Agenda - 5-2-16 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Significant Growth in Crisis Training for First Responders Sandhills Center's commitment to Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is long-standing and unwavering. CIT is a partnership formed to divert individuals living with mental illness from arrest through the creation of more effective interactions among law enforcement, providers, individuals living with mental illness, and their families. Since our first training class was held in 2008, there has been steady growth of CIT training throughout Sandhills Center's nine counties. For example, in the first year, 64 first responders participated. In 2015, more than 123 received CIT instruction. Crisis Intervention Team training has expanded to include not only law enforcement, but also 911 telecommunicators, personnel from Emergency Management systems and firefighters. To date, Sandhills Center, along with our community partners, has trained 723 first responders. This growth in training speaks to the strength of the partnerships between Sandhills Center, local law enforcement agencies, advocacy organizations, service providers, consumers and family members, and the community college system. The benefits of having a CIT -trained first responder consortium include: A reduction in the unnecessary incarceration of individuals with mental illness A decrease in officer injury rates o A decrease in the rates of injuries for individuals with mental illness Improved community relationships Decreased costs to the criminal justice system Sandhills Center's justice Systems Coordinator, Phil Hewett, was recognized as the CIT Trainer of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliate of Cumberland, Harnett and Lee counties. In the nomination narrative, Hewett is described as being "knowledgeable, skillful and an exemplary CIT trainer." He represents Sandhills Center - along with Anne Kimball, Director of Community Relations, Communications and Training - on the state CIT Committee. In 2016, several new agencies have designated personnel to attend CIT training, adding to the strength of the program in the Sandhills region. To date, Sandhills Center, has trained 723 first responders.