Crisis Intervention Team Mentoring Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Henrico County’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) developed a formalized CIT mentoring program in 2012, predicated on a long history of collaborating with CIT programs throughout the Commonwealth. Henrico County’s CIT staff has been committed to offering support to other programs since the inception of Henrico’s CIT program. Henrico’s CIT Mentoring Program was formalized in 2012, and received state recognition and funding in 2014. This codified program has allowed Henrico CIT staff to assist over 35 departments and agencies including Community Service Boards (CSBs), law enforcement agencies, fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) departments, many federal agencies and several state agencies including the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Henrico’s commitment to mentoring other programs began as an informal process springing from a countywide value to be helpful to others when we have the tools and resources to do so. This process was formalized in early 2012, with efforts to work closely with a neighboring county to aid in the development of a CIT program that was tailored to meet the needs of their community and based upon the strong foundation of Henrico’s CIT program. This led to assisting with the coordination and implementation of our neighboring county’s first CIT Train the Trainer (TTT) in May 2012, and first CIT Basic training class in June 2012. Henrico County’s CIT Mentoring Program has since provided assistance to close to 50% of the Commonwealth’s CIT programs and staff from over 50 counties and cities.