What is the required annual suicide prevention training for employees?

• A. One hour annually.
• B. Two hours quarterly.
• C. Thirty minutes every six months.
• D. No formal training required.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that staff must receive a formal suicide prevention refresher each year. The standard requires one hour of training annually, ensuring employees stay current on warning signs, risk factors, and the correct steps to take if a child is at risk, including how to report concerns and seek help. This yearly session is designed to keep knowledge fresh and aligned with licensing and safety expectations.

Why this is best: one hour per year provides a focused, regular update without overloading staff time, while meeting the mandated minimum to maintain competency and compliance. It ensures everyone has the opportunity to review essential concepts and procedures on an annual cycle.

Why the other options don’t fit: larger time commitments spread across the year go beyond the required minimum and aren’t the stated standard. Splitting training into shorter sessions every six months still totals the same amount of time but the policy specifically calls for an annual session. No training at all contradicts the requirement and would fail to meet compliance and safety goals.