CIT new briefs - 2023-Present

For more information or to request Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training in your community, please contact Kellie Moran, Robert Nelson or Jennifer LaBonte, Justice Systems Clinical Liaisons for Sandhills Center -- 1-800-256-2452.

Sandhills Center cosponsors Guilford County CIT training

During the week of Oct. 23-27, 2023, Guilford County held its final Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) 40-hour training class of the calendar year. Capt. Holly Pate of the Greensboro Police Department and Capt. Rachel Juren of the High Point Police Department served as host officers. There were 26 graduates, representing the following law enforcement and first responder agencies: Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff's Office, Guilford Metro 911 and Guilford County Emergency Medical Services. Sandhills Center cosponsors CIT training in Guilford County in partnership with NAMI-Guilford, Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department and Guilford Technical Community College. Photo credit: Kellie Moran, Sandhills Center.

Above: Guilford County CIT graduates - October 2023

CIT training held in Lee County

During the week of October 9, 2023, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training was held in Lee County. Twelve members of law enforcement and first responder agencies graduated from the 40-hour training program, held at the Central Carolina Community College Emergency Training Center. Sgt. K. Scott Hair of the Sanford Police Department served as host officer. Commissioner Kirk Smith, Chairman of the Lee County Board of Commissioners, welcomed the class. Participants represented the following first responder agencies: Apex Police Department, Asheboro Police Department, Broadway Police Department, FirstHealth of the Carolinas/Lee County Emergency Medical Services, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, and Sanford Police Department. CIT in Lee County is cosponsored by Sandhills Center, Daymark Recovery Services, Central Carolina Community College, Central Carolina Hospital: A Duke LifePoint Hospital, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Public Health Department/LeeCAN, NAMI - Cumberland, Harnett, and Lee Counties, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections - Community Supervision, Sanford Police Department, and Therapeutic Alternatives Inc. - Mobile Crisis. Photo credit: Neil McGowan, Central Carolina Community College.

Above: Lee County CIT graduates - October 2023

Guilford County is site of CIT training in September

Twenty law enforcement officers and other first responders recently graduated from Guilford County Crisis Intervention Team training, held at the Sandhills Center office in Greensboro. The 40-hour class was conducted during the week of Sept. 18, with Capt. Holly Pate of the Greensboro Police Department and Capt. Rachel Juren of the High Point Police Department serving as host officers. The first responders who participated represented the following agencies: Guilford Metro 911, the UNC Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, Greensboro Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff's Office, Elon Police Department and Guilford County Emergency Medical Services. Guilford County CIT training is a partnership between Sandhills Center, the Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, NAMI-Guilford and Guilford Technical Community College. Photo credit: Heather Odendahl, Sandhills Center.

Above: Guilford County CIT graduates - September 2023

Sandhills Center, community partners host CIT training in Moore County

Moore County held its annual Crisis Intervention Team training class during the week of Sept. 11, 2023, at Sandhills Community College. Deputy Victoria Price of Moore County Sheriff's Office served as host officer. Eighteen first responders completed the 40-hour training course. Participants included representatives of the Aberdeen Police Department, FirstHealth of the Carolinas Hospital Security, Greensboro Police Department, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Department of Corrections, and Whispering Pines Police Department.Moore County CIT is supported through a partnership between Sandhills Center, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Aberdeen Police Department, North Carolina Department of Corrections, Southern Pines Police Department, Sandhills Community College, Moore County Emergency Medical Services, FirstHealth of the Carolinas, and NAMI-Moore County. Photo credit: George E. Reynolds Jr., NAMI-Moore County.

Above: Moore County graduates - September 2023

CIT training held in Rockingham County

Rockingham County recently held its 2nd CIT training class since joining the Sandhills Center region in December 2021. The 40-hour class was conducted the week of August 14, 2023, with 14 students graduating. Agencies represented included the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, Madison Police Department, Reidsville Police Department, Eden Police Department, Department of Adult Corrections, Cone Health/Annie Penn Hospital Security, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Sgt. Jerry Hacker of the Reidsville Police Department and Heather Worley of the Department of Adult Corrections served as host officers. CIT training in Rockingham County is a collaboration between Sandhills Center, NAMI-ACR (Alamance, Caswell and Rockingham counties), the Reidsville Police Department, Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, NC State Highway Patrol, Daymark Recovery Services, the Department of Adult Corrections, Cone Health, the Sandhills Center Consumer and Family Advisory Committee, Mayodan Police Department, Madison Police Department, Rockingham County Department of Social Services, and the Eden Police Department. Photo credit: Heather Odendahl, Sandhills Center.

