Full Press Release

Improving Crisis Response Systems:  

Region 7 Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Awarded Gold Certification 

 Idaho Falls, ID – The Region 7 Idaho Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program has been awarded Gold Level Certification through CIT International. 

A CIT Program is a community partnership of law enforcement, behavioral healthcare professionals, and individuals and family members impacted by mental illness, substance use disorder, or intellectual and development disabilities, to improve community response to behavioral health crises. CIT focuses on improving the crisis response system, advocating for needed services, training first responders, and strengthening partnerships across the community. Based on the “Memphis Model,” CIT has been spreading across the U.S. and abroad since 1988. A Gold level program is an outstanding program that has met most of the best practice criteria of CIT programming.  

The Region 7 Crisis Intervention Team began in 2009. The basic goals of CIT are to: 

1. Develop the most compassionate and effective crisis response system that is the least intrusive in a person’s life 
2. Help persons with mental disorders and/or addictions [substance use disorders] access medical/mental health treatment rather than place them in the criminal justice system due to illness related behaviors.  

The Region 7 Crisis Team is supported by the Region 7 Behavioral Health Board as well as by the following key stakeholders: Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Bonneville County Adult Probation, Eastern Idaho Public Health, Idaho Region 7 Department of Health and Welfare, Behavioral Health Crisis Center of East Idaho, Upper Vally NAMI, Stewards of Recovery, Center for Hope, Rehabilitative Health Services and several other community partners. Receiving a gold certification reflects on the successful collaboration within our community.

Some strengths of the Region 7 CIT program as noted by CIT International in its assessment include: 

• Multidisciplinary leadership team with a good structure to manage and sustain the CIT program  

• Strong community partnerships and connections to agencies and other regional programs  

• 40-hour CIT training curriculum for law enforcement  

According to CIT International, research has shown that when the CIT program model is utilized in a community, there are higher rates of success in resolving serious crisis situations.  

For more information on the Crisis Intervention Team program, visit: https://www.citinternational.org/What-is-CIT   

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