Mission Statement: The Metro Boston Crisis Intervention Team Training and Technical Assistance Center utilizes an integrated public health and public safety lens to inform response to individuals impacted by behavioral health, support officer wellness, develop policy and procedure and improve communication across behavioral health and criminal justice partners.
Through training, guidance on CIT implementation and adaptation of Police records management systems we aim to increase utilization of behavioral health resources, increase data collection and establish best practice interventions.
Our training and models are developed with a multidisciplinary approach informed by collaborations between: law enforcement, mental health professionals, stakeholders, families and individuals impacted by behavioral health. Together we will: increase safety for officers and citizens; inform response to direct and facilitate connection toward services with a goal of increasing quality of life and diversion from the criminal justice system when appropriate.
COHR presents at the 3rd Annual National Conference on Police Social Work!
On May 24th 2024, Patricia Contente, Jennifer Korn, and Sabrina Ozit from the Community Outreach, Help & Recovery Unit (COHR), Captain James Donovan, and CIT Coordinator Officer Mark McLaughlin of the Somerville Police Department presented at the Social Work and Law Enforcement Conference (SWLE) in New Haven, Connecticut. The three-day Conference focused on “Police Social Workers and Bridging Communities”. The team presented on the unique establishment of the COHR unit within the Department. As a co-located, low-bar access service, COHR focused on the importance of utilizing a cross discipline lens which allows for multi-system communication to inform assessment and access to appropriate services.
COHR also touched upon their regional Training & Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), further emphasizing the importance of collaboration to inform training, outreach, and achieve positive outcomes for both community members and law enforcement.
Using a trauma-informed lens, COHR services include assisting individuals with quality of life issues, diversion from pre and post adjudication and short term clinical support. To learn more about COHR visit: COHR Department
To download a copy of their presentation click here: SWLE Conference 2024
Beyond CIT: Integrity, Virtue & Nobility
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, the Metro Boston Crisis Intervention Team Training and Technical Assistance Center (MB CIT-TTAC) hosted their fourth annual Beyond CIT at the Boston Marriot in Peabody. The event recognizes CIT Officers, their Departments and CIT presenters that are contributing to the actualization of the principles of CIT informed policing. This year’s theme Integrity, Virtue & Nobility highlighted Officer led initiatives that create a positive culture within their Department and Community and a presenter skilled at conveying knowledge into practical application that officers can utilize on calls for service.
Our key note speaker, Jeff Thompson, retired NY Police Detective presented on Officer Wellness and talked about his Warr;or 21 initiative highlighting the importance of addressing trauma and mental health in order to build resilience and optimal performance. Policing is a very dynamic and challenging role and everyone deserves good mental health. We also heard from Lt. Sarko Gergerian of the Winthrop Police Department and Community & Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR) program and one of the 2024 Nobility awardees. Lt. Gergerian has been a leader in his community as well as nationally advocating for access to health care for both community members and public safety.
Policing is a legacy profession and each awardee demonstrated leadership toward creating a positive culture within their Department and Community. Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 CIT Nobility Awards: Officer Monicka Jean-Baptiste (Acton Police Department), Trooper Matthew Cunha (State Police), Sgt. Gilbert Priddy (Salem Police Department), Lt. David Ostrovitz (Marblehead Police Department), Lt. Sarko Gergerian (Winthrop Police Department), Captain Christopher DeCarlo (Lynnfield Police Department), CIT Presenter Thomas Brown from the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, and Somerville Police Department's Matthew Vieira, Mark Mitchell, Detective Jason Costa, Detective Fernando Cicerone, and Sgt. Daniel Rego.
CIT Trainer Awarded Provider of the Year!
Vanessa Loukas, an MB CIT-TTAC Trainer, was recently nominated by her colleagues for Provider of the Year! Vanessa is part of the Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) team at the Boston Medical Center which has partnered with the TTAC for several years presenting on Addiction. Through this workshop, participants are able to expand upon their understanding of substance misuse disorders, considering the negative effect of stigma, and review how language can impact engagement with treatment. Trainers also review best practice de-escalation strategies. Here’s just a small excerpt of what colleagues had to say about Vanessa in their nominations:
“Vanessa models how, through service to others, we can make the world a better place. She makes invaluable contributions to the clinic daily and has provided countless trainings to staff to improve patient care in the areas of harm reduction, low barrier treatment, psychiatric conditions and infectious disease prevention and treatment.”
Click here to read more about Vanessa and her incredible accomplishment: Provider of the Year.
Congratulations Vanessa Loukas!
Civic Day
On Saturday, April 27, the Somerville Police Department and the Community Outreach, Help & Recovery (COHR) unit participated in the City of Somerville's Civic Day. Together staff engaged members of the community in activities to encourage positive emotional awareness, regulation and resiliency for community members of all ages. Staff also helped to promote the Blue Envelope Program, a new state-wide initiative to foster a safer and more understanding environment for drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during traffic stops. Attendees also had an opportunity to learn more information about services offered by COHR and trainings made available to both police officers and community members.
Civic Day aims to provide community members of all ages with fun, interactive opportunities to learn about City government, programs, services, and ways to get involved. To learn more about COHR and the various services and programs available visit their website at: https://www.metrobostoncit.org/contact
The Metro Boston CIT TTAC trainings include: CIT, Advanced De-Escalation and Documentation, Blue Courage, Whole Health Resilience, Mind, Body & Spirit, CIT for Dispatch in addition to specialized topics related to behavioral health. Consultation is available to assist departments in implementing CIT; data collection and community collaborations.
Communities Served: Acton, Andover, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Berklee College of Music, Beverly, Billerica, Boston, Boxborough, Boxford, Brandeis University, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Cambridge Health Alliance, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Clinton, College of Holy Cross, Concord, Danvers, Dracut, East Longmeadow, Endicott College, Essex, Everett, Fall River, Federal Reserve, Fort Devens, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Harvard University, Haverhill, Hingham, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Massachusetts State Police, Maynard, MBTA, Medford, Melrose, Merrimac, Middleton, Mount Wachusett Community College, Newbury, North Reading, Peabody, Reading, Revere, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Sherborn, Somerville, South Hadley, Stoneham, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tufts University, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Weston, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn
If you don’t see your community listed, but would like to learn more about CIT training and implementation please contact Patty Contente at pcontente@police.somerville.ma.us or Jennifer Korn at jkorn@police.somerville.ma.us.
This project is supported through funding from the Department of Mental Health (DMH)
