CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS (CIT) AIM TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THOSE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP. POLICE OFFICERS AND PARAMEDICS ARE NOT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN MENTAL HEALTH BUT ARE FREQUENTLY CALLED TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. SHAKER HEIGHTS POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE BY DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A CIT MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE TEAM (MHRT), WHICH INCLUDES A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO WORKS ALONGSIDE POLICE AND FIRE, BRINGING THEIR CLINICAL EXPERTISE TO THOSE IN CRISIS AND MAKING REFERRALS TO SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH METROHEALTH/RECOVERY RESOURCES. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ENHANCE THE CURRENT MHRT BUT ALSO EXPAND THIS MODEL TO NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, SOUTH EUCLID, RICHMOND HEIGHTS AND THE JOINT DISPATCH CENTER.