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.
On Thursday, April 10, 2025, the Metro Boston CIT-TTAC partnered with Director Conrad Weaver for a special viewing of PTSD911. This documentary uses personal accounts to shed light on the profound trauma and hidden tolls of First Responders. More importantly however, it highlights the possibility of hope and healing.
Following the film, Director Weaver moderated a panel with Norma Rodriguez (Harvard University Police), Tori Avella (Boston EMS), Kevin Tape (Ret. Quincy Fire Department), Dave Betz (Tufts University Police) & Katelyn Deheykiczko (Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital) representing Dispatch, EMT, Fire, Police, and Behavioral Health services respectively to dive deeper into the different ways to ask for and receive help.
Throughout the evening attendees were able to connect with panel members as well as resources from over a dozen agencies including First Responder Therapy Dogs, Riverside Nutrition, Sobriety Centers of NH, Eagle Eye Consulting & Training, NAMI, Call2Talk, Hope Beyond the Badge and Veterans' Services S.E.R.V.E Team.
The night concluded with a presentation of a Mental Health Miranda Rights banner created by Officer Dave Betz and gifted to Acton's PEER Support team encouraging First Responders to seek help. All participants were also given free Wellness & Resilience books.
CIVIC DAY
On Saturday, April 5, members of the Community Outreach, Help & Recovery (COHR) unit participated in the City of Somerville's Civic Day. Together staff engaged residents of all ages in activities on the science of Gratitude, highlighting tangible ways to incorporate it into a daily routine. Research was shared on the positive, transformative impact of gratitude on mental health including improved mood, increased resilience and a heightened overall sense of happiness. Giveaways included gratitude journals and thank you cards to encourage everyone to start simply. 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 the About Us COHR page.
COHR CELEBRATES DIVERSITY!
The Somerville Police Department and the Community Outreach, Help & Recovery (COHR) Unit celebrates diversity with SomerViva: Office of Immigrant Affairs!
On Monday, January 13, 2025, several members of the COHR Unit, Dispatcher Joan McKenna and Captain Sean Sheehan of the Somerville Police Department met with Yi Lam, Chinese Services Coordinator, and Senior community members at the Ralph & Jenny Center during a monthly Asian Tea Party Session. Residents had an opportunity to learn more about what happens when you call 911 and language capacity at the Department. COHR also provided information on resources available to Somerville residents through the Unit.
SomerViva em Portuguese! COHR Unit Director Jennifer Korn and Jail Diversion Clinician Maria Theresa Queiroz also sat down with Rafael Peruzzo, Portuguese Service Coordinator on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 to highlight language capacity within the Unit and talk about what COHR is and the free services available including assessment, referrals, jail diversion and trainings. Connecting with residents following a police call for service, COHR is a low bar access clinical program located within the police department that partners with several agencies across the City to identify individuals in crisis and connect them with appropriate services.
The Somerville Police Department is fortunate to have several officers and staff who are bilingual in over ten languages responding to calls for service. Through our partnership with SomerViva, the Department, including COHR has access to interpretation services provided through LionBridge. To learn more about COHR visit: https://www.metrobostoncit.org/contact
Watch the full Video on Somerville GovTV below:
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, Hanscom Air Force Base (66th Security Forces Squadron), 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, National Park Services, New England Center and Home for Veterans, 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 Jennifer Korn at jkorn@police.somerville.ma.us.
This project is supported through funding from the Department of Mental Health (DMH)
