Send a team to a train- the-trainer session to learn to teach de-escalation skills
Mental health providers will be expert in many of the curriculum topics in CIT. However, verbal de-escalation skills are a critical component of CIT and trainers will typically need training to teach these skills effectively to law enforcement. Communities should select a delegation of law enforcement officers and mental health providers to attend a train-the-trainer event specifically to learn verbal de-escalation skills and techniques. Law enforcement officers are included in this training because they can adapt the skills to address officer safety issues, and to provide officers involved in the training confidence that these skills are relevant and adaptable to law enforcement. Mental health providers bring their expertise about mental illness and crisis response. Together, the two professionals are an effective co-teaching team.
Verbal de-escalation is a challenge to learn and teach because it does not follow a simple, step-by-step formula. While basic techniques may be taught in a lecture format, most of the learning occurs in scenario-based practice. Officers must develop an array of skills and learn to adapt their response to rapidly-changing situations. Officers need to make their skills "second nature" and learn to constantly re-assess situations so that they can change their approach by drawing on different skills. Teaching verbal de-escalation requires time and practice, so officers can learn a skill, practice it, then learn another skill and practice it in a changing environment.
Resources
Train the Trainer document in development