importance of education innovation in ensuring that we are "providing the best support and preparation for our children for all aspects of their lives." In this article, Greene advocates for a renewed perspective on responding to challenging student behaviors.

Parent's Guide

APRAIS has published A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Your Child From the Use of Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion.

Fact Sheet

The U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet: Restraint and Seclusion of Students with Disabilities can help individuals and families know how to file a complaint with the Office For Civil Rights if their child’s rights have been violated.

Restraint and Seclusion: Schools, National Association on Mental Illness

The National Association on Mental Illness believes that no one should be subject to practices that can cause or worsen mental health symptom. The offer resources related to restrain and seclusion in schools.