Crisis Intervention Teams

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a community-led program that fosters collaboration among law enforcement, mental health providers, individuals with mental illnesses, families, and communities to improve interactions and reduce stigma.

The first Crisis Intervention Team was developed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1988 under the leadership of Lt. Sam Cochran. He partnered with members of NAMI, local universities, and local mental health providers to develop training for law enforcement. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs now exist in many communities across the United States. CIT is much more than training and involves system mapping, improving policies and procedures, data collection, training, and more. While this training was initially developed for law enforcement, it expanded to include dispatch, EMTs, and other first responders and criminal justice professionals. Over one week, this 40-hour training teaches participants about various types of mental illnesses, as well as active listening and de-escalation of crises and what mental health resources are available in the community. The goal is to have a safe resolution of crises involving individuals living with mental illness and to divert these individuals away from the criminal justice system and into treatment where recovery can begin.

In 2015, Gov. Pence signed SEA 380 into law. This bill was updated by 2017's Senate Enrolled Act 231. This important legislation established the creation of a state CIT Technical Assistance Center operated by NAMI Indiana with the support of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction and the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board.

NAMI Indiana provides a framework to interested communities that brings CIT into more and more areas around the state. They will gladly work with those interested in building or strengthening CIT in their communities. For assistance with CIT in your community, please contact NAMI Indiana's Justice Director, Kelli Jensen at kjensen@namiindiana.org.

Indiana CIT Contact Information by County

Where is CIT in Indiana?

Click on the county to find local contact information

Counties engaging in CIT are categorized as interested (yellow on map), planning (orange on map), or established (green on map).

Counties are considered "interested" in CIT if there has been an initial meeting scheduled or held involving local stakeholders who might potentially join the CIT steering committee in that county.

Counties are considered "planning" if they have formed a CIT steering committee and are meeting monthly to implement the core elements of their CIT program.

Counties are considered to have established a CIT program once they have held their first 40-hour CIT class and now have law enforcement officers trained to respond to mental health crisis. These communities continue to periodically host additional 40-hour CIT classes to build capacity within their law enforcement agencies and they also host CIT in-service trainings (continuing education for CIT officers).

Calendar: For information about upcoming CIT classes taking place around Indiana view the CIT Calendar. You will need to contact the local CIT coalition coordinator to inquire about the class, including any request to attend.

CIT Resources for Communities

NAMI Indiana's recommended curriculum for a CIT Class - Are you planning a CIT training in your community? Reach out to NAMI Indiana for technical assistance, support, and mini-grants. View our sample 40-hour curriculum, which will walk you through the essential components of Memphis Model CIT training. We will work with you and your local CIT steering committee members to identify presenters for each curriculum topic.

CIT International - Website with CIT resources from around the world. Membership is $25/ year.

Mental Health First and Aid and CIT - What Should Law Enforcement Do? - The National Council on Behavioral Health and CIT International worked together to publish this white paper about the strengths of and differences between MHFA and CIT.

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