Presented by:Erin Leavitt –Smith – CIT Grant Manager, DMHAS Inspector Kenneth Edwards, Jr., Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and President, CABLE Louise Pyers, M.S., Executive Director, CABLE and Criminal Justice Project Director, NAMI-CT

1. Statewide Implementation of CIT Connecticut CT Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement, Inc. CABLE, Inc. www.cableweb.org; cable@cableweb.org © CABLE, Inc. 2010

2. Advantages Ensures fidelity to the CIT model State (DMHAS) provides funding and brings locally funded MH agencies to the table Brings a variety of providers and stakeholders together for cross-learning and info sharing Agencies all receive the same training, with local adaptation to their mental health provider system

3. Disadvantages Collaboration can be messy Sometimes feels like herding cats Roles need to be clearly defined

4. Lead Organization CT Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (C.A.B.L.E.) started after a family member with bi-polar disorder was wounded by a police officer during a Suicide-by-Cop attempt while manic. Officer was justified and reports no long lasting trauma. Never heard of Suicide by Cop. (1997) Discovered that there was only about 1-2 hours of training on mental illness at academy and in-service. Founded the organization in 1998. Non-profit status established in 2003

5. C.A.B.L.E. Purpose to bring community and law enforcement resources together to address common issues related to mental heath via Crisis Intervention Team Training Law Enforcement Peer Support Training Research and education collaborative whose mission is to serve as an interdisciplinary resource and catalyst for law enforcement collaboration, support and education.

6. C.A.B.L.E. Comprised of a cross-section of stakeholders: Municipal and state law enforcement personnel Mental health professionals Families and persons living with mental illness Institutions of higher learning

7. C.A.B.L.E. Police driven; family, consumer and mental health informed Police leadership encourages police agency participation; also ensures the curriculum is developed and delivered with safety in mind. In our case, we are fortunate to have the leadership of Inspector Ken Edwards who brought CIT to the New London Police Department Informed by mental health professionals, families and persons with mental illness.

8. C.A.B.L.E. Ideal organization for state-wide implementation Does not represent one police agency but many Does not represent one advocacy group but many Faculty includes members of local and state police, Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, NAMI, Yale University, UCONN and others Training offered regionally to link local police to their mental health providers

9. Recruitment The Pilot Presentation made to the Forensic Services Division of DMHAS DMHAS secured SAMHSA funding for a 2 year pilot that included specially trained CIT clinicians to work with police DMHAS and CABLE selected and met with pilot departments (4 large urban sites) to encourage their participation. Funding included coverage of overtime costs up to $1500 per for backfill and overtime incurred Also provided funding for pilot evaluation by a local university The Pilot’s Success With evidence in hand, DMHAS secured funding from the state legislature for funding to expand the program statewide

10. Recruitment… CT does not have a county system of government. Each police agency covering 169 towns must be approached. (101 police agencies – state police oversee rural areas) More than one way… Most successful method – using law enforcement to recruit their own. Our law enforcement voice – Capt. Kenneth Edwards ,Jr. of the New London Police Dept. Solicit help of other law enforcement trainers/police attorneys Secure POST Certification Luncheons hosted by NAMI-CT affiliates

11. Reluctant police agencies We are persistent but do not push Establish a triage method “A” departments – who want the program with little prodding “B” departments – who are willing to test it out “C” departments – are not ready or willing to consider it We work with the A’s and B’s while continuing to approach the C’s once a year

12. Adherence to Core Elements DMHAS and CABLE initiate and facilitate ongoing discussions between local police and mental health providers Plans are collaboratively established to encourage referrals and follow-up with consumers Local mental health clinicians take the 40 hour CIT training with their police partners to encourage networking and relationship building.

13. Adherence to Core Elements… Each police agency is asked to develop a CIT policy (sample policies are provided) Policy must be approved by CABLE DMHAS offers to cover up to $1500 of OT and backfill costs for the training if the department submits and approved CIT policy

14. Adherence to Core Elements… The Policy Three main components People with mental illness with be treated with dignity and respect CIT officers will be sent to mental health related calls whenever available The person with mental illness will be connected to community based mental health resources when appropriate as part of their collaborative agreement with that mental health provider

15. Adherence to Core Elements… Adjusting to changing budgets, policies, etc… DMHAS, CABLE, NAMI, Police and their mental health partners work together to find creative solutions for budget cuts Changes in leadership require education about CIT and orientation to the model

16. Sustaining the program CABLE provides ongoing technical assistance CABLE and NAMI-CT co-produce a quarterly newsletter for CIT officers and their clinical partners CABLE offers a one day refresher symposium hosted by Central CT State University Quarterly meetings held for Law Enforcement CIT coordinators and the clinicians they work with

17. Contact Information Erin Leavitt –Smith – CIT Grant Manager, DMHAS 860 262-5879 Inspector Kenneth Edwards, Jr., Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and President, CABLE 860 258-5965 Louise Pyers, M.S., Executive Director, CABLE and Criminal Justice Project Director, NAMI-CT 203 848-0320 Thank You!