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.
How to partner with law enforcement webinar
In April 2024, the Community Outreach, Help & Recovery (COHR) program was invited to be a part of McLean Hospital’s Crafting Support Project (CSP). Together, CIT Coordinators Officer McLaughlin and Detective Reece along with COHR Directors Patty Contente and Jenn Korn lead a Webinar on “How to Partner with Law Enforcement”. In the video, staff review key elements of the COHR program, including the training aspect managed through the funded Metro Boston CIT-TTAC. Officers highlighted the benefits of a multi-disciplinary team, reinforcing the importance of collaboration to connect individuals impacted by behavioral health with more appropriate services.
The CSP offers a series of educational webinars that help build upon skills using evidence-based approaches for family members and friends of loved ones navigating mental health or substance use recovery including Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). To learn more about the Craft Support Project or to see their other videos visit their page on: https://www.youtube.com/@craftingsupportproject
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 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)
