Crisis Intervention Team

On September 27, 2006, Director Vernon Keenan of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received the national “Sheriff/Police Chief” leadership award at the 2nd Annual Crisis Intervention Team Conference in Orlando, Florida.  Director Keenan was recognized for his outstanding leadership regarding the establishment of the Georgia Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program.  Modeled after the original Memphis CIT program’s “gold standard”, Georgia’s program has become a recognized national model for developing a solid, statewide initiative.

Through his leadership and foresight, Director Keenan was instrumental in ensuring the success of the program. Realizing the worth of such a program, he initiated discussions and brought together law enforcement, mental health professionals and advocate groups to tailor a program to fit Georgia’s needs.  Upon receiving this award, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue said, “By establishing this program, Director Keenan has likely saved lives while empowering criminal justice professionals to resolve potentially tragic situations justly and safely.”

CIT founder Major Sam Cochran of the Memphis Police Department, presents the Sheriff/Police Chief Award to Director Vernon Keenan at the 2nd Annual Crisis Intervention Team Conference.

CIT Program Administrators April Wrenn and Elizabeth Turner, Director Vernon Keenan, and Inspector Janet Oliva of the GBI.

Vision

A Georgia where individuals with mental illnesses and other brain disorders receive medical treatment, not criminal incarceration.

Mission

Equip Georgia law enforcement officers with the skills to assist people with mental illness and other brain disorders in crisis, thereby advancing public safety and reducing stigma.

Implementation Procedures

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a dynamic collaboration of professionals committed to people with mental illness and other brain disorders. The CIT program is sponsored by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Mental Health, Development Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Georgia Sheriff's Association, Inc., and Georgia Public Safety Training Center .

Law enforcement officers who are trained in CIT can effectively assist individuals with mental illness and other brain disorders who are in crisis, therefore advancing public safety and reducing the stigma commonly associated with mental illness. One of our major goals is to train and certify 20% of all Georgia law enforcement officers in CIT by the year 2007. To achieve our mission, we will focus on the following objective:

1. Ensure that people with mental illnesses and other brain disorders always receive treatment, in lieu of incarceration in most cases
2. Increase the number of local governments with community-based jail diversion programs for adults and children with serious mental illness
3. Improve the quality and quantity of mental health services
4. Protect the rights of people with mental illness and other brain disorders
5. Promote adequate training for criminal justice system personnel about mental illness, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, and substance abuse.

The CIT Advisory Board coordinates the design, scheduling, and implementation of the course, and also coordinates and approves grant funding for the program. In addition to the sponsoring agencies, the Board is comprised of representatives from the Atlanta Police Department, Behavioral Health Link/Single Point of entry, Carter Center , Emory University School of Medicine, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice , Georgia Department of Public Safety, Grady Memorial Hospital , and State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The CIT Advisory Board consults regularly with officials from the medical, government, and business community. To that end, the NAMI Executive Board and CIT Advisory Board have developed a curriculum to ensure quality and consistency in law enforcement training. This uniformity will better assure public safety and will maximize our shared resources resulting in more humane treatment for Georgians with mental illness and other brain disorders.

The CIT Advisory Board has developed a statewide curriculum that is approved by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Council. The curriculum includes the necessary materials to provide an effective, well-managed program that will assist jurisdictions in achieving more value from the investment of their time. NAMI will designate a volunteer to coordinate the law enforcement training. This will include securing an appropriate training location and involving local treatment professionals to present various classroom topics.

A representative from the GBI will coordinate communications with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that all the appropriate agencies are notified and involved in the training. A team of statewide, CIT-certified law enforcement officers will deliver the de-escalation techniques during the course. Additionally, they will assist officers attending the course in developing those skills so critical to crisis intervention.

For further information, please contact Pat Strode by telephone (770 234-0855) or via email at pstrode@nami.org . Law enforcement may contact Rhiannon Morgan with the GBI at (404) 274-0281 or at Rhiannon.Morgan@gbi.state.ga.us. We thank everyone for their commitment, and look forward to hearing from you.

Crisis Intervention Team Training Calendar

2007 Training Calendar - xls

Law enforcement agencies that are interested in hosting a CIT training program should contact the statewide CIT Program Administrator at Rhiannon.Morgan@gbi.state.ga.us.

Law enforcement officers who are interested in registering for a specific CIT class should contact the CIT program coordinator of the hosting agency.

CIT Members Recognize Perdue

On March 4, 2005, graduates of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) along with coordinators of the program recognized
Governor Sonny Perdue for his support of the CIT partnership.

CIT Advisory Board

Jade Benefield, Ex. Dir., Clayton CSB
Winston Bethel, Judge, Dekalb Co.
Trudy Boyce, Lt., APD
Michael Compton, M.D., Emory Univ.
David Covington, L.P.C., IHR/BHL
Barbara D'Orio, M.D., Grady Hospital
James DeGroot, Ph.D., GA DOC
Lucian Dervan, Esq., King & Spalding
Lei Ellingson, The Carter Center
Vernon Keenan, Dir., GBI
Bill Kissel, DHR-MHDDAD
Ronnie Lane, GA DJJ
Harriett Laurence, GPSTC
Nora Lott-Haynes, Pres., NAMI GA
Dave Lushbaugh, Board Chair, GP
Paul Maharry, GA Assoc. of Chiefs
Pierluigi Mancini, Ph.D., CETPA
Mark McDonough, Sgt., GSP
Suzanne Nielman, Assoc. Co. Comm.
Janet Oliva, Ph.D., GBI
Beth Oxford, Pardons/Parole Board
Diane Reeder, NAMI GA
Mary Shuman, DHR-Consumer Rel.
Gwen Skinner, Dir., DHR-MHDDAD
Tonia Welch, GA Sheriffs' Assoc.
Keith Wood, Ph.D., Grady Hospital
Mary Yoder, AADD

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Advocacy *Education *Support *Research

NAMI Georgia
Suite #202
3050 Presidential Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30340
770 234-0885
770 234-0237 (fax)
800 728-1052
www.namigeorgia.org