Trainer Note: Provide a brief overview of the introductory module by highlighting each point on the slide.
Trainer Note: Participants should be handed the survey when they enter the training and begin to fill it out before the start of the training. Collect the surveys as participants finish them.
Pre-Course Survey: A template has been provided for the Pre-Course Survey. Localities may choose to review to more accurately reflect their own course.
Hand out the pre-course survey as participants enter the room to allow time for participants to complete it. Collect the surveys as participants finish them. Advise participants that this survey is a measure of their baseline knowledge and that they will be asked to complete the same survey after the course is over.
NOTE: The surveys may be anonymous, depending upon the preferences of the agency. To make the surveys anonymous, instead of indicating a name or badge number in the blank space at the top of the survey, please ask participants to come up with a unique identifier (that they will remember!) such the last 4 digits of their SS# or the last 4 digits of their cell phone, etc.
Trainer Note: Introduce yourself and your co-instructor(s), stating credentials, experience and why you are teaching the class this week.
Briefly introduce yourself and ask classroom participants to introduce themselves. Ask them to share their name, position and how many years they have been in law enforcement.
Although the CIT model aims to have classes comprised of experienced officers who volunteer and are screened for suitability, this may not be the case. Therefore, trainers need to know if class participants volunteered or were “voluntold.” Instructors may wish to inquire about volunteerism at the time of each participant’s introduction or as a show of hands after the introduction.
It is important to set the stage well so that participants are engaged from the beginning and are motivated to participate and share their thoughts and opinions throughout the training. You are encouraged to utilize an ice breaker to encourage participants to be active from the beginning. The instructor should choose an icebreaker that will be well received by their audience.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Icebreaker: Two Concentric Circle Exercise
Ask random participants what they see (jokingly indicate they cannot say a doughnut).
Once 6-8 people say what they see discuss perspectives and how we all have a different way of viewing things.
Refer to the number of years of experience in the room.
Ask everyone to acknowledge that we all bring a wealth of information into the room based on our experience and perspectives.
Remind the group to respect each other's perspectives.
The above is a suggested icebreaker. The site can choose an icebreaker of their own, however it should be one that engages everyone and sets a tone regarding being open minded and willingness to listen and consider others’ perspectives.
Trainer Note: Briefly describe the experiences class participants should expect this week. Mention that they will spend time outside of the classroom and will spend time with advocates, clinicians, and people living with mental illness. This is a crucial week of training and, it will likely shape their everyday policing for the duration of their careers. We hope they take away valuable knowledge and skills from this experience!
Participants will also learn how their family members and close friends who may have a mental health disorders would like them to respond to these crises.
Trainer Note: Briefly explain the expectations for the week’s training, laying out the schedule you have developed. Use the below information as a reference point.
Content Note: The matrix above briefly describes the modules and topics you will be learning about this week. Each module will be led by an instructor best qualified to teach each topic. For example, clinical topics will be taught by clinicians; hands-on scenario-based modules will be taught by law enforcement instructors, with the assistance of local actors (if available); and advocacy and community modules will be taught by advocates, people living with mental illness, and other community members.
NOTE: A trained CIT law enforcement Coordinator or Officer will be present for all clinical modules to assist, as needed in translating some of the clinical material into relevancy for the officers in the class. A trained CIT officer can provide law enforcement examples to help the officers better understand the importance of the information being presented and its relevancy to their work.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT CIT?
Trainer Note: Solicit responses from participants. You can prompt answers by asking specifically:
Do you know any CIT-trained officers?
Have you heard their stories?
Have you seen news articles about CIT?
Have you seen any posts on Social Media about CIT programs or CIT interventions?
Are you aware of some of the benefits of successful CIT programs?
Listen to stories about interactions that they have heard of from colleagues, general impressions about CIT’s helpfulness, concerns, etc. Explain that part of this training is to learn what CIT is and how it fits into the participants' role as a first responder. CIT is part of the fundamentals of why they became law enforcement officers - to help others and their communities.
Consider asking additional questions such as:
When did you first hear about CIT/how long has it been since you first heard about it?
Has your understanding of CIT changed from when you first heard about it?
