The College of First Response: Crisis Response and Intervention Training for Law Enforcement

New credential available to law enforcement, community members

Metropolitan Community College is offering a new credential training in safe and effective response for law enforcement officers and workers who commonly engage with people experiencing crisis. Starting in fall, an MCC Community and Workforce Education microcredential in Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) is available in modules tailored to law enforcement (40 hours); public safety (24 hours); and allied health careers, education and customer care professionals (16 hours).

Through funding available through the Nebraska Opioid Fund, MCC was awarded a grant by the Nebraska Fire Marshall’s Office to fund MCC Police training to become certified CRIT instructors.

The new CRIT curriculum offered at MCC builds on a previous training model with new content for engaging with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including effective strategies for responding to people experiencing mental health- and substance use-related crises.

The goals of the training include:

• Expanding knowledge of mental health conditions, substance-use disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities

• Creating connections with people who are affected

• Enhancing awareness of community services

• Emphasizing the de-escalation of crisis situations

• Supporting officer safety and wellness

Dave Bell, MCC deputy police chief, said information covered in the module for law enforcement officers has everyday applications. The training, offered in partnership with the MCC Fire Science Technology program, is designed to reduce the stigma associated with behavioral health conditions, increase empathy and grow participants’ confidence in their ability to successfully intervene in a crisis.

“Mental illness is not a crime,” Bell said. “This training is very humanistic. CRIT’s overall philosophy is officer safety, public safety and diversion from the criminal justice system when possible. It shows that a police response isn’t always going to result in someone going to jail.”

Bob Lausten, MCC Police training coordinator, said a unique aspect of the training, which is offered at the MCC Sarpy Center, is that it is provided in tandem by a lead officer from the MCC Police Department and a lead behavioral health instructor from a partner organization. In addition to the learning modules, law enforcement officers will participate in role-playing scenarios covering a range of crisis events in which attendees receive real-time feedback on their response.

At the conclusion of the training, participants take an exam, which they are required to pass for certification. In addition to the microcredential, completers will receive a CRIT lapel pin for display on their work attire so people they encounter during their work can identify them as a resource during a crisis.

The Nebraska Crime Commission requires law enforcement agencies to complete continuing education for mental health training. The MCC CRIT credential is valid for three years.

“What really excites us about this training is its holistic approach and the ability to offer it beyond the law enforcement community. It is the latest nationally vetted curriculum, and it is also vetted by MCC Community and Workforce Education staff to meet the College’s standards,” Lausten said.

For more information on CRIT, contact Bob Lausten at rslausten@mccneb.edu or 531-MCC-2222.