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, a collaboration between the NIC and the BJA for FY 2024, is dedicated to developing a research-based training model targeted at enhancing trauma-informed crisis responses for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities within carceral settings. The initiative strives to create a comprehensive, national crisis intervention train-the-trainer program aimed at preparing jail and prison staff to adeptly interact with inmates who have mental illness (MI) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This program encourages applications from higher education institutions or organizations—non-profit, for-profit, or tribal—in collaboration with healthcare and corrections professionals to embrace a multidisciplinary approach to training. Key areas of focus include understanding behavioral health issues like MI and substance use disorders, IDD, fostering empathy, managing community resources, and developing de-escalation and practical skills in a trauma-informed manner. The proposed training is centered around a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) train-the-trainer program, designed to effectively equip prison and jail staff with the necessary skills and knowledge.