LaPorte County First Responders Complete 40-Hour Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) with Special Focus on Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Throughout this week, as well as in a previous session held in January 2023, a group of First Responders from LaPorte County completed an intensive 40-hour crisis intervention training (CIT) course. This specialized program is funded through a grant and is designed to equip law enforcement officials with advanced techniques for effectively managing individuals in a mental health crisis. The training was conducted by a team of experts, including fellow law enforcement officials, community mental health providers, doctors, social workers, and interacted with individuals living with various mental health diagnoses. 

The grant aims to provide this training to 120 law enforcement officers from various agencies in LaPorte County over the next two years. As part of the program, Jenna Conklin (pictured below), Director of Therapy Services with Paladin, provided a comprehensive training session on Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This session covered the history of IDD and how individuals with IDD have been integrated into the community. 

One of the challenges of community integration is understanding how to intervene when an individual with a mental health crisis also has a dual diagnosis of Intellectual Disability. Jenna provided valuable insights on successful approaches for First Responders, including effective de-escalation techniques, specifically tailored for individuals diagnosed with Autism.