Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
-Crisis Intervention/ CISM

Crisis Solutions International Inc.

Agencies attending:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
9-1-1, Pinellas County
Clearwater Police Department
Pinellas Park Police Department
Largo Police Department
St. Petersburg Police Department
Tarpon Springs Police Department
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

What:
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a two day training called “Communications Crisis Intervention Team, Train the Trainer”. This is the first class being offered to emergency call takers and dispatchers.   

When:
The training starts on Monday, February 1, 2016 and continues through Tuesday, February 2, 2016. 

Where:
The training is being held at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Why/How:
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a two day, 16-hour training called “Communications Crisis Intervention Team, Train the Trainer”. This is the first class being offered to emergency call takers and dispatchers.  
 

This training course is designed to educate and prepare communications personnel to identify mental health crisis situations. Communications personnel will develop the skills needed to provide the responding law enforcement officer with critical information prior to their arrival on scene. The access and communication of this information will be crucial to safely and effectively handling situations involving persons with mental illness.

Class curriculum includes:
The role of a CIT Call-Taker/ Dispatcher
Overview of Mental Illness and Medications
Identifying CIT Calls
Effective Communication and De-escalation Techniques
Suicide Assessment and Intervention
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
How to deal with Angry People
Self-Care
Scenario-based Training
Hearing Voices Exercise
Famous People Exercise

The CIT Program is a specialized training and practice for first-responder law enforcement officers and communications personnel. The training includes essential information about mental illnesses, and how to recognize it; information about the local mental health system and state laws; de-escalation skills; and the opportunity to learn first-hand from consumers and family members about their experiences.

In 1999, Pinellas County Mental Health/ Substance Abuse Coalition conducted the first CIT course in Florida and have been instrumental in promoting the program throughout the state. Pinellas County is currently in its 17^th year as Florida’s first CIT program.