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CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) programs are local initiatives designed to improve the way law enforcement and the community respond to people experiencing mental health crises. They are built on strong partnerships between law enforcement, mental health provider agencies and individuals and families affected by mental illness.
-NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) We strongly believe in Crisis Intervention Team programs and find their effectiveness goes beyond helping those who are in a mental health crisis. CIT programs are more than just training for public safety, they are a collaboration to better a community. CIT is a movement in public safety that can be started and nourished by anyone. If you are beginning a program keep community involvement and collaboration continuous through every aspect. No one side of the issue (Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Behavioral Health Providers, Advocates, Etc.) can make positive change without the other.
There is great resources out there for starting a CIT program. Below are some links to national (USA) resources and information for setting up your own programs. You can also always contact us for information or guidance. |
Looking for something specific? Try our search box below.
You can also check out our Information page to see uploaded information to help you create and maintain your Crisis Intervention Team. This is an ongoing project and if you have information you would like to contribute please email it to us here.
Law enforcement training has been isolated and in-agency. We work for our community and should adapt to their values and needs. This creates buy-in and community ownership, reduces negative views and gains advocate support. We may overlook simple ideas because they are not based in the law enforcement model of thinking and training. CIT is a community program and not just an in-house training.”
Albuquerque CIT Detective Mathew Tinney
FAQ: Do you provide CIT Training?
A: Short answer no. CIT Training often referred to as Crisis Intervention Training or Crisis Intervention Team Training is commonly a 40 hours certification course. It is not best practice to hire or pay for an outside agency to teach this training. CIT training should be a collaboration-based training with local stakeholders. We are more than happy to help provide guidance or material that you may be looking for to start your own training program. If you are looking for instructors feel free to contact us as well.
The Variability in Law Enforcement State Standards
New Report Reveals Differences among State Law Enforcement Training Standards for Responding to People with Mental Illnesses
| jc-le-survey.pdf |
CIT Core Elements Document
A good read when looking at evaluating or starting a program
University of Memphis - CIT Center
The University of Memphis has created this awesome online CIT Center. You can see what national best practice curriculum looks like and what is needed to start up a program. This is a Bureau of Justice Assistance funded project. This should be a starting point or a checking point on your CIT program. This has guidelines for national best practices and standards.
NAMI
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI has been involved in the beginning from the first CIT team to many that has been created through the country. Check out their website for more information and to get a hold of your local affiliate. They also offer a variety of classes for the public, law enforcement, and families on mental health.
CIT International
CIT International is a non-profit membership organization whose primary purpose is to facilitate understanding, development and implementation of Crisis Intervention Team CIT programs throughout the United States and in other nations worldwide in order to promote and support collaborative efforts to create and sustain more effective interactions among law enforcement, mental health care providers, individuals with mental illness, their families and communities and also to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
