303 Church Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060     mhainfo@mhanrv.org

New River Valley Crisis Intervention Team Program

What is CIT?

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model, developed by the Memphis Police Department in 1988, is a well-documented and highly successful "pre-booking" jail diversion program.

The Goals of CIT

The goals of CIT are:

• To improve interactions between law enforcement and persons with mental illness

• To prevent the inappropriate restraint, incarceration, and stigmatization of persons with mental illness

• To reduce injury to officers, family members, and individuals in crisis, and

• To link individuals with mental illness to appropriate treatment and resources in the community.

Crisis Intervention Team Officers

At the core of the model is a Crisis Intervention Team comprised of highly trained CIT Officers who function as part of the regular police patrol division. These officers receive 40 hours of specialized training in psychiatric diagnosis, suicide intervention, substance abuse issues, de-escalation techniques, the role of the family in the care of a person with mental illness, legal training in mental health and substance abuse issues, and local resources for those in a mental health crisis. In addition to classroom instruction, officers-in-training also participate in nine hours of role playing exercises based on real-life scenarios and spend an entire day visiting mental health and substance abuse inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities where they have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one dialogue with mental health consumers. The CIT Training is accredited by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

The training is designed to educate and prepare police officers who come into contact with people with mental illnesses to recognize the signs and symptoms of these illnesses and to respond effectively and appropriately to individuals in crisis. Because police officers are often the first responders in these incidents, it is essential that they know how mental illnesses can alter people's behaviors and perceptions. The trained CIT Officer is skilled at de-escalating crises involving people with mental illness, while bringing an element of understanding and compassion to these difficult situations.

Background of CIT in the New River Valley

The New River Valley CIT program began in April 2002 with a Community Action Grant from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The first 18 months were spent building consensus in the New River Valley to decide whether or not to bring a Crisis Intervention Team to the area. After great success and overwhelming support within the community, we began the implementation phase of the program with another grant from SAMHSA. In March 2004, 20 individuals, made up of 10 officers and 10 civilians, traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to be trained by the program's creators. Those 20 people now make up the New River Valley's CIT Faculty.

Why is the New River Valley CIT Program Unique?

Since its inception in 1988, CIT has been widely replicated nationwide. To date, however, all successful replications of CIT have occurred in or around large metropolitan areas. The New River Valley replication marks the first rural, multi-jurisdictional adaptation of the CIT model anywhere in the United States.

Benefits of CIT

• Decrease in arrest rates and reported injuries for persons with mental illness

• Officer injury rates during crisis events decline

• Increased officer recognition and appreciation by the community

• Underserved consumers are identified by officersand provided with care

• Officers are better trained and educated in verbal de-escalation techniques

Status of CIT in the New River Valley

The CIT Training Faculty has conducted eleven weeklong CIT trainings and for the first time this year, the trainings have also included officers and deputies from around the state. The trainings have resulted in 118 certified CIT officers, representing 14 different New River Valley law enforcement agencies and 91 officers, representing over 30 law enforcement agencies from around the state. Our CIT Faculty continues to conduct two or three weeklong CIT trainings yearly. We have exceeded our goal to train 20 percent of all NRV uniformed patrol officers and deputies and we will strive to maintain that level.

In the past our trainings have been offered exclusively to New River Valley law enforcement officers. Now our CIT trainings are open to all Virginia law enforcement officers. While the training will continue to be free of charge to NRV officers and deputies, those from other jurisdictions will pay to attend the 40-hour training in Blacksburg, Virginia. Revenue from these future trainings will go toward the continued administrative support of the CIT Program.

Statewide Expansion

Now your community can enjoy the many benefits of CIT. The New River Valley CIT Program has expanded its training and technical assistance capabilities working with localities throughout Virginia to develop and sustain their own CIT programs. In partnership with the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the founders of the Memphis Model CIT, the New River Valley CIT Program has established itself as a leader in the Commonwealth and the nation. We can provide expert consultation and training (including a "Train the Trainers" program) allowing you to grow and sustain your own CIT program while addressing your unique program needs and issues. For more information about how we can start working together to bring CIT to your community, please call the Mental Health Association of the New River Valley at (540) 951-4990.

In addition to the officer trainings, we are also offering abbreviated 4-hour CIT trainings customized specifically for dispatchers. Obviously CIT wouldn't exist without trained officers, but having trained dispatchers who are able to identify mental health crisis calls and dispatch CIT Officers when appropriate is integral to the success of the CIT Program. With four dispatcher trainings behind us, we are well on our way to reaching our goal to train 100 percent of all New River Valley police dispatchers.

Jurisdictions Trained by the New River Valley CIT Program

 

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