(Santa Ana, CA) — The Orange County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program has been awarded Gold Level Certification through CIT International, recognizing its outstanding commitment to regional crisis response system development and collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health professionals. Orange County is the first county in the state to achieve this rating.
The CIT Program is a community regional partnership among law enforcement/first responders, behavioral healthcare providers, clients/families, consumer advocacy groups and Fire/EMS. The program is guided by the CIT Steering Committee whose objective is providing more effective community responses to individuals and families impacted by mental illness, substance use disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health crises. The program improves crisis response, advocates for essential services, trains first responders, and strengthens partnerships across the community.
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) have played a vital role in ensuring the success of the county’s CIT program by integrating behavioral health expertise with public safety efforts. Through this collaborative approach, the CIT program has enhanced crisis de-escalation strategies, increased access to mental health resources and reduced unnecessary law enforcement involvement in behavioral health crises.
“The Gold Certification is a testament to the strength of our collaborative efforts between law enforcement and behavioral health professionals,” said Ian Kemmer, HCA’s Director of Behavioral Health Services. “By integrating clinical expertise with law enforcement response, we are creating a safer and more effective crisis response system for our community.”
“Together with our dedicated health care partners, we are building a safer and more compassionate community by ensuring those in crisis receive the care and support they need,” said Captain Christine Berryman, OC Sheriff’s Behavioral Health Bureau. “We are honored by this recognition of the rigorous training we have collaboratively developed and plan to continue finding ways to enhance crisis response services in Orange County.”
The Gold Certification recognizes Orange County’s leadership in crisis response and underscores the strong partnership between law enforcement and behavioral health professionals in improving outcomes for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. The recognition highlights Orange County CIT’s outstanding model including:
- Multidisciplinary leadership team
- Strong partnerships on the steering committee with good structure to manage and sustain the CIT program
- Robust integrated crisis response system
- Strong connection to agency programs
CIT International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to assisting communities worldwide in crisis response system reform by developing CIT programs. Certification levels reflect how closely aligned a CIT program is with best practice standards. Gold denotes Orange County’s program meeting outstanding best practice criteria.
For more information about the International CIT Program, please visit citinternational.org.
ABOUT THE OC HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is a regional interdisciplinary health jurisdiction and an accredited health department, charged with protecting and promoting individual, family and community health through partnership and coordination of public and private sector resources. Visit www.ochealthinfo.com to learn more about services and resources.
