This is a CIT first responder (officer, deputy, EMS, etc.) who demonstrates continuous use of exemplary CIT knowledge and skills. Some examples of this may include successful use of de-escalation skills, knowledge, and referrals to community resources, regularly volunteering for CIT calls, regular and continuous contact with the mental health community, following up after CIT calls, and/or showing compassion towards people with mental illness lived experiences and families. Their work highlights outstanding dedication to the CIT program, CIT Services and advancing CIT as a successful community program. This person demonstrates their expertise in working with diverse populations through engagement, problem-solving, and community interventions.

This is a CIT Response Team (more than one individual) that demonstrates continuous use of exemplary CIT knowledge and skills. Some examples of this may include successful use of de-escalation skills, knowledge, and referrals to community resources, regularly volunteering for CIT calls, regular and continuous contact with other members of the CIT community, following up after CIT calls, and/or showing compassion towards people with mental illness lived experiences and families. Their work highlights outstanding dedication to the CIT program, CIT Services and advancing CIT as a successful community program. This team demonstrates their expertise in working with diverse populations through engagement, problem-solving, and community interventions.

This is a person who lives with mental illness, substance use disorder and/or intellectual developmental disabilities who is actively involved with CIT as a community program. Promoting, planning, participating in CIT training, assisting with implementation or with ongoing sustainability efforts. This is a person who incorporates his/her knowledge and familiarity with healthcare system challenges; engages in opportunities (as peer and/or friend) to assist others and consistently introduces CIT as a theme or calling for hope. This person leads by example to ensure that the voices of persons with lived experience represent a diverse audience.

This is a CIT Corrections Officer who demonstrates continuous use of exemplary CIT knowledge and skills. Some examples of this may include demonstrating and promoting CIT skills and strategies to encourage hope (promoting support services after release) for individuals in jail who struggle with mental illness, substance use disorders and/or intellectual developmental disabilities. Successful in utilizing de-escalation skills, demonstrating attributes of CIT leadership, initiating efforts to increase a team approach with mental health and medical staff within corrections and doing follow-up services (extra attention supporting human contact as a life quality engagement) with inmates for additional support. Their work highlights their outstanding dedication to the CIT program, CIT Services and advancing its success within Corrections.

This person may be a Sheriff, Chief or a member of the Law Enforcement Executive Staff who actively supports the CIT program in their community. This person must demonstrate their support of CIT International’s best practices, including a commitment to developing and sustaining community partnerships. This person may be instrumental in driving the creation of a new program or they could be instrumental in maintaining a vibrant, existing program including the incorporation of refresher training and other advanced efforts. This person shows leadership skills through his department by ensuring that his/her officers represent a culturally competent high-quality law enforcement agency.

This person exemplifies their ongoing commitment to improving and expanding the collaboration between law enforcement and mental health by creating and maintaining access to care within their agency and system of care. This person takes an active role in the CIT training, engagement with the CIT Steering Committee and is active in improving the system of care.

This person demonstrates through word, action and deed their commitment and dedication to the CIT Program in their community by advocating, promoting, and educating policy makers, elected officials, and others in order to improve behavioral health services in their community. This person demonstrates through outreach and advocacy their ability to raise the awareness of all diverse populations in their community.

This person is a crisis specialist who handles crisis calls, through the 988 system or any other crisis line, and who demonstrates continuous use of exemplary CIT knowledge and skills. Some examples of this may include successful use of telephonic de-escalation skills, knowledge and referrals to community resources, regular and continuous contact with the mental health community, following up after CIT calls, and/or showing compassion to people with mental illness lived experiences and families on a regular basis. Their work highlights their outstanding dedication to the CIT program, CIT Services and advancing CIT as a community success.

This person works for an emergency service (police, fire, EMS) as a dispatcher or other type of telecommunicator, who handles crisis calls and demonstrates continuous use of exemplary CIT knowledge and skills. Some examples of this may include successful use of telephonic de-escalation skills, knowledge and referrals to community resources, regular and continuous contact with the mental health and/or intellectual developmental disabilities community, following up after CIT calls, and/or showing compassion to people with mental illness lived experiences and families on a regular basis. Their work highlights their outstanding dedication to the CIT program, CIT Services and advancing CIT as a community success.

This person is an effective leader who manages and/or oversees a CIT program. This person must demonstrate their commitment to CIT International’s best practices, using their leadership abilities to help grow and sustain CIT as a community program. A coordinator engages at the agency, regional, or state level and works tenaciously to advocate for adherence to the evidence-based principals of CIT while creatively adapting to the specific requirements of their population. Their work highlights their outstanding dedication to the CIT program, CIT Services and advancing CIT as a community success. This person demonstrates and ensures that there is a representation of minorities and other diverse populations represented at all levels of the CIT Coordinator’s Planning and Implementation process.