CIT: TO LEGISLATE OR NOT TO LEGISLATE…that is the question Presented by: Michele Saunders, Chair, Florida CIT Coalition, CIT International Laura Usher, CIT Program Manager, NAMI Don Kamin, Chief, Clinical & Forensic Services Monroe County (NY) Office of Mental Health Tom von Hemert, CIT Coordinator Thomas Jefferson Area Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Sgt. Attila Denes, Douglas County (CO) Sheriff’s Office

Introduction History of CIT Federal legislation State legislation Case studies: Florida, Colorado, Virginia, New York Discussion

History of CIT Grassroots movement beginning in 1988 – Memphis, TN Grassroots team includes local law enforcement, local mental health and local advocacy Has grown to over 2500 CIT programs nationally

History of CIT Overtime – Statewide approach to CIT Top down from State Law Enforcement, State Mental Health Authority, State NAMI In recent years several states and local communities have explored Legislation to advance and sustain CIT Here is what it looks like that we know of…

Federal Legislation and CIT Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (also known as MIOTCRA) Authorizes a grant program for local mental health/criminal justice projects – including courts, CIT, other law enforcement programs, reentry programs, etc. Part of the annual appropriations process ($9 million in 2013) Passed in 2004, reauthorized in 2008, up for reauthorization as the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act of 2013

Federal Legislation and CIT Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Provides a wide variety of criminal justice assistance to local and state agencies A small number of grants for CIT Funding calculated based on a formula combining population and Uniform Crime Reporting Part I crime data ($290 million in 2014)

What’s Happening in States Resolution Recognizes CIT partners and successes Raises awareness of CIT program and establishes it as a best practice Sets the stage for future legislative support of CIT (funding) Georgia Utah Kansas

What’s Happening in States Mental Health Training Requirement Sets a minimum standard for mental health training Done right, can equip all officers to better utilize CIT programs May cause confusion about whether departments meeting the training requirements have CIT Texas

What’s Happening in States Funding Can be extremely helpful for states and communities to pay for training, planning, evaluations etc. May lead to competition for funding May lead to confusion if the goals of CIT are not well understood Can support statewide planning or technical assistance MD NY SC

Pros and Cons of Legislation Mandates aren’t usually effective Not the spirit of community ownership Promote “training only” approach Conflicts over who gets funding or controls funding Appearance of a “quick fix” to mental health needs Subject to funding cuts Pros Funding of programs Help Define Standards Awareness of CIT for key leaders Brings Legislators into the mix Advance CIT Provides outcome data Strengthen Partnerships Helps with Sustainability

Experiences, Process and Outcomes CASE EXAMPLES Experiences, Process and Outcomes

Florida Grant Program Modeled after the federal MIOTCRA program – Reinvestment Act Competitive grants for counties working on criminal justice/mental health projects Includes a technical assistance center

New York Process Different Legislative Efforts NYC vs. Upstate Diversity of Advocates Resolved by Senate “add-on” to budget Funding NYC planning Upstate planning & implementation Law Enforcement costs MHFA for First Responders

Virginia Funding Funding for CIT Funding for crisis assessment centers connected with CIT programs Va. CIT Coalition: www.vacitcoalition.org

Colorado Attempted Legislative Effort Statewide Rollout of CIT - 2002 Legislative Task Force Funding for a State-wide CIT Coordinator Over time, position eliminated Jail booking fee statute – 20% earmarked for mental health training ‘which may include a Crisis Intervention Team component’ Advancement of CIT left to the Colorado CIT Association

Thoughts, Experience and Feedback

Federal and State Possible future directions with Federal Legislation Grant funding? Support of Technical Assistance Centers? Defining Core Elements? What do you think would work in your state? What might the problems or challenges be?

Considerations for Legislation Information and Perspective from all three key partners Law enforcement, mental health, advocacy What will the mandates be Who has authority for oversight How will it be monitored Expectations for data and outcomes Funding levels WHY??

Q & A