Rockingham County CIT graduates August 2023

Above: Rockingham County graduates - August 2023

Hoke County hosts CIT training

During the week of July 31 through August 4, 2023, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training was held in Hoke County. Thirteen members of law enforcement and first responder agencies graduated from the 40-hour training program, held at Sandhills Community College - Hoke Campus. Capt. Lewis of the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office served as host officer. Participants represented the following first responder agencies: Cape Fear Valley - Hoke County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Hoke County Sheriff's Office and Detention. CIT in Hoke County is cosponsored by Sandhills Center, Daymark Recovery Services, Cape Fear Valley - Hoke County EMS, FirstHealth of the Carolinas - Hospital Security, Raeford Police Department, NAMI-Moore County, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, Sandhills Community College, and Therapeutic Alternatives Inc. - Mobile Crisis Management. Photo credit: George E. Reynolds Jr., NAMI-Moore County

Above: Hoke County CIT graduates - July/August 2023

Sandhills Center cosponsors CIT training in Montgomery County

During the week of July 24, 2023, Montgomery County hosted Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for 12 law enforcement officers and other first responders. CIT is a rigorous 40-hour class that teaches first responders skills they need when working with individuals who are experiencing mental illness or other behavioral health problems. Students represented FirstHealth Emergency Medical Services (EMS), FirstHealth Security, the Robbins Police Department, Mt. Gilead Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Jeff Branch of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office served as host officer. CIT in Montgomery County is cosponsored by Sandhills Center, Daymark Recovery Services, Therapeutic Alternatives Inc., FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Montgomery Community College, NAMI-Moore County, and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Photo credit: George E. Reynolds Jr, NAMI-Moore County

Above: Montgomery County CIT graduates - July 2023

Local NAMI chapter, Sandhills Center celebrate CIT partners in Lee County

The voices of NAMI affiliates across the Sandhills Center region are critical in many aspects of our work, including in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. NAMI representatives participate in planning many of these trainings, and often facilitate the panel discussions between members, families and first responders during classes.

One such partnership between NAMI-Cumberland, Harnett and Lee Counties (NAMI-CHL) and Sandhills Center was recently celebrated with an 11th anniversary CIT awards luncheon, held in Sanford on July 20, 2023. The individuals recognized for their outstanding contributions to CIT training were: ·

CIT Champion Award: Victoria Whitt (Retired CEO of Sandhills Center)
CIT Sheriff’s Office Hero Award: Det. Sgt. Jordan Simons (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
CIT Outstanding Service Award: Lt. Dana Elliott (Lee County Sheriff’s Office), and the late Ret. Det. Sgt. Ronald Martin (NC Harm Reduction Coalition)
CIT Trainers of the Year: Melanie Bunn (Dementia Alliance of NC) and Harrison Hall (Thomasville Fire Department)
CIT Exemplary Service Award: Trooper Brian Lane (North Carolina State Highway Patrol); Sgt. Michael Nelson (Broadway Police Department); Annie McIver (Advocate: Cameron Grove A.M.E. Zion Church /Lee County Community Action Network [LeeCAN]); Capt. Gregory Deck (Sanford Police Department) · CIT Volunteer of the Year: Fisher McMillan (LeeCAN)
Phil Hewett Inclusive Service Award: Marilyn Gilliam (Justice Systems Liaison for Sandhills Center)
Certificate of Appreciation for Serving as Host Officer: Sgt. K. Scott Hair (Sanford Police Department)

In addition to the awards ceremony, the event also featured remarks from Deby Dihoff of NAMI North Carolina, Anne Kimball of Sandhills Center, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes, and Lee County Commissioner Kirk Smith. Hannah Carroll, President of NAMI-CHL, presided over the event which was attended by more than 60 individuals who have played an integral role in CIT training in Lee County, including instructors, Sandhills Center members and their families, as well as local government, law enforcement and emergency medical services officials.

Sandhills Center, along with community partners such as NAMI, cosponsor CIT programs in all of the region’s 11 counties. In Lee County, LeeCAN, part of Lee County Public Health, began to advocate for CIT training in 2010. LeeCAN joined with Sandhills Center, NAMI and about 12 other organizations to make the training a reality in 2012. By the end of 2022, the Lee County CIT program had certified 180 first responders.

Davidson County hosts CIT training in July

For the second time since it became part of the Sandhills Center region, Davidson County hosted Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training during the week of July 10, 2023. The 40-hour class was held at the Lexington Police Department training center with Officer Mackenzie Milaro of the High Point Parks Department serving as host officer. Twenty-eight law enforcement officers and other first responders participated in the class, representing the Appalachian State University Police Department, North Carolina A&T State University Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Thomasville Police Department, Davidson County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Davie County Sheriff’s Office, and Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. CIT training in Davidson County is supported by a large community collaborative that includes Sandhills Center, the Lexington Police Department, Thomasville Police Department, Davidson County Sheriff's Office, Davidson County Emergency EMS, Thomasville Fire Department, Novant Health, Davidson-Davie Community College, RHA Health Services, Daymark Recovery Services, and NAMI-Northwest Piedmont. Photo credit: Kellie Moran, Sandhills Center.

Above: Davidson County CIT graduates - July 2023

CIT training held in Richmond County

During the week of June 26, 2023, a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training class was held in Richmond County. Eight members of law enforcement and first responder agencies graduated from the 40-hour training program, held in the Robinette Center at Richmond Community College. Det. Jan Owens of the Rockingham Police Department served as host officer. Participants represented the following first responder agencies: FirstHealth of the Carolinas Hospital Security, Richmond County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Richmond County Sheriff's Office, and Richmond Police Department. CIT in Richmond County is cosponsored by Sandhills Center, Daymark Recovery Services, FirstHealth – Richmond County EMS, FirstHealth of the Carolinas - Hospital Security, Hamlet Police Department, NAMI-Moore County, the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, Rockingham Police Department, Richmond Community College, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and Therapeutic Alternatives Inc. - Mobile Crisis Management. Photo credit: George E. Reynolds Jr., NAMI-Moore County.

