TDOC Receives NAMI Award
Nashville –Thursday, the Tennessee Department of Correction’s Crisis Intervention team (CIT) was awarded the 2018 Model Project Award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Just a few weeks ago, TDOC graduated 23 employees from the Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT) program. This is the department’s 7th class to complete the training with graduates representing five TDOC facilities and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO).
The CIT program is a nationally recognized training, conducted by the National Institute of Corrections that teaches correctional staffs how to better manage individuals suffering from a mental illness. This training empowers front line staff to not only recognize symptoms of a mental health crisis, but also gives them additional tools to help de-escalate a potentially critical situation.
The training, which took place at the Tennessee Corrections Academy, consisted of 40-hours of training that involved lectures and role playing exercises as well as visits to facilities that specialize in mental health care. This is the second group of TDOC employees to complete the training and the first to be conducted by TDOC trainers.
“This nationally recognized training builds upon the skills that are taught in the basic correctional officer training program,” says Assistant Commissioner of Rehabilitative Services Edward Welch. He goes on to add, “This additional training gives officers more tools to use if they come in contact with people in crisis. These additional de-escalation techniques will improve both offender and officer safety.”
