Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.
The grant program's primary goal is to develop a research-based training model designed to enhance trauma-informed crisis responses for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities within carceral settings. It aims to create a comprehensive national crisis intervention train-the-trainer program. This initiative seeks to equip jail and prison staff with the necessary skills to effectively interact with those who have mental illness (MI) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The training program emphasizes the importance of understanding behavioral health, fostering empathy, leveraging community resources, and honing de-escalation techniques. The proposed training must be formulated by academic institutions or organizations (non-profit, for-profit, or tribal) in collaboration with healthcare and corrections professionals to ensure a multidisciplinary approach. A pivotal feature of this training is a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) train-the-trainer program, aimed at practical application of the discussed skills in a manner that is informed by an understanding of trauma.