Select an appropriate site for members to gain a realistic understanding of CIT
There are over 2,500 CIT programs in the United States. When selecting a CIT site to visit, it's important to look for a community with strong partnerships as well as a sustained community effort and one where the host community will devote time specifically to addressing the needs of the committee. The visit is a learning experience for each of the partner organizations, so look for a program that has all the core partners actively engaged in CIT.
When selecting a site to visit, ask the following questions:
- Are there strong, long-term partnerships in place between law enforcement, mental health providers and advocacy organizations?
- Will guests be allowed to meet with these key community partners?
- Are there individuals living with mental illness and their family members on the host community's Steering Committee?
- Is there an assessment center or hospital emergency room that coordinates services and that can be visited?
- Will guests be allowed to ride along with a CIT officer?
- Will there be time for dialogue and exchange of information between visitors and the partners in the host community?
- Is the host community willing to share written documents, including policies and procedures, and successful planning or implementation documents?
- Is the host community willing to have an ongoing relationship, allowing guests to participate in a 40 hour training program at a later date?
Perspectives: Plan for time to discuss common challenges that the host community faced in implementing CIT or that your community anticipates.
Resources
To locate CIT programs, contact one of the following organizations: