NYAPRS Note: Thanks to funding from the NYS Senate, New York’s CIT program is encouraging localities to explore an array of both police and alternative responses to New Yorkers in mental health crisis.
In collaboration with the NYS Office of Mental Health, the Institute for Police, Mental Health & Community Collaboration is pleased to announce that localities across the State are now able to apply to be part of the state-wide Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program. Applications are due by 5:00 pm, July 22, 2021. Please click here (https://nyscit.org/ ) to download information about who is eligible to apply, other important background information, and the application instructions.
The state-wide CIT program is funded by the NYS Senate. The two main goals of CIT programs are to
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transform crisis response systems to minimize the times that law enforcement officers are the first responders to individuals in emotional distress Although many see CIT as solely a police training initiative, it involves much more. In fact, CIT programs support and encourage the development of non-police responses to individuals in a behavioral health-related crisis. These could include models similar to CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets), a mobile crisis intervention program staffed by teams of mental health and medical personnel.
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to ensure that when police are the first responders that they have the knowledge, skills, and support to de-escalate situations and divert individuals from the criminal and juvenile justice systems, when possible.