CIT International Video
Trainer Note: Read the definition shown on the slide aloud:
“Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) 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, behavioral health provider agencies, I/DD providers and individuals and families affected by these disabilities.”
Emphasize that for a CIT program to be successful, community partnerships with the key stakeholders are necessary. It would be good to add – CIT is more than just training. It’s through these partnerships that this training occurs and, it is through these partnerships that community mental health and I/DD systems can be transformed to optimize the needs of its citizens with mental illness and/or addiction.
Ask participants if they have questions about the concept of CIT.
Trainer Note: Emphasize these main goals of CIT: improved safety, Law Enforcement having additional tools to respond to a Behavioral Health and/or I/DD crisis, make the service system more understandable for Law Enforcement and people living with mental illness, substance use disorders and/or I/DD; and provides alternatives to incarceration. Also, emphasize the importance of "team" in Crisis Intervention Team and what that means to them in their communities. Use the below information to provide examples.
Content Note:
Improved Safety
Immediacy of response - officers are already on duty and can respond quickly to crisis calls
In-depth training - 40-hour comprehensive training, annual refresher
Increased officer knowledge and skills - for responding, de-escalating and facilitating a disposition to the crisis
Review law enforcement procedures - to ensure they align with a CIT response
Crisis Response System Improvement (Examples of System Improvements)
Crisis lines – A telephone support line staffed by professionals who are trained to decipher, evaluate and intervene as needed for a person’s safety
Warm lines - A telephone support line where the caller talks to trained peers that can listen to concerns and offer support
Mobile Crisis Outreach Team - A team of clinicians from a mental health center who can mobilize to response to crisis calls in the community
User-friendly receiving center - A mental health facility that receives persons in crisis from law enforcement (voluntary or involuntary) or even as walk-ins. This is a “no wrong door” approach
Case management - Trained professionals who help vulnerable individuals navigate the system to get their treatment needs met. Case Managers assess, plan, facilitate and coordinate their care
Community collaborative approach - Several key stakeholders working together to improve the crisis response system
Alternatives to Incarceration
Coordinated points of entry or a single point of entry for crisis services
No clinical barriers/no wrong door
Minimal officer turnaround time at the hospital and other crisis services
Trainer Note: Highlight each point on the slide using the below information to explain each component. Do not go into a lot of detail here, mainly a quick summary. Several of these points were made early so focus on the ones not addressed such as Relationships, Leadership, Compassion, You
Content Note:
CIT is about…
CIT is about transforming the crisis response system. How can we improve the way we do business? CIT is about figuring out how existing systems and resources can work together differently to provide effective responses to crises, needed care for people with mental illness, advocacy, and support for families. CIT is about transforming crisis response systems to minimize the times that law enforcement is the first responder to citizens in emotional distress.
CIT is about partnerships/relationships. How can we build partnerships? How can we maintain those partnerships over time? We rely upon the following definition of partnership: A partnership is a cooperative relationship between two or more organizations to achieve some common goal. These partnerships also must be sustainable to ensure continuity of services. How can we build and maintain productive problem-solving relationships with key partners? What problem-solving strategies work best in your community?
CIT is about community engagement. How can we empower the community to engage in problem-solving with us? What are our community outreach strategies? Are they effective? How can we empower the community to sustain a CIT Program?
CIT is about advocacy. How can we effectively work with advocates for people with mental illness in our community? It is important to acknowledge that our goals are the same: we want everyone to be safe, and we want people to be able to access the care they need.
CIT is about leadership. How can we lead by example through our innovative CIT initiatives? YOU are a leader in your community. Your involvement in your community’s crisis intervention team is an important demonstration of your leadership.
CIT is about specialized training. How can we build skills and confidence in officers responding to these crises? By providing comprehensive training to law enforcement officers helping them better understand how these disabilities effect a person in crisis and providing the officers with skills and strategies to effectively de-escalate and better connect people to community resources. CIT is about understanding, caring, and patience.
CIT is about YOU and your commitment to the concept of CIT and to the program. Trained CIT officers play a key role in their community’s CIT program success. Your problem-solving attitude and dedication to assisting people with behavioral health disorders and I/DD is critical. We hope that you take what you learn this week and run with it in order to make your community a safer and better place for everyone to live.
