About CIT
NWCSB CIT has provided trainings for over 650 Law Enforcement Officers
Northwestern Community Service Board Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was established in 2009, providing its first training in October of that year.
It is a collaboration which brings together 21 Law Enforcement agencies, Mental Health Advocacy groups, Community non-profit agencies, families and folks who utilize mental health services.
“…He was again screaming, yelling, cursing, and throwing his hands in the air. Cpl. Medina again used his CIT skills and was able to calm him down enough to listen to what he had to say. [He] again became agitated, and Cpl. Medina was able to make him understand at that time he was going to have to go for an evaluation at the hospital. [He] was taken into custody without issue. Cpl. Medina and I agreed prior to CIT [He] most likely would have been a fight to take him into custody.
Corporal Justin Schumer
Winchester Police Department
I would highly recommend any law enforcement personnel to attend this training. I found the training to be very useful in dealing with an individual in crisis or day to day interactions with individuals.”
Chief Chris Rinker
New Market Police Department
The training I received exceeded my expectations and has been very useful in my daily operations. I would strongly encourage you to consider sending staff to an upcoming training and I am confident they will return with praise and appreciation of CIT. Mental Health issues of been gaining national attention and it is important to the mission of public safety to make an investment in training staff on how to respond to calls for service dealing with the mentally ill.
Chief W. Neal White
Berryville Police Department
The CIT Model
The CIT model was developed in 1988 by the Memphis Police Department as a response to the death of an individual in the midst of a mental health crisis at the hands of Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs).
The Memphis community rallied bringing together LE agencies, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and multiple community partners to seek a new approach to responding to persons in a mental health crisis. From this effort the
CIT model was developed and is now considered a best practice model, employed by over 2700 LE agencies nationwide.
Change
To facilitate changes in LE policy and procedures in regards to mental health. Decreasing trauma and stigma associated with LE contact and criminal justice system involvement.
Risk Reduction
A reduction of the risk of danger posed to persons who are in a mental health crisis and the LEOs who respond.
Diversion
Diversion of persons with mental illness in need of treatment to appropriate mental health treatment facilities in lieu of incarceration.
Awareness
Increase LE awareness and interest in mental health advocacy.
Educate
Familiarize officers with mental health disorders. Educate officers on the signs and symptoms of mental illness. Teach verbal de-escalation skills.
Empathy
Promote empathy to enhance interaction with individuals who suffer with mental illness and their family members.
Real Life Scenarios
Conduct role plays developed from real life scenarios during training to allow officers to practice newly learned CIT skills.
CIT Training
NWCSB CIT program has provided 59 CIT Basic 40 trainings and 9 Train the Trainers to over 650 LEOs from 2009 through 2024.
The training is a comprehensive educational based experience that prepares LEOs who come in contact with individuals with mental illness to recognize the signs and symptoms to effectively and appropriately respond.
As first responders at the scene of a crisis, it is crucial to know how mental illness can alter behaviors, perceptions and reactions. Through techniques such as de-escalation and active listening, outcomes for everyone involved in a mental
health crisis improve.
Client Perspectives
Provide Family and Client perspectives as well as site visits.
Connecting MH Resources
Instruct officers on how to connect individuals and family members with MH services/resources in their area/jurisdiction.
Legal Information
Provide Mental Health Laws and Legal issues information.
