Finalize a curriculum outline
The training subcommittee, including members of the delegation that participated in the CIT visit, should already be in the process of reviewing curricula from other communities. The subcommittee should develop a proposed 40 hour CIT curriculum outline and report to the Steering Committee for final approval.
The Steering Committee should ensure that the curriculum closely follows the CIT curriculum model while also addressing issues and topics that are most relevant to your community. Some communities may choose to add time on youth issues, drugs, veterans, cultural diversity and other topics. However, to ensure that officers have the skills they need, it's not recommended to eliminate topics such as:
- Verbal de-escalation and scenario-based practice of verbal de-escalation
- Information about local community mental health services
- Face-to-face meetings with people living with mental illness and family members.
Perspectives: It's important to remember that CIT is an ongoing program. You do not need to include every worthy topic in your initial 40 hour CIT training. In the future, your committee can choose to create additional training opportunities, such as in-service training courses on specialized topics. In-service training can also revisit in greater detail topics that may have been presented during the 40 hour training.
Resources
University of Memphis CIT Center, Crisis Intervention Team Core Elements (pages 14-15)