Mental Health Intervention for Non-Sworn Personnel

Certification

This course is certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

Training Mandates

This course meets state guidelines for the following mandated subject areas:

• Law Update  (annual)
• Mental Health Awareness  (every 3 yrs.)
• Procedural Justice  (every 3 yrs.)

Description

While police training on the subjects of mental health and de-escalation have skyrocketed in recent years, a critical element has been forgotten.  Non-sworn public safety staff and emergency dispatchers have fallen behind in the most important skills they may need.  Frequently, they are on the front line of these emergencies as the first point of contact.

This 1-day course is specifically designed for telecommunicators, 911 call takers, and other non-sworn staff required to interact with the public.  Instruction will cover the basics of identifying someone in a mental health crisis, de-escalation techniques, and crisis negotiation principles.  These techniques are mandatory for those interacting with the public, and are applicable in person or over the phone.  Also covered are legal requirements and mandates imposed on emergency call centers, focusing on Standard of Care and the most current legal findings.  Of equal or greater concern is the lack of support and information on debriefing traumatic incidents and self-care.  Developing current policies and recognizing the need for training is paramount in helping non-sworn staff be healthy and successful.

At the end of this course, participants will have a better understanding of crisis management, de-escalation strategies, and best practices for non-sworn interaction with the public.

This course is funded by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board through its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training Program.

Topics

• Recognizing Mental Illness
• Basic Negotiation Principles
• De-Escalation Techniques and Practices
• Mental Health Crisis Management
• Standard of Care and Legal Requirements
• Self-Care and Health Options
• Debriefing Traumatic Incidents
• Best Practices for Community Interaction

Instructors