NEPA CIT

tary basis. In 2017, Scranton Area CIT evolved into NEPA CIT through the direction of The Advocacy Alliance. Currently, Lackawanna County has partnered with The Advocacy Alliance, NEPA CIT for the Lackawanna County De-Escalation and Crisis Intervention Collaboration Project. The 40-hour comprehensive training emphasizes mental health-related topics, crisis resolution skills and de-escalation training, and access to community-based services. The format of the training consists of the Mental Health First Aid certification course, lectures, on-site visitation and exposure to several mental health facilities, intensive interactions with the individuals with a mental illness and family members, and scenario-based de-escalation skill training. The goals of The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) consist of the following:
- Increase officer, consumer, and community safety
- Divert persons in a mental health crisis away from the Criminal Justice System and toward treatment
- Establish a relationship of trust among consumers, families, and law enforcement
- Provide other options
- Reduce stigma