From a press release:
Ten emergency first responders from Buncombe and Madison counties are now better equipped to respond to people with issues related to mental illness, alcohol or drug use or a developmental disability. Training helps participants respond to people in a mental health or addiction crisis
The seven men and three women completed 24 hours of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training in January and February in Asheville. Participants were: Roger Banks, Stephanie Gibbs, Scott Stockham, Robert Mitchell, Jacob Arrowood and Ken Shields with Buncombe County EMS; Amber Jones, Kris Hansson and Alden Doane with Mission Hospital Regional Transportation Services; and Hellen Wyndham with the Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department in Hot Springs. The training was provided at no cost by Smoky Mountain MCO, a public managed healthcare organization. Key partners included Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Buncombe County EMS, which served as the sponsoring agency.
To date, Smoky has trained more than 650 western North Carolina first responders and law enforcement officers in CIT. The training helps participants better communicate with people with issues related to mental illness, alcohol or drug use or developmental disabilities. This can increase safety for both emergency workers and local residents, help people get needed treatment and reduce arrests.
The first CIT program – a collaborative effort among law enforcement, advocates and mental health communities – was established in 1988 in Memphis, Tenn.
About Smoky Mountain MCO
Smoky Mountain MCO manages public funds for mental health, substance use disorder and intellectual/ developmental disability services in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties in North Carolina. Access to services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-849-6127. Visit us at www.smokymountaincenter.com.
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