Officer

Engagement

Group of people holding certificates behind a table with a "South Shore CIT TTAC" banner, in a room with a wall-mounted TV and a door.

Law enforcement on the South Shore report an influx of calls for service that have behavioral health components. It is reported that nationally, a minimum of 15% of all 911 calls for service have a mental health component.

The South Shore CIT-TTAC has developed, and continues to develop/maintain, positive working relationships with administration of the departments in Norfolk, Plymouth and, Barnstable counties. We work to tailor our trainings to encompass all relevant topics for our varying community needs.

Pie chart titled 'Training Expectation Alignment' showing 59% exceeded expectations, 41% met expectations, and 0% below expectations.

In the graph above, from March 2024 CIT at Braintree Police Dept., participants shared how the training aligned with their expectations. 41% reported it met expectations while 59% reported it exceeded their expectations.

Pie chart illustrating the most useful aspects of training. The largest segment is labeled 'Scenarios'. Other segments include 'ASL and De-Escalation tools', 'Everything', 'CISM', 'Knowledgeable presenters', 'Variety of presenters', 'Field trips', 'Debriefs', and the smallest labeled 'Yes'.

In the pie-graph above, from the February 2024 CIT in Braintree Police Dept., participants shared what they believe to be the most useful aspects of the Crisis Intervention Team Training. As seen above, participants named Active Listening (ASL) & De-Escalation Skills, participating in Role Play Scenarios, Debriefing the Role Plays, the Field Trip to Atlantic Clubhouse, having a variety of expert level presenters from Law Enforcement/Clinical and/or Lived-Experience backgrounds and, Critical Incident Stress Management “CISM” support resource. Additionally, some participants found that overall “everything” included in CIT training is the most useful to their ability to effectively and confidently handle a crisis call.

Officer Training Feedback

In all of the South Shore CIT-TTAC trainings, participants are given daily feedback surveys which the CIT-TTAC members utilize to capture data, enhance and update current trainings and incorporate new topics.

Bar chart titled "Likelihood of utilizing the knowledge, skills or resources" showing responses for Atlantic Clubhouse, de-escalation skills, sections, LGBTQ+, and autism. Responses are color-coded from blue (Very Unlikely) to dark green (Very Likely).

In the graph above, participants share the likelihood of their ability to utilize the information or skills learned, or resource provided each day. On day 3 of the March 2024 training, the topics included Vinfen’s Atlantic Clubhouse resource, De-Escalation Skills, Information on Ch. 123 Sec. 12a, 18a and 35, LGBTQ+ population information and Autism Spectrum Disorder information.

Man standing at the front of a conference room giving a presentation on crisis intervention team training, with a projection screen displaying a PowerPoint slide, a large TV screen, and an American flag nearby.

  • Regardless of your role within your department, CIT training teaches universal intervention skills that, once developed, you will be able to utilize on all calls for service, such as active listening skills. For mental health specific calls, you will find that your improved ability to identify signs and symptoms of mental health components will support your ability to adjust your response, interact with an empathetic and trauma-informed lens and, connect an individual to appropriate resources.

  • There is no cost to attend any of the South Shore CIT-TTAC trainings. If interested in a training, please inform your department of your interest and when approved, please reach out to us!

  • CIT is recommended for any law enforcement professional. This includes but is not limited to administration, patrol, community service officers, school resource officers, etc. Additionally, campus police, dispatchers and co-responding clinicians are also welcome to attend. If you are interested in Crisis Intervention Team trainings but do not meet the above criteria, please reach out to us and we can help find an appropriate training for you.

  • Massachusetts has 7 Crisis Intervention Team Training and Tactical Assistance Centers (CIT-TTACs) to provide standardized CIT trainings throughout the state. The South Shore CIT-TTAC catchment area includes all of the towns/cities within Norfolk, Plymouth and Barnstable Counties. To name a few departments we regularly have in attendance: Bourne, Braintree, Hingham, Milton, Quincy, Randolph and Weymouth. Additionally, MA State Police, regional dispatch centers (SSREC, ROCCC, State, etc.) and universities/colleges (Emerson, Berklee, Harvard, etc.).

  • The South Shore CIT-TTAC recommends that police departments commit to the One Mind Campaign by making the pledge that they will train a minimum of 20% of their staff in 40hr CIT, and the remaining 80% in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). Once trained, it is recommended to recertify in CIT every 5 years (this training is in the process of development). MHFA training recertification is recommended every 3 years. These recommendations are to ensure you receive the updated information, statistics and best research and evidenced based intervention techniques.