The County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADM) Board’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training program concluded its first class of 2023 with 23 law enforcement officers and first responders earning the CIT designation.

CIT training provides law enforcement and first responders with the opportunity to learn from mental health professionals, advocates and people living with mental illness to improve the methods used to respond to those experiencing mental health crises. Since the program started in Summit County in 2000, over 1000 law enforcement officers and first responders have completed the training to become part of the Crisis Intervention Team.

“The Summit County ADM Board is proud to congratulate these 23 officers on becoming part of the Crisis Intervention Team,” ADM Board Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Doug Smith said. “CIT officers and paramedics provide the community with much-needed crisis services on-scene, using knowledge and skills that de-escalate situations and improve citizen and first responder safety.”

CIT training is offered by the ADM Board in partnership with local law enforcement, mental health and addiction professionals, individuals who live with mental illness and/or addiction disorders, their families and other advocates. This first cohort of CIT graduates of 2023 includes Summit County Sheriff’s deputies, officers from the Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Richfield, Macedonia, Springfield Township, and Stow police departments, plus Akron Fire Department paramedics, Summit Metroparks Rangers and employees, Akron Children’s Hospital Patrol Bureau officers, Cleveland Clinic Police Officers and Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers.

For more information about the CIT program, visit https://www.admboard.org/crisis-intervention-team-cit.aspx or the Summit County ADM Board YouTube channel.