1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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…

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Experiences, Process and Outcomes
CASE EXAMPLES
Experiences, Process and Outcomes

12. 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

13. 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

14. Virginia Funding Funding for CIT
Funding for crisis assessment centers connected with CIT programs
Va. CIT Coalition:

15. Colorado Attempted Legislative Effort
Statewide Rollout of CIT 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

16. Thoughts, Experience and Feedback

17. 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?

18. 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??

19. Q & A