Crisis Intervention Team (CIT): A University, Law Enforcement, and Community Collaboration

Overview: Collaboration in a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) experience will be explored. Based on the Memphis CIT Model, this approach is an effective way to impact mental health and crisis response events, and has allowed the community-based group to form collaborations with local law enforcement, social workers, and mental health professionals.Proposal text: The focus of the workshop involves a social worker faculty member’s role in the implementation of a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). CIT is a “first responder model of police-based crisis intervention with community, health care, and advocacy partnerships…and provides the foundation necessary to promote community and statewide solutions to assist individuals with a mental illness” (Dupont et al., 2006, p. 3). The presenter’s work with CIT began in August 2016, resulting in five law enforcement trainings and published research (Todd et al., 2022).
The Memphis CIT model is an evidence based practice approach to training law enforcement in mental health issues, and forms the basis for the CIT process and week-long training used throughout the country (University of Memphis, 2017). This macro social work practice activity effectively impacts mental health and crisis response events in communities. The work has also made an impact by providing law enforcement and social workers the opportunity to collaborate on ways to better serve those living with a mental health or addiction issue in the community. Specifically, the group has formed relationships with local law enforcement officers through face-to-face trainings that would not have been otherwise possible. Furthermore, research completed related to this training has proven effectiveness related to post-training objectives (Watson, 2010; Todd et al., 2022). Finally, CIT involvement has provided opportunities for social work students to engage in program evaluation following CIT trainings under the supervision of social work faculty.

At the end of the interactive workshop, participants will be encouraged to consider CIT activity in their own communities. This includes the university partnership opportunities with those involved in the CIT experience.

References:
Dupont, R., Cochran, S., & Pillsbury, S. (2006). Crisis intervention team core elements. Memphis, TN: University of Memphis. http://www.cit.memphis.edu/information_files/CoreElements.pdf
Todd, J., Quiring, S., & Halbert, M. (2022). Effects on participant knowledge, situational anxiety, and social distance attitudes following CIT training. Community Mental Health Journal, DOI: 10.1007/s10597-022-00938-6
University of Memphis. (2017). About CIT. http://www.cit.memphis.edu/
Watson, A. C. (2010). Research in the real world: Studying Chicago police department's crisis intervention team program. Research on Social Work Practice, 20(5), 536-543.