18th Crisis Intervention Training for local first responders concluded

Local police and other first responders completed the 18th session of a specialized 40-hour crisis intervention training program on June 28, concluding with a graduation ceremony.

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a partnership of police, emergency medical services (EMS), emergency communications, correctional facilities, mental health agencies, individuals who have experienced mental health issues, and advocates that provides a law enforcement-based crisis intervention and de-escalation response to situations involving persons in a mental health crisis.

 Some of the training program topics include:

  *   recognizing and understanding specific signs and symptoms of mental illness;
  *   understanding how these affect various segments of the population;
  *   understanding the effects and side effects of psychotropic medications, and
  *   basic and advanced de-escalation techniques.

Attending this week's crisis intervention training are representatives from the Penn State University Police Department, State College Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police at Rockview, the Centre County Sheriff's Office, Centre County Correctional Facility, Centre County Emergency Communications, and the Centre County Probation and Parole Office.

Centre County CIT was awarded a grant in December of 2010 to help establish this nationally recognized program locally. The goal of CIT is to increase safety for all those involved and divert or lessen the impact of the criminal justice system for persons experiencing a behavioral, emotional, or medical crisis.

Since the program launched in Centre County in 2011, it has trained 342 first responders, law enforcement officers and other professionals. This week's training will conclude with 23 new graduates, which will bring the total number of graduates to 365.