Published on: June 10, 2026
A NABITA Testimonial by Courtney Sallam, MSW, College of the Sequoias
I spent four days training with Makenzie Schiemann, Ph.D., M.S., and Aaron L. Austin, Ed.D., earning certifications in NABITA’s Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) Standards & Best Practices and Structured Interview for Violence Risk Assessment (SIVRA), and completing a workshop on Collaboration and Support: Addressing the Intersection of BIT, Conduct, and Disability Support. It was a lot, but that intensity made it worthwhile.
From the first moments, Makenzie and Aaron were well-organized and engaging. They shared valuable insight, collaborated naturally in their teaching approach, and balanced each other well. There was a thoughtful balance of case studies, shared experiences, and practical tips. They often paused to ask, “What does this look like at your institution?” which kept the content grounded in real practice and made the learning immediately applicable.
Shifting from Social Work to Higher Education
I am two years into my higher education career after 18 years in child welfare. When I made the move into higher education, I came in with a social work lens and an openness to learn. I accepted a position as Dean of Student Services at the College of the Sequoias in my hometown, where I first started as a student.
I oversee several areas, including chairing our BIT, which we call the Resolution and Advocacy Department (RAD Team). I stepped into an established team making a positive impact. The former dean, who was promoted to provost, built something meaningful, and I wanted to honor that while continuing to grow the program. I also knew that a key partner in case management planned to step away, and those duties would need to be reassigned.
As NABITA Super Members, we have access to a wide range of tools and resources. The standards, ethics, and missions of NABITA, ATIXA, and TNG Consulting aligned with my approach to student support, and I immediately felt a sense of belonging. As I began following the member listserv more closely, the breadth of knowledge available became clear, and I realized I needed to engage with it more intentionally through formal learning.
The Mission Aha Moment
The NABITA trainings highlighted helpful distinctions between community colleges and four-year institutions, as well as between campuses with and without residential life. Our community college serves upwards of 14,000 students in Tulare County, California, a rural agricultural region.
We are a beacon of hope in our community, and we go above and beyond to help students. This perspective shapes how I think about safety and student success. NABITA helped me understand how our team fits into our institution’s mission and how we can continue to connect our community to resources.
When something is inconsistent with our values, it’s never been a challenge for me to speak up about it. NABITA reinforced the importance of doing the right thing when it’s necessary.
The Risk Rubric Aha Moment
During the BIT Standards & Best Practices training, Makenzie recommended bringing the NABITA Risk Rubric into every meeting and placing it on the table for team members to reference together. I remember thinking, “Oh, we really need to improve that.” We use the Risk Rubric in meetings, but not consistently. Her example was a powerful reminder of how to integrate this tool more thoroughly into our process.
After returning from the Winter Symposium, I had my administrative assistant laminate the rubric to bring it to every meeting. My goal is to ask, “Where does this behavior fall on the rubric? Does it still fall there with this new information?” This simple shift will help us maintain consistency and objectivity in our decision-making.
The NABITA Standards Aha Moment
When Makenzie and Aaron encouraged teams to set aside dedicated time for strategy, evaluation, and improvement, it affirmed what we were already doing. They noted that this approach is recommended by the NABITA BIT Standards (particularly Standards 12 and 19-21), which confirmed that we’re on the right track.
In addition to our weekly RAD meetings, we allocate dedicated RAD planning time to strategy and improvement. In my previous career in child welfare, we called this “teaming,” where you bring people together to look at the full picture, discuss difficult issues, and plan together. Building this “teaming” space into our RAD planning sessions helps us think beyond individual cases and focus on strengthening the team’s overall effectiveness.
Leaving With Momentum
By the end of the four days, I felt a renewed dedication to my professional development. As in child welfare, there’s never a moment when you feel you’ve arrived, and everything is perfect. We’re dealing with human behavior, and since people change, our work must continue to evolve. For someone still growing in this role, NABITA’s support is incredibly valuable.
Make Your Own Aha Moments
NABITA trainings and conferences offer practical frameworks, collaborative conversations, and guidance to strengthen safety, threat assessment, and behavioral intervention.
Register for a training or in-person event and start building your own aha moments.