A number of Alamance-Burlington School System School Resource Officers (SROs) recently completed a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training program. The officers were presented with certificates of completion and CIT pins at a ceremony on Friday, August 11th.
The CIT program is a partnership between local law enforcement, mental health providers, and advocates. It trains officers on skills and techniques to safely de-escalate crisis situations involving individuals with mental health disorders or developmental disabilities. Over 1,400 law enforcement officers and first responders across North Carolina have completed CIT training through Vaya Health.
CIT helps build stronger connections between law enforcement and community members with mental health needs. The 40-hour curriculum, developed by Vaya Health's CIT Program and taught by Alamance Community College and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), provides practical training for officers to divert people in crisis to services instead of jail when appropriate.