Above: Richmond County CIT graduates with cosponsors - June 2023

CIT training held in Harnett County

During the week of June 19, 2023, Harnett County hosted Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for 17 law enforcement officers and other first responders. CIT is a rigorous 40-hour class that teaches first responders skills they need when working with individuals experiencing mental illness or other behavioral health problems. Students represented the Harnett County Sheriff's Office, Erwin Police Department, Coats Police Department, Dunn Police Department, Angier Police Department, NC State Parks, and Harnett County Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Lt. Scott Jeffries of the Harnett County Sheriff's Office served as host officer. CIT training in Harnett County is a partnership of the Harnett County Sheriff's Office, the Dunn Police Department, Harnett County EMS, Central Carolina Community College, Daymark Recovery Services, Good Hope Hospital, Therapeutic Alternatives - Mobile Crisis, Sandhills Center, and NAMI-Cumberland, Harnett & Lee Counties. Photo credit: Kellie Moran, Sandhills Center.

Above: Harnett County CIT graduates - June 2023

Randolph County hosts CIT training in June

Nineteen law enforcement personnel and other first responders graduated from Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training during the week of June 5-9, 2023. Agencies represented included the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Asheboro Police Department, Department of Adult Corrections, Greensboro Police Department, and the Winston-Salem Police Department. Scotty Kidd, Training Officer for the Department of Adult Corrections, served as host officer. CIT in Randolph County is made possible by a partnership between Sandhills Center, Randolph Community College, the Department of Adult Corrections, Daymark Recovery Services, and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. Photo credit: Kellie Moran, Sandhills Center

Above: Randolph County CIT graduates - June 2023

CIT training held in Guilford County

Guilford County hosted a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training during the week of April 24, 2023. Capt. Holly Pate of the Greensboro Police Department and Capt. Rachel Juren of the High Point Police Department served as host officers. Twenty-five students graduated from the class. Graduates represented the Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department Guilford County Sheriff's Office (Detention and Patrol), the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections - Community Supervision, UNC Greensboro Police Department, Guilford County Emergency Medical Services, and Guilford Metro 911. CIT is sponsored in collaboration with Sandhills Center, NAMI-Guilford, High Point Police Department, Greensboro Police Department and Guilford Technical Community College. Photo credit: Heather Odendahl, Sandhills Center

Guilford CIT April 2023

Above: Guilford County CIT graduates - April 2023

Sandhills Center publishes CIT Year In Review for 2022

Sandhills Center has published its 2022 Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training Year In Review - PDF which details the accomplishments of the training year in the region. It is our way of thanking all of our community partners and participants for their efforts and accomplishments during the past year.

Sandhills Center cosponsors Advanced CIT training in Lee County

Lee County held an Advanced Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training class on March 21, 2023, at the Emergency Services Training Center of Central Carolina Community College. Sgt. Scott Hair of the Sanford Police Department served as host officer. Chairman Kirk Smith, Lee County Board of County Commissioners, opened the class and presented Lt. S. Dana Elliott, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with a Certificate of Appreciation for his dedicated service to the citizens of Lee County, North Carolina, and to the success of CIT. Fifteen law enforcement and first responders completed the 8-hour training class. Participants included representatives from the Sanford Police Department, Greensboro Police Department, Holly Springs Police Department, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Moore County Public Safety - Cypress Pointe Fire Department, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Moore County Schools Police Department, and Mount Gilead Police Department. Training topics included Working with Veterans/Military PTSD, Suicide Prevention and Intervention and Officer/First Responder Wellness. CIT in Lee County is supported through a partnership between Sandhills Center, the Sanford Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections - Community Supervision, Daymark Recovery Services, Central Carolina Hospital: A Duke LifePoint Hospital, Therapeutic Alternatives, Central Carolina Community College, NAMI - Cumberland, Harnett and Lee Counties, and the Lee County Health Department/LeeCAN. Photo credit: Neil McGowan, Central Carolina Community College

Above: Lee County Advanced CIT graduates - March 2023

Guilford County hosts first CIT class of 2023

Guilford County held the first Crisis Intervention Team training class of 2023 during the week of Feb. 27 - March 3. The training was held at Sandhills Center's Greensboro office with Lt. Holly Pate of the Greensboro Police Department, and Capt. Rachel Juren of the High Point Police Department serving as host officers. Twenty-six students graduated from the 40-hour class. Students came from a variety of agencies including the Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff's Office, Guilford Metro 911, Elon Police Department, UNC Greensboro Police Department, and Guilford County Emergency Medical Services. Guilford County CIT is a collaboration between Sandhills Center, NAMI Guilford, Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department and Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC). Photo credit: Heather Odendahl, Sandhills Center

Above: Guilford County CIT graduates - February/March 2023