Analysis of Iowa Crisis Response Training Programs and Efforts to Increase Officer Mental Health and Well Being Through Technology

The Analysis of Iowa Crisis Response Training Programs grant proposed by the Victim Assistance Section of the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa recognizes the importance of crisis response training as well as police officer mental health and wellbeing. Iowa has several training academies that serve as the door to a professional career in law enforcement in Iowa by providing quality training to police cadets. Iowa is a largely rural state, with access to mental health professionals being increasingly difficult resulting in increased crises calls falling upon on our law enforcement professionals. With BJA funding, the Victim Assistance Section of the Iowa Attorney General's Office will analyze the current crisis training methods throughout each academy in Iowa and will provide an assessment of how the State of Iowa can implement a more uniform and evidenced based crisis training practice at each of the academies, including the incorporation of Collaborative Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT). Along with the increased burden from responding to these crisis situations, our law enforcement officers will benefit largely from the access to a mobile app for wellness. Increased access for law enforcement to receive the resources for support for their own mental health and wellbeing after responding to these high stress events will help save lives, increase officer retention, and assist with office recruitment.