West Virginia prepares for annual Crisis Intervention Teams summit

WHEELING, W.Va. ( WTRF ) – Did you know 20% of the calls first responders are dispatched to involve someone who is going through a behavioral health or substance abuse crisis?

Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) bring together first responders, mental health and substance use disorder professionals, and advocates to create a more informed community.

These community-based programs are designed to train first responders on de-escalation tactics and diverting those in a crisis away from the criminal justice system if possible.

“The Wheeling Police Department has implemented CRT since 2015, And the goals of that training are recognition of someone who may be in a mental health crisis, recognition of someone who may be suffering from a substance use disorder or a particular type of narcotic. Oftentimes those two situations coexist.”

Chief Shawn Schwertfeger | Wheeling Police Department

CIT also educates first responders on the available treatment services for those suffering from behavioral health and addiction crisis.

West Virginia has eight CIT programs throughout the state including Wheeling, Charleston, Beckley, McDowell, Wyoming, Berkely and Huntington.

In an effort to expand CIT across the state, West Virginia is hosting a summit from July 29 to July 31 in Charleston at the Embassy Suites.

“It’s an event where first responders, community leaders, officials can learn more about CIT and how it can positively affect the community.”

Hollis Lewis | West Virginia CIT Project Director

West Virginia’s CIT Project Director, Hollis Lewis says their goal with this summit is to get people interested in CIT, start a program in their community and for leaders who already run a CIT program to share their resources and experiences.

“What we hope to do with CIT is basically help facilitate trainings with law enforcement to add more tools to the toolbox. Considering that a lot of the incidents in which they’re going to deal with are persons with mental health issues and substance use disorder issues.”

Hollis Lewis | West Virginia CIT Project Director

Wheeling Police Department’s Chief Shawn Schwertfeger says the use of force, both physical and deathly, has decreased significantly since implementing a CIT program.

“At the end of the day, if you implement crisis intervention training to your staff as a law enforcement, as a fire department, EMS, or even dispatchers, if you’re implementing that type of knowledge to your staff, the culture that you will create is one of compassion and wanting to help people and providing them not just lip service, but actually providing (resources to) the folks that are in crisis.”

Chief Shawn Schwertfeger | Wheeling Police Department

Chief Schwertfeger says they have set a goal to get 100% of their staff CIT training.

He will also be speaking about his experiences and how the CIT program has helped Wheeling at the State summit.

For details on how you can get registered, visit https://wvcit.com/summit .

Again, the summit starts Monday, July 29 and lasts until Wednesday, July 31 at the Embassy Suites in Charleston.

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