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Then there is the group that law enforcement most often encounters. These are the people who struggle to cope, who do not respond to medications, or who cannot understand they have a problem. They are the people who desperately want help but cannot fnd it because of budget cuts and canceled mental health programs. Left to fend for themselves, many are forced to rely on 9-1-1 as the place to go when looking for resources. Unfortunately, offcers are often completely unprepared to help. Most law enforcement training revolves around criminal activity and offcer safety. Need to know about drunk driving, domestic violence or hostage negotiations? There's training for that. But what about when it's a family desperate for help for their bi-polar daughter? That's not something usually covered in the academy or yearly training. This is where Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) comes in. Started in 1988 by the Memphis Police Department in partnership with NAMI, CIT has rapidly spread throughout the nation as a way to empower and educate law enforcement on what to do when they encounter people suffering from mental illness. This type of training is designed to provide specifc tools and resources offcers can use successfully to problem solve when faced with someone in a mental health crisis. So how does an agency provide CIT training? What are the requirements for certifcation? What should managers include in a CIT program? First, according to Sgt. Kathy McNicolas, CIT coordinator for the Vancouver, Wash. Police Department, certifcation in CIT requires offcers to attend 40 hours of classroom training. The good news is that those 40 hours can be tailored to what each department needs based on what is available in their area. Ideally, it would include an overview of suggestions for communicating with the mentally ill, verbal deescalation skills, opportunities to role play, an introduction into local resources, and an explanation of how to access those resources. During CIT training, mental health professionals can explain what to expect. The meds or the bottle—can you help her choose? Starting a CIT Program For training coordinators who want to offer CIT training, the best place to begin is by looking locally. Piggy-backing off an organization that already has everything in place is by far the most cost-effective and effcient way to get started. Sgt. McNicolas opens spots in her yearly training to multiple agencies within driving distance, allowing departments from around the region to educate their staff without the stress of setting up their own program. If nothing is available locally, never fear. Developing a program from scratch doesn't have to be a daunting task. The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) website provides a wealth of knowledge of all things CIT. A good starting point is the Self-Help Manual: Starting a CIT Program, A Step by Step Guide by Gerry Akland of NAMI-Wake County. This guide provides an overview of everything a CIT program requires as well as a sample class schedule and policies. The NAMI website also provides links to multiple CIT related organizations that can offer suggestions and advice. Since the curriculum is fexible, classes can be taught from a variety of angles. This means CIT coordinators have access to a plethora of instructors and speakers from their local area. Often the most powerful speakers are those with personal experience. Presenters who suffer from mental illness can offer frsthand information on what the world is like for them. Experience First-Hand What does a schizophrenic hear when someone is talking to him/her? What can an offcer say to help someone suffering from depression to help him/her focus? Successful members of the community who just happen to have a mental illness can speak about stigmas and assumptions, demonstrating that mental illness doesn't always mean crisis. Presentations by family members can be a powerful tool to help offcers understand the progression of a mental illness and the effect it has on loved ones. Hearing what life is like for those who live with someone with a mental illness can open a www.lawandordermag.com 45