Specialized Police Response (SPR)

Training in Pennsylvania

Katy Winckworth-Prejsnar, MPH, Center of Excellence

03/19/15

PA Mental Health and Justice Center of

Excellence

http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu

Funded By:

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)

Department of Public Welfare Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS)

Oversight by the Mental Health and Justice Advisory Committee of PCCD

Collaboration between

Drexel University

and

Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

University of Pittsburgh Medical School

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Pennsylvania Center of Excellence

Goals & Tools:

Diversion

- Technical Assistance

- Sequential Intercept Model

- Cross Systems Mapping and Action Planning Workshops

Education

- Presentations

- Consultation

- Website

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Specialized Police Response (SPR) Training in

Pennsylvania:

Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) – 40 hr

Most 40-hr CIT programs include at least 1 hour on veterans

Plus:

• Advanced CIT addressing veterans, military culture, and trauma

• Youth CIT

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Adult --- 8 hour

• Public Safety version --- 8 hour

• Military service members, veterans, and family members version --- 8 hour

Youth --- 8 hour

Veterans CIT/MH First Aid Training Enhancement --- 4 hours

Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) Police School --- Montgomery County Emergency Services

Family Training and Advocacy Center (FTAC) training 10

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10

11

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Specialized Behavioral Health Training for

Law Enforcement & Justice Practitioners

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)

2013 Funding Announcement

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9 Awarded SPR Sites Funding April 1st, 2014 through March 31st, 2016

1. Blair County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

2. CIT of Centre County

3. Erie County Mental Health First Aid Training

4. Western PA's MHFA and CIT for Veterans Project –

Armstrong/Indiana

5. Lancaster County's CIT Train the Trainer Project

6. Mental Health First Aid – Lebanon County

7. Mifflin County Specialized Behavioral Health Training

8. Regional CIT Training Program - Northampton, Monroe,

Pike, & Carbon)

9. Westmoreland Behavioral Health Training Project

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SPR Coordination Progress to Date:

Developed a section of the CoE website that is

available only to counties that are part of the

specialized police response grants

Tools and information relevant to SPR training and

coordination

Distributed a survey to gather more information

about the 9 sites

Continue to respond to any specific technical

assistance requests from the 9 sites

Gather information on trainings and number trained

to date

62 71

20

192

44

389

47 39 20

126

34

266

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

CIT (40-hr)

Trained

CIT (6-hr)

Trained

CIT for Youth MHFA Trained Total Number

Trained**

SPR 9 Funded Sites Training Numbers

Individuals Trained from

April 2014 - January 2015*

All Trained

Law

Enfocement

Trained

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Veteran-Focused Training

4 hour CIT/MH First Aid Training Enhancement

Crosswalks military and police cultures and ethos as a resource for engagement

Examines issues facing military veterans that may lead to crisis situations and police intervention

Identifies tips and tactics proven effective when encountering distressed veterans

Develops viable partnerships with resources as alternatives to arrest/incarceration

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Format and Preferred Trainers

Interactive multimedia curriculum: PowerPoint Slides

Video Clips and Situational Vignettes

Group Discussions

Peer Trainers & Local Invitees who are: Veterans and CIT trained officers and/or military and criminal

justice personnel (ex. Veterans Justice Outreach reps, etc.), key stakeholders, and beyond

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Modules

Part 1: Scope of the Issue National and local

Part 2: Military Culture Developing common ground between military and police

cultures and ethos

Part 3: Behavioral Health Challenges Facing Veterans Invisible wounds, behaviors, and contributing factors

Part 4: A Call for Action Now that you’ve found them, what to do?

Tool, Resources, and Partnerships for Diversion

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CIT/MH First Aid Training Enhancement on Veterans –

8 hr Train-the-Trainer Initiative

First training was held on September 25th, 2014 in

Lancaster County

14 individuals trained from Lancaster, Blair, Centre,

Armstrong, and Franklin Counties

10 individuals from statewide organizations (AOPC,

PCCD, DPW, DOC, CoE, and PCPA) observed the

training

Feedback from the training was positive

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For more information:

www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu

Katy Winckworth-Prejsnar, kw494@drexel.edu

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