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.