Enhancing Community Relations: Collaborating with Law Enforcement for Justice and Homeless Programs

1. The Impact and Effect of Working with Law Enforcement and Other Authorities February 22nd, 2017

2. Role of Justice and Homeless Programs with Police Crucial Need for Interface with Law Enforcement Provision of Training and Education Liaison and Referral Fostering the Relationship

3. Plan for Today’s Seminar Seminar Perspective - Collaboration with Law Enforcement Joel Rosenthal, PhD, National Training Director, Veterans Justice Programs Trent Pettis, Academic Division Chief, VA Law Enforcement Training Center Findings to Date – Training of VA and Community Law Enforcement Caroline Mok, PhD, Police Training Evaluation Coordinator, Palo Alto University Chris Weaver, PhD, Forensic Psychology Program Director, Palo Alto University Success Lessons to Date and Field Guidance Micol Levi-Minci, PsyD, Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, VA Miami Kelly McDaniel, LCSW, Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, VA Kansas City

4. Collaboration with Police – Law Enforcement Perspective Working Relationship: Veterans Justice Programs and Law Enforcement Training Center LETC Curriculum for New Officers VJP Police Training Project What to Know About VA Law Enforcement Keys to Positive Relationship with VA Law Enforcement

5. General Overview: VA Police Train-the-Trainer Evaluation Christopher M. Weaver, PhD Caroline Mok, PhD Palo Alto University Joel Rosenthal, PhD James McGuire, PhD Sean Clark, JD Veterans Justice Programs US Dept. of Veterans Affairs SA Trent Pettis VA Law Enforcement Training Center

6. Anecdotal findings –across VA and community police agencies Should we accept and facilitate officers making the content their own? (Grounding example) How do we measure idiosyncratic successes? Leveraging poor expectations Optimizing/facilitating relationship-building between MH and LE

7. Curriculum Development (Jan, 2012) Master Trainers (n = 40) Primary Implementation Pilot / Demonstration Mid-Level Trainers (n = 35) Mid-Level Trainers (n = 281) Police Endpoint (n = 140) Police Endpoint (n = 1433)

8. Indexes Used to Measure Training Outcome The Fundamental Building blocks of Training • Knowledge • Skills • Attitude • Trainer Attitude (Trainers only)

9. Partnerships with Veterans Justice Outreach Programs, VA Police, and Community Law Enforcement Kelly McDaniel, LCSW Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinator Kansas City Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 15 Micol Levi-Minzi, Psy. D. Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist Broward Outpatient Clinic, Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, VISN 8

10. CIT: Crisis Intervention Team • The National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI) defines CIT as “a model for community policing that brings together law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency departments and individuals with mental illness and their families to improve responses to people in crisis. CIT programs enhance communication, identify mental health resources for assisting people in crisis and ensure that officers get the training and support that they need. ”1 • 40 Hour Course with trainers from local mental health facilities, hospitals, and various local resources for mentally ill individuals. • Officers typically volunteer to become involved with CIT so interest and motivation are high. • Topics covered during this 40 hour course may include: crisis de-escalation skills, scenario/role playing training, mental health illnesses, psychopharmacology, issues of homelessness, substance abuse, and cultural awareness. NAMI, The University of Memphis CIT Center, CIT International, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police developed a sample curriculum that is followed by most CIT programs across the country. 2

11. Why CIT? • CIT was originally developed in Memphis, TN in 1988 in an effort to better manage the challenges law enforcement faced when interacting with individuals with mental illnesses. • Statistics from the Memphis Police Department since 1988 have shown improvement across a variety of areas 3: • Less lethal force used/Fewer officer injuries/Fewer injuries to mentally ill individuals • Numbers of incarcerated mentally ill individuals has gone from 15% to 3%. • Less use of SWAT • Quicker warm hand-offs with hospitals/clinics • Strengthening community relationships • ER recidivism rates <20% and involuntary commitments went from 40% to 25%

12. Fostering Empathy for the Returning Veteran • To increase awareness of the impact of the war experience. • Discuss and teach best methods of intervention (i.e. grounding techniques for individuals who may be dissociating) • Improve relationship between community LEO, legal/correctional systems, and Department of Veterans Affairs. • Emphasize the challenges veterans face when returning to the civilian sector. • Humanize our veterans as pop-culture all too often cast a negative shadow over those who suffer from conditions such as PTSD. "Now, After" PTSD from a Soldier's Point of View • Use interdisciplinary teams as much as possible!

13. Sample CIT Curriculum from Broward County

15. VA Police Training Between March, 2013 and ending February, 2016 VJO’s in conjunction with mental health staff and VA Police completed a 14 hour training with VA Police Officers. The goals of the training were to improve overall safety of officers, Veterans, staff, and all others on VA campuses and in VA clinics, to lead more positive resolutions of crisis situations and encounters with Veterans, to ensure that Veterans get linked to needed services and to enhance relationships between VA police officers and all other providers.

16. VA Police Training (continued) During the training VA Police Officers obtained additional knowledge on Veteran behavior, response strategies and skills, and resource information. VJO staff provided VA Police with education on various mental health, substance abuse, and housing programs. Additionally, VJO staff worked with VA Police and mental health providers to create an Officer Referral Card for them to have on hand. We also provide these cards to community law enforcement.

17. VA Police training (continued) The training with VA police enhanced the working relationship between officers, VJO’s, and other providers. We were able to connect with officers that we would have otherwise not have interacted with.

18. VA Police Aiding Community Law Enforcement VA Police interact directly with community law enforcement when they transport a Veteran to the VA for evaluation. VA Police collect the CIT reports and ensure this document is given to VJO staff so appropriate follow up can be arranged. Local law enforcement can contact VA Police directly to ensure a Veteran is eligible for services prior to transport, this is especially helpful after hours and on weekends.

19. Working With Community Law Enforcement As VJO’s we serve on committees for CIT programs in the community, are the point of contact for law enforcement regarding CIT referrals, and we provide training and education to officers. VA Police are invited to attend the CIT trainings offered by local law enforcement. As part of the CIT training, Officers tour the VA and are educated by VA Police regarding the protocols when transporting a Veteran to the ER for evaluation. They are able to see the inpatient psychiatry unit and end with questions and answers.

20. Working With Community Law Enforcement (continued) Community law enforcement officers are involved in our Mental Health Summits, assist with homeless and CIT outreach efforts, as well as Point in Time.

22. Sources 1. (2016). NAMI. Retrieved November 07, 2016, from http://www.nami.org/Law-Enforcement-and-Mental-Health/What-Is-CIT 2. (2016). University of Memphis. Retrieved November 07, 2016, from http://cit.memphis.edu/curriculuma.php?id=0 3. (n.d.). CIT International. Retrieved November 07, 2016, from http://www.citinternational.org/cit-overview/131-cit-facts-and-benefits.html