Crisis Intervention: A Partnership Between Mental

Health Professionals, Families and Police

Joseph Prawdzik

Value Options

444 N. 44 Street Suite 400

Phoenix, Arizona 85018

480-731-1053

joe.prawdzik@valueoptions.com

Crisis Intervention training is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of person's with a mental illness and demonstrate positive interventions that the police can use to resolve potent ial crisis. The presentation will focus on the history of this program and the current program being presented in Arizona. This presentation will also highlight the partnership between the police departments in Arizona and the mental health community including family and consumer involvement. The CIT program is designed to offer an alternative to jail when the police officer has a choice to make between booking a person with a mental illness or taking them to a psychiatric recovery center. The presentation will also highlight the information we provide to law enforcement to assist them with the navigation of our mental health system and to reduce the barriers to the law enforcement and consumer community.

The presentation will also include information on how this program has reached over 900 police officers and strengthened the alliance between the community at large and local law enforcement.

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