Partners
CIT ASSIST is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), managed by the National Center for Policing Innovation with guidance from CIT International, and backed by a National Advisory Board of experts from law enforcement, mental health, and advocacy fields.
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office)
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation’s state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. Community policing begins with a commitment to building trust and mutual respect between police and communities. It is critical to public safety, ensuring that all stakeholders work together to address our nation’s crime challenges. When police and communities collaborate, they more effectively address underlying issues, change negative behavioral patterns, and allocate resources. The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing professionals, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI)
NCPI is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing innovative learning opportunities and powerful resources to support the unique and specific needs of our nation’s public safety organizations and the communities they serve. To fulfill its mission, NCPI partners with federal, state, local and tribal organizations to design and implement customized solutions to directly impact the unique public safety challenges facing their communities. Since its inception in 1997, NCPI has provided training, resources and direct assistance services to more than 85,000 public safety practitioners and community stakeholders nationwide, addressing critical issues including police leadership, community engagement, violent crime reduction, diversity, homeland security, bias-based policing, ethical decision making, organizational change, drug interdiction, crime prevention, youth gun violence, and many others. NCPI is best known for its extensive work in developing instructional curricula for public safety organizations, incorporating evidence-based policing practices into community and law enforcement partnerships, facilitating community forums and collaborative processes, developing and administering web-based learning technologies, and more.
CIT International, Inc.
CIT International, Inc. is a member organization that aspires to be a leader in promoting safe and humane responses to those experiencing a mental health crisis. Its mission is to promote community collaboration using the CIT Program to assist people living with mental illness and/or addiction who are in crisis. Founded by those involved in the development of the CIT model in 1988, CIT International provides a variety of services such as: training and certification for CIT coordinators; a 40-hour curriculum and corresponding train-the-trainer programs; training for 911 call-takers; certification for CIT programs at the agency, regional and state/province levels; an annual conference and awards; research, reports, and implementation guidance; and more. As the preeminent authority on the CIT model, CIT International’s participation in this project is exceptionally important and unmatched as it relates to increasing the capacity of police agencies to effectively implement crisis intervention teams.
CIT ASSIST National Advisory Board
The CIT ASSIST National Advisory Board consists of subject matter experts (SMEs) and practitioners representing law enforcement, mental health, and advocacy. Individually, board members are known for their commitment and expertise in implementing the CIT model; collectively, they provide valuable guidance to all CIT ASSIST program components and activities, including training content, technical assistance, resources, and agency implementation guidance.
Law Enforcement
| Ron Bruno Sam Cochran Johnny Hollingsworth Travis Lyman Andy Matuszewski | Brian Peete Frank Straub Antoinette Ursitti John Wallschlaeger |
Mental Health
| Carole Ballard Liz Gledhill Habsi Kaba Don Kamin Ridg Medford
| Michele Saunders Colette Scott Todd Souter Tom von Hemert Amy Watson |
Advocacy
| Kevin Fischer Madonna Greer Carol Speed Sheri Wittwer
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