CIT IS MORE THAN JUST TRAINING...it's a community program.
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program is a community partnership of law enforcement, mental health and addiction professionals, individuals who live with mental illness and/or addiction disorders, their families, and other partners to improve community responses to mental health crises. While CIT programs are known for CIT-trained officers, successful programs also focus on improving the crisis response system, advocating for needed services, and strengthening partnerships across the community. | DID YOU KNOW?The CIT model, known as the "Memphis Model" was first developed in 1988 and since has spread throughout the United States and several nations worldwide. In 2008 the CIT founders, Dr. Randy Dupont and Major Sam Cochran (ret.) led the convening of members of successful CIT programs from throughout the United States. These individuals became the founding board members of CIT International. CIT International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. CIT International formed to assist communities worldwide with crisis response system reform by developing CIT programs at the state/province level, regional level, and local level. Through research and experience, CIT International defines and advocates for the best practice standards of CIT programming. CIT International then supports CIT programs worldwide with fidelity to those best practice standards through education, conferences, certification, technical assistance and providing various training. |
CIT is a program that provides the foundation necessary to promote community and statewide solutions to assist individuals with a mental illness and/or addictions. The CIT Model reduces both stigma and the need for further involvement with the criminal justice system. CIT provides a forum for effective problem solving regarding the interaction between the criminal justice and mental health care system and creates the context for sustainable change.
Research shows that communities that prescribe to the CIT Program model, have higher success rates in resolving serious crisis situations.
Basic Goals:
- Develop the most compassionate and effective crisis response system that is the least intrusive in a person's life.
- To help persons with mental disorders and/or addictions access medical/mental health treatment rather than place them in the criminal justice system due to illness related behaviors.
The CIT Program, based on the "Memphis Model," has been spreading across the U.S. and abroad since 1988. A sound CIT program based on the Best Practice Guide will help strengthen your community in working together to help people who live with mental illness and/or addictions who are in crisis, it will also improve your community mental health system, save lives and bring hope and recovery to those in need. A strong CIT Program (and not just training) will sustain for years to come.
If you are interested in technical assistance for starting or improving your CIT Program please contact us.