WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County has been selected as one of six counties nationwide to pilot a training program designed to help police, first responders, and community providers better respond to youth experiencing mental health crises.
What This Means for You
- Local police, educators, and first responders are receiving specialized training on youth mental health.
- The program aims to improve how young people in crisis are identified and connected with services.
- Chester County will help test a national pilot that could expand to other communities.
The program, known as Crisis Intervention Team – Youth (CIT-Y), is being piloted with support from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Keystone Pennsylvania, commonly known as NAMI Keystone. The training builds on the existing Crisis Intervention Team model, which prepares law enforcement and first responders to recognize and safely respond to individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.
The youth-focused version expands that training to address the growing number of young people with mental health needs who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.
How the Training Works
The first CIT-Y training session in Chester County took place March 4 through March 6 and included participants from more than 15 county departments, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations.
The program is administered locally by the Chester County Department of Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The training focuses on adolescent brain development, common mental health symptoms among youth, and strategies to help responders safely engage with young people while connecting them to appropriate services and support systems.
County commissioners said the training provides an opportunity to improve how youth in crisis are handled across the county.
“The CIT program benefits law enforcement, first responders, and community providers across Chester County,” the Board of Commissioners said in a joint statement. “Teaching effective and compassionate methods for handling the crisis needs of a young person offers a critical opportunity to make a difference in their lives.”
The commissioners added that the county hopes lessons learned through the pilot program could help expand the model across Pennsylvania.
Local Agencies Participate
The training brought together a wide range of local agencies that regularly interact with young people in crisis situations.
Participants included the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services, the Juvenile Probation Office, and the Human Needs Network. Community organizations involved in the training included NAMI Chester County PA, the Chester County ACEs Coalition, Community Care Behavioral Health, the county’s Teen Talk Line, Child Guidance Resource Center, and the Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County.
Other participants included the Pennsylvania State Police, Philadelphia Coordinated Health Care, The Arc of Chester County, JusticeWorks YouthCare, the Trans-Parent Support Group, and the Maternal and Child Health Consortium.
County Officials Cite Long-Term Collaboration
Pat Bokovitz, director of the Chester County Department of Human Services, said the county’s selection reflects years of collaboration with NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania.
“The staff in MH/IDD, especially MH/IDD Children’s Mental Health Clinical Services Coordinator Teyanna Brunson, have worked closely with NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania for a number of years and were thrilled to be chosen as a CIT-Y pilot program county,” Bokovitz said.
Bokovitz added that the county remains committed to ensuring people experiencing mental health challenges are treated appropriately.
“Chester County is committed to ensuring that people with mental health issues are treated safely and with respect,” she said.
Next Steps
Officials said the pilot training will help determine how the CIT-Y program can be expanded to additional counties in Pennsylvania and nationwide as communities seek new ways to respond to youth mental health crises.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.