Toll-free access to services: / Relay NC TTY-711 Segmented Training for Small Departments Presented by: Greta Byrd Smoky Mountain LME/MCO Detective Brian Shuford Yancey County Sheriff’s Office Date: February 10, 2015

Why CIT in Rural Areas? Knowledge is key. It is important to have increased knowledge of mental health issues and resources as service system in NC has changed. Increased knowledge helps decrease time officers spend handing situations. Increased officer and consumer safety. Redirect individuals from judicial system to health care system.

Yancey County Highest Point in the United States East of the Mississippi River

Yancey County County Seat: Burnsville

Mitchell County

Mitchell County County Seat: Bakersville

Yancey and Mitchell Counties Population 17,818 - Yancey – 313 sq. miles Population 15, 579 – Mitchell – 222 sq. miles Comparison: Square mileage of Wake County is 857 sq. miles. Population: 974,289 (2013)

A Comparison

Getting Started Making connections. Start with who you know. Groups that already meet together. Natural partnerships already exist – tap into them. Existing task forces that are already addressing community issues. Start small. Be flexible.

When It Happened June, 2014 – Five consecutive Mondays Flexibility in presentations A variety of presenters including crisis response providers, advocacy organizations, and professionals Include individuals with lived experience to share their stories

How has it worked? Rural Partnerships May Even Be Easier – Getting the right partners at the table may be easier because small communities are tight knit. Key players may be neighbors, friends, or go to the church. – Resources! Small communities are used to accomplishing projects on a shoestring budget. – Key players can identify volunteers, resources that may reduce costs significantly – “never hurts to ask”.

It’s Not as Hard as You Might Think! Find a Community Connector who can bring others together Form a Team Schedule a Training BE FLEXIBLE!

Buy In CIT will reduce the number of Officer related injuries CIT will reduce the number of physical confrontations with MH/ID consumers CIT will reduce the number of repeat calls with certain consumers

Issues to Address – Not Obstacles! Scheduling – overtime, etc. Flexibility – when officers get calls, etc. Variety in presentation – officers may have worked the overnight shift, etc.

Benefits to Being Involved Making a difference in your community. Increased understanding – law enforcement is already dealing with these kinds of calls. All of us are one step away – family member, loved one, neighbor, or even our colleagues may have experienced mental health, substance abuse or an intellectual developmental disability.

Community Involvement Partner with community stakeholders including schools, area agencies on aging, dss, and local mental health providers and make them part of CIT program and identify how they can help with training and funding.

Outcomes 7 Officers Trained

Outcomes From CIT – a 2 day Community Stakeholders training was developed addressing similar topics. Detective Shuford was instrumental in bringing together DSS and school personnel to attend the 2-day Community Stakeholders training.

Questions? Contact Information: Detective Brian Shuford Smoky Mountain LME/MCO CIT Coordinator Lisa Astin, LCSW