Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) Training and Technical Assistance Program

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) proposes the Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) and Technical Assistance Program, in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Police Research and Policy (UC), the American Correctional Association (ACA), the Arc of the United States (the Arc), and Policy Research Associates (PRA), to provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to support the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA’s) Collaborative CRIT Program grantees and deliver BJA’s Collaborative CRIT Program curriculum to agencies requesting it throughout the field. In addition, IACP and partners will develop and expand resources to people in crisis who have mental health conditions, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, or physical and development disabilities.  By bringing together IACP, UC, ACA, The Arc and PRA, this initiative provides an unprecedented partnership for BJA to make substantial impacts in the fields of law enforcement and corrections specific to improving crisis response involving people with mental health conditions, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, or physical and development disabilities. By building upon the successful partnership of BJA’s Academic Training to Inform Police Responses initiative, currently led by UC with IACP, The Arc and PRA, and adding in a corrections partner with ACA, this initiative brings representation, competency, expertise and experience across law enforcement, corrections, criminal justice, MHDs, MHSUDs, and disability service providers, advocacy groups, individuals with lived experience, and family members.  IACP, UC, PRA, the Arc, and ACA will: 1) develop TTA plans for each grantee site within the first six months of the project in collaboration with grantees’ problem-analyses; 2) provide targeted TTA to grantees on developing, implementing, and evaluating a training program on responding to people in crisis, including reviewing and approving grantees’ Implementation Plans; 3) establish best practices, model policies, and resources on crisis response for law enforcement, corrections-based grantees, and the wider field; 4) facilitate peer-to-peer information sharing and learning between grantee sites to promote problem solving and innovation; 5) and plan and coordinate, in conjunction with partners, working and focus groups to inform TTA delivery and product and project resource development for responding to people in crisis. This project will ensure grantees develop, implement, evaluate, and sustain a best practice crisis response training program.