Bonus Sunday

BONUS SUNDAY!!!!!

We are excited to continue our tradition of offering Bonus Sunday conference courses on August 10, 2025. This year we have included some new and exciting material as well as offering the very popular Hearing Voices course, twice. Best part of all, you can attend as many Bonus Sunday courses you are able to fit into your schedule for the one-time fee of $25!!!!! Even better, the Annual Advocacy Summit is FREE!!

Have you already registered for the Conference? No problem! Just send us an email at conference@citinternational.org and tell us what Bonus Sunday courses you want to attend. We will revise your registration and send you a new invoice. If you haven’t registered yet, just sign up for your Bonus Sunday courses while registering.

Space is limited so don’t wait to register!!!!

Course: Mission-Critical Emotionally Intelligent De-Escalation for Crisis Response

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Spots Available: 155

Description: Are you ready to become a master of crisis response? Dive into our dynamic and immersive course designed to equip you with the essential skills to handle high-stakes situations with confidence. This isn't just another training—it's an adventure into the heart of crisis management!

Course Highlights:

Emotional Intelligence in Action: Discover the power of emotional intelligence and how it can transform your approach to crisis response. Learn to regulate your emotions and maintain your equilibrium even in the most volatile situations.
Strategic Communication: Master the art of communication with techniques tailored for safety and de-escalation. Whether you're dealing with behavioral health crises or high-tension patrol engagements, you'll be prepared to handle it all.
Real-World Scenarios: Engage in live analysis of real situations and participate in hands-on exercises that simulate the intensity of actual crisis calls. From traffic stops to SWAT callouts, you'll experience it all.
Expert Instructors: Learn from the best in the field. Sgt. Matt Porter, a SWAT Team Leader, and Susie Kroll, a mental health professional and crisis negotiator, bring their extensive experience and knowledge to guide you through this transformative journey.

Join us and become a critical user of de-escalation, emotional intelligence, and tactical practices. This course is not just about learning—it's about becoming a leader in crisis response. Are you ready to take the challenge?

Course: Hearing Voices Session #1

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Spots Available: 50

Description: We are excited to announce a powerful and humbling experiential training exercise on understanding mental illness. This training, titled Hearing Voices, will allow you to participate in an audio exercise where you hear and experience what people with psychiatric disabilities face in their daily lives. Hearing Distressing Voices was developed and designed by Pat Deegan PhD., a clinical psychologist who personally lives with Schizophrenia and has experienced auditory hallucinations. This workshop will be led by Thomas von Hemert, a Crisis Intervention Specialist from the University of Virginia Police Department..

Don't miss this unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of mental illness and improve your communication skills. Learn how to describe and identify the stigma and fear of Mental Illness; Identify and empathize with what it’s like to live and experience a serious mental illness, and list better ways to approach, communicate, and listen to someone experiencing a serious mental illness.

Course: Hearing Voices Session #2 (This is a second offering and not a continuation of Session #1)

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Spots Available: 50

Course: Surviving Life On and After the Job - Wellness Training

1:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. | Spots Available: 240

Description: When your shift ends do you allow your life to begin? As first responders you train to respond to the daily emergencies that come with the job, but what are you doing to ensure the safety and security of your personal life? Are you able to keep your personal life safe from the demands of your work? Are you giving so much to the public you serve that you forget to save anything for yourself? When you have nothing left for your own life, you may shut out your own families and friends and seek isolation. Try as you might, separating your work life from your personal life is much more complicated. There are healthy ways to deal with the stressors and trauma of the job by utilizing the support systems in your personal life and enjoying your life away from work.

We will identify and discuss the fallout of the 24/7 mindset, and how cumulative stress is a prominent feature in one’s career. We will look at the prevalence, impact, and why this should be an area of concern for every agency. We will examine the stress factors, both professionally and personally, which put first responders at risk for PTSD and recognize compassion fatigue, burnout, vicarious trauma, and secondary trauma. We will look at ways that you can take control of your life and career and help others. Finally, we’ll identify and implement policies and procedures in your department to make a positive difference in the lives of your officers.

Training will be provided by Sgt. (ret.) Mark DiBona and Nicholas Greco IV, M.S., B.C.E.T.S., C.A.T.S.M., F.A.A.E.T.S., co-founders of Protecting the Guardian.

Course: Annual Advocacy Summit: The Foundation of CIT: Building an Inclusive Steering Committee

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Spots Available: 155

Description: A common misunderstanding is that the 40-hour CIT training for law enforcement is the most critical aspect of the CIT community program. However, the heart of CIT is a robust and inclusive Steering Committee. Police training was just one of the factors that fueled the creation of the CIT program model. Creating a shared table where behavioral health professionals, people impacted by crisis services (families/peers), and law enforcement officers could share information and advocate for system change was equally as important. Shared problem identification and solution development is how CIT community programs transform communities. Far too many communities treat CIT as training, failing to implement a community program. This session will make sure you have the knowledge to prevent that mistake.

Please join a group of current and former CITI board members who have built county, regional, or state program steering committees to better understand impactful approaches and mistakes to avoid. This session will highlight the critical role that advocates play within a CIT program.