Meetings and Convenings

On March 10–12, 2020, hundreds of people from across the country who are fighting to turn the tide of fatal overdoses and the slow death of addiction will meet in the shadow of the nation’s capital to learn and share how they are reclaiming communities and saving lives.

The National Center for Youth Opportunity and Justice (NCYOJ) is currently accepting applications from individuals interested in becoming a certified trainer in the Crisis Intervention Teams for Youth (CIT-Y) curriculum.

The standard Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training offered to most police officers focuses primarily on response techniques for adults. While there are some general similarities between adults and youth, there are important and unique distinctions that require specialized knowledge and training. CIT-Y trains law enforcement officers on response techniques that are appropriate for youth with behavioral health needs.

The curriculum covers the following topics:

• Adolescent Brain Development
• Impacts of Childhood Trauma
• Signs and Symptoms of Behavioral Health Conditions
• Neurodevelopment Disorders
• Connecting to Resources
• Crisis Intervention and De-escalation
• Active Listening
• Juvenile Suicide
• The Family Experience
• Officer Wellness

Up to 40 participants will be selected to attend the New Orleans, Louisiana, CIT-Y Train-the-Trainer event, scheduled for March 4-6, 2020. More information and the application can be found on the NCYOJ website. Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 14, 2020.