The Texas CIT Association is gearing up for their representation at the 2012 NAMI Conference to be held at the Sheraton Austin Hotel on November 2^nd, 2012. Members of the Texas branch of the National Alliance for Mental Illness have been gracious in their support and have been influential in the formation and direction of the Texas CIT Association.  We are pleased and honored to share in this event.  Come see us in the Tannenhill room at the conference, where you will have the opportunity to meet with law enforcement officers who are working diligently with their local mental health agencies to provide quality assistance to members of their communities who suffer with mental illness & cognitive disabilities.  In addition, many of the community mental health providers/partners will also be present to share information about their roles both in the assisting law enforcement and carrying services forward, once mental health needs have been discovered.  The benefits being realized as a result of this collaborative effort will be demonstrated in a question and answer session where both groups will be present to answer directly the questions from the audience.  The Texas CIT Association will also be holding their first annual membership drive, with membership being open to members of the law enforcement and mental health communities, private entities, and other community & governmental agencies who value the Texas CIT Association mission of better serving our communities.  There is strength in numbers and we are proud to represent one united voice for an under-represented and under-funded population. 

On this date the board met for their quarterly meeting to finalize the bylaws, discuss upcoming events, and set a course for reaching the association’s collaborative law enforcement & mental health community’s training goals.  The meeting was very productive, with great input coming from both sides (law enforcement & mental health advocates/providers), proving once again that meaningful collaboration is both useful and necessary to pave a road for improved mental health treatment in Texas.  In particular, the association took a large leap forward with the unanimous vote to appoint William Kasberg (San Antonio Police Department) to the vacant Director of Training position.  Officer Kasberg joins Rebecca Skillern – President (Houston Police Department), Herb Cotner – Vice President (Dallas Police Department), Thomas Calucci – Treasurer (UT San Antonio Police Department), & Brian Simmons – Secretary (Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office) to complete the Texas CIT Association’s five member Board of Directors.  

Texas CIT Association

 Mission Statement

 

The Texas CIT Association is an organization comprised of law enforcement, corrections, the mental health community, and advocacy groups to provide standardized training, support, and education in responding to those affected by mental illness and/or those who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

Texas CIT Begins Blog

On October 8th TCIT launches it's first blog to keep members informed and document ongoing changes to the newest addition to mental health training across the great State of Texas.