This project aims to provide complimentary mental health critical incident training for law enforcement

This $1,000,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753) aims to provide comprehensive mental health crisis intervention training for law enforcement personnel across the United States. The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), a non-profit organization specializing in law enforcement training, will develop and deliver virtual and in-person courses covering crisis intervention, mental health first aid, and emotional intelligence for active law enforcement and corrections officers from all 50 states. The training program will run from October 2024 through December 2026, with the goal of enhancing officers' knowledge, skills, and capabilities when interacting with citizens with mental illness, disabilities, and disorders. This training is intended to result in more positive outcomes for both law enforcement and the public when responding to mental health-related incidents.

IT will be accomplished primarily through stand-alone classes (virtual and in-person) with attendees consisting of active law enforcement officers and corrections personnel throughout the united states. Intended beneficiaries include officers from all 50 states who will attend some of the training included in this project. This includes local, state, and federal law enforcement officials of any rank and title. Law enforcement officers' knowledge, skills, and capabilities will be enhanced, resulting in more positive outcomes when law enforcement interacts with citizens with mental illness and various disabilities and disorders. Intended beneficiaries include law enforcement and citizens. Examples of courses include crisis intervention training (CIT), basic and advanced crisis negotiations, law enforcement response to suicidal subjects, school and workplace violence response, emotional intelligence for law enforcement, adult and juvenile mental health first aid, law enforcement response and interaction with developmentally disabled, law enforcement interaction with veterans, crisis negotiations skills for first responders, alternative response options for persons in crisis, first responder trauma training, and others. Funds will support staff in focusing on efforts supporting this project.