Crisis Intervention Team

Henrico County’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) was established in 2008 and is a community partnership between first responders, mental health and substance abuse systems, mental health advocacy groups and consumers of mental health services. Selected responders from the Henrico County Police and Fire Divisions, Henrico County Sheriff’s Office and Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services work with consumers and family members to facilitate effective assistance for persons experiencing a mental health crisis. Connection with community resources is offered, whenever possible, thus avoiding unnecessary incarcerations or hospitalizations.

CIT is a community effort bringing together first responders and area stakeholders for the common goals of safety, understanding, and caring for the needs of the mentally ill and their families. Consumers, their families, advocates, and other stakeholders play a significant role in all aspects of Henrico County’s successful CIT program. Key stakeholders include the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Central Virginia Chapter (NAMI-CVA), Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership (VOCAL), Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance (SAARA), the University of Richmond Police Department, Henrico Doctor’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, and other area organizations.

CIT is an international initiative to assist those in a psychiatric crisis. CIT was developed in Memphis in 1988 and has been adopted by over 70% of the localities in Virginia. The Virginia Crisis Intervention Team Coalition (VACIT) offers support and guidance to CIT programs in the Commonwealth.

The bottom line: CIT is a mindset of treating people with respect and dignity.

For non-emergencies you can contact CIT by email at cit@co.henrico.va.us. In an emergency call 9-1-1.

CIT Resources Guide - A 27 page PDF file listing many community resources.

NAMI National at http://www.nami.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness - National

NAMI Central Virginia

In 1980, the late Bertha Emroch and the late Ceal Bloch founded the Richmond Area Schizophrenia Foundation. The organization was later renamed the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Central Virginia, to be an affiliate of both the Virginia Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI-VA) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In 1998, all Alliance affiliates were renamed to reflect the name recognition of the national presence of this grassroots organization. The purposes of the organization as set forth by Mrs. Emroch and Mrs. Bloch are: Family Support (To provide emotional support, fellowship, and information for parents, relatives, and friends of those with mental illness, as well as for consumers themselves), Advocacy (to support the rights of persons with mental illness. To work for a comprehensive, nondiscriminatory system of care for those with mental illness), Public Education (To reduce stigma by providing education about mental illness to the public), Research (to support research and study relating to the treatment and care of children, adolescents, and adults with chronic mental illness. To inform the membership about new medications), Housing (to promote the establishment of non-profit, structured, and therapeutic residential facilities for persons with mental illness).

VOCAL http://www.vocalvirginia.org/

Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership (VOCAL) is a nonprofit organization of people in mental health recovery.

SAARA http://www.saara.org/

SAARA of Virginia is a grassroots recovery community organization. All friends of recovery are invited and welcome to join. Our members include individuals in recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction, their families, friends, and dedicated community supporters. Across the Commonwealth of Virginia, we are seventeen affiliates strong and growing. SAARA promotes social, educational, legal, research and health care resources and services that support accessible, effective and accountable addiction prevention, intervention, treatment and Recovery. We envision the day when the stigma of addiction will be eradicated, and all who seek recovery will find it. Recovery happens! Please take a look around our website and let us know if you have any comments or questions.

211 Virginia http://www.211virginia.org

2-1-1 is an easy to remember phone number connecting people with free information on available community services. When you dial 2-1-1, a trained professional listens to your situation and suggests sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in Virginia. All referrals are confidential and you can search for these same services on this 2-1-1 VIRGINIA Web site.

Network of Care Henrico County

This Web site is a resource for individuals, families and agencies concerned with behavioral health. It provides information about behavioral health services, laws, and related news, as well as communication tools and other features.

VACIT at http://www.vacitcoalition.org/

The Virginia Crisis Intervention Team (VACIT) Coalition is a collaborative membership group. Members include individuals interested in learning about or supporting CIT initiatives and representatives from CIT programs throughout Virginia, regardless of whether their local program is in initial stages of development, still working to implement various aspects of the CIT program or a fully operational CIT.