The logo of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County.
Adding a care response program in Cuyahoga County was recommended to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board in a May report. Credit: Jeff Haynes

Covered by Documenter Tucker Handley (notes)

More crisis intervention training for police

The number of Cleveland officers trained to respond to mental and behavioral health crises is increasing.

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is part of a national program that brings together mental health agencies, advocacy organizations and law enforcement with the goal of improving police response to crisis calls stemming from mental health issues.

Survey says… trauma

Following a recent officer survey, next year’s CIT plans will focus on the effects of trauma. Carole Ballard from the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services of Cuyahoga County (ADAMHS) asked what officers need to know about trauma. The discussion raised questions about the effects of trauma on officers, how factors such as race and mental health contribute to trauma and second-hand trauma. 

Rosie Palfy, community advocate and Cleveland Documenter, pointed out that experiences can be traumatic and not always related to a mental health diagnosis. 

Read more from Documenter Tucker Handley:

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Service Journalism Reporter (she/her)
Dakotah is a journalist and audio producer dedicated to untangling bureaucracy and providing power (information) to the people of Cleveland. She spent 10 years on the frontlines of direct service working with youth and system-impacted communities before receiving her master's in media advocacy from Northeastern University. Dakotah is part of the Community team whose mission is to listen and amplify the issues Clevelanders care about most.

Cleveland Documenters pays and trains people to cover public meetings where government officials discuss important issues and decide how to spend taxpayer money.