1. CIT AND THE FORGOTTEN “First, FIRST RESPONDERS”:
The Importance of Training personnel
Presented by: Lisa fitzgerald
Thomas Jefferson area cit
Charlottesville, virginia

2. what is a “first, first responder”?
Communications officer
Dispatcher
Telecommunicator
Call taker
Emergency communicator
9-1-1 OPerator

3. Why train emergency dispatchers in cit?
9-1-1 personnel are often the first to make contact
9-1-1 call takers can often diffuse the situation before police arrive
A negative interaction with can set the tone for responders
9-1-1 personnel typically receive very little training in crisis de-escalation
9-1-1 call takers can refer citizens to resources other than police
9-1-1 personnel may be aware of consumers who never see pd or mental health
9-1-1 personnel can and should attend monthly cit meetings
9-1-1 center holds a wealth of statistics that are useful to cit programs

4. What’s in it for me? Establish buy in
9-1-1 centers are all short staffed – is this training necessary?
Cit is for more than just mental health calls….

5. Cit training can be used for: https://youtu.be/ibVIdWcobak
Domestics
Disorders
Suicidal callers
Child callers
Robberies
Cardiac arrests
Elderly callers
overdose calls
B&e in progress calls
Active shooters
sexual assaults
Shootings
Stabbings
Abductions
Missing children
Officer involved shootings
And so many more!

6. What to include in cit dispatcher training:
Description and overview of the cit program and why it is needed
Overview of mental health states and symptoms
Discussion about suicide and suicidal callers
“hearing voices” or another interactive activity for awareness
List Community resources available
De-escalation techniques for dispatchers
Scenario role-playing to reinforce those techniques

7. Don’t forget… Use appropriate experts for each training topic
Keep your class size down (10-15 is ideal)
Scenarios are important and everyone needs to participate
Make sure the content is specific to not just an 8 hr pd class
Cit for dispatchers should be at least an 8 hour class
Don’t let it end with the training – include them in CIT Monthly review

8. Examples of Forms

9. CIT Is About Teamwork… Make 9-1-1 part of that team!

10. Contact information
Lisa fitzgerald Charlottesville-uva-Albemarle county ecc 2306 ivy road Charlottesville, va Thomas Jefferson area cit (434)