SEIL to host second CIT training for law enforcement, first responders

Law enforcement officers, first responders, emergency medical staff and jail staff in the Southeast Iowa Link region are learning how to address and recognize the symptoms of mental illness and stabilize people in crisis with crisis intervention training.

Southeast Iowa Link (SEIL) held their first crisis intervention training (CIT) in October 2018, training 15 police officers and sheriff's deputies in how to de-escalate individuals in a mental health crisis. SEIL will have their second CIT training at Henry County Emergency Management on April 8-12. SEIL serves Henry, Washington, Jefferson, Des Moines, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa and Van Buren counties.

'It's going to be great. It's going to be better than the last CIT training,” said Alan Brady, SEIL coordinator, during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, March 5.

Brady said people who attend the training will hear from local experts like a doctor from Great River Medical Center who will speak on post-traumatic stress disorder as well as a speaker from the Iowa Peer Support Foundation and an ambassador from St. Louis who speaks on autism.

CIT trained officers in the SEIL region will give presentations incorporating 'on the street” advice and talking about how they've implemented what they've learned, Brady said.

Attendees also will participate in role play. Brady said during the training in October, officers had two days of role-playing scenarios but wanted more. The training in April will have four days of role-playing, and officers will get a pass or fail for the course.

'We want to make sure CIT officers we're putting out there will be well-versed in CIT and will be able to use it effectively,” Brady said.

Brady said that while CIT is taking its 'baby steps” in the region, SEIL is also on the forefront of bringing CIT to counties in Iowa.

SEIL is also making progress on implementing mobile crisis services throughout the region. Mobile crisis services will be made up of two-person teams that include a mental health professional who can stabilize a patient on scene.

'Mobile crisis is the second phase (to CIT training),” Brady said. 'Another cool part is there is follow-up to make sure they're getting resources, so we don't have them eventually going to jail or returning to jail.”

Mobile crisis services will have 60 minutes once they receive a call to be on scene.