Being a police officer during these trying times is exasperating to say the least. Police officers require that they have specific skills to maintain positive and healthy attitudes with a variety of people most of whom are in trauma or crisis. Sometimes, there are situations that require they risk their own lives to save the life of a person who is trying to do them harm. The media and accountable for changes they may not have been made aware of as of yet. While officers are most definitely strong and dedicated people, the erosion of a lack of public support, unwarranted generalized allegations, lack of respect, conflicting mandates (to say a few) can cause an increase in officer anger. This anger needs to be modulated while the officer conducts police business. Understanding anger and learning how to manage it is imperative.

Inmates who display signs and symptoms of ASD present unique challenges to the corrections system because of their presenting issues such as social communication, behavioral difficulties and environmental sensory sensitivities. This course will provide officers with an understanding of ASD. Including signs and symptoms, the wide range of reducing facility disruption, symptom reduction techniques for ASD inmates, de-escalation approaches of ASD inmates and recommendations for an increase in officer sensitivity and knowledge.

8-hours of interactive/participatory training that focuses on self-discovered biases, masks, and defense mechanisms that have a negative effect on communication in personal and community relations. Participants will discover more effective methods to communicate thus reducing the effects of PTSD, divorce, and suicide and improving their community relations. Participants will identify behaviors, biases, perceptions, and internal fears that have a negative impact on personal and community relationships. Participants will identify traumas or events that are affecting/causing these behaviors. Participants will list ways and places to talk with and work through these traumas. Participants will demonstrate methods to prevent and redirect these negative behaviors. Participants will work through methods to improve personal and community relationships.

Because officers have to protect their own safety, as well as the safety of those around them, they only have a small amount of time in which to establish a communication mode that minimizes the risk of violence. Agitated, not-yet-violent individuals can often be directed away from violence through the proper use of communication skills. These techniques, like effective physical defensive tactics, are both simple and broad-based. Additionally, the verbal de-escalation techniques are geared to “set up” those being controlled so that physical control techniques are enhanced, whenever they are necessary. Finally, successful verbal de-escalation of agitated individuals in public view will increase respect for law enforcement among the general population. Such respect can contribute to future officer safety.

This 8-hour course focuses on understanding the increasing phenomenon of stress and unfortunately suicide among correctional officers. Participants will be provided information regarding the reasons for their stress. Understanding the rationales for stress is the first step at stress management. They will be able to identify their personal level of stress via a stress questionnaire. The presenter will provide techniques and exercises that they can do to lower their stress. Correctional officers have a troublesome level of suicide. This training will address how to identify a suicidal person and how to assist the person. Correctional officers have a rate that is at least seven times higher than the national suicide rate. Often officers are reluctant to ask for assistance when they experience suicidal thoughts or ideations. This training will provide a step-by-step procedure to utilize when you believe someone is currently suicidal or has suicidal ideation. Role based exercises will be conducted as practice.

This one-day, 8-hour program has been designed by Sergeant Michael Wargo, Illinois State Police (retired) to provide officers of all ranks with the skills needed to effectively communicate with persons in crisis.

This 8 hour, voluntary training program was created as a review for officers with at least one year’s experience as an active CIT officer. Participants in the course will review topics such as trouble shooting, legal updates, self-care and community resources. They will also partake in valuable group exercises in de-escalation and active listening and review and refresh their skills in realistic scenario role play exercises.

This three day, (24 hour) course is intended for officers who have already attended the basic CIT 40 hour course (CIT-B). This advanced CIT class will expand upon the youth component of the basic 40 hour training. Participants in this training will review topics such as the impact of child/adolescent mental health, trouble shooting, crisis planning, risk assessment and active listening/de-escalation. Officers will also partake in realistic scenario role play exercises.

This 16 hour, voluntary training program was created as a review for officers with at least one year’s experience as an active CIT officer. Participants in the course will review topics such as trouble shooting, legal updates, self-care and community resources. They will also partake in valuable group exercises in de-escalation and active listening and review and refresh their skills in realistic scenario role play exercises.

Participants of this voluntary, 40-hour training program, receive intensive training on recognizing and addressing individuals in the community who have a mental illness or other behavioral health crisis. The CIT training program is an in depth, specialized course for officers with at least one year experience. The five-day course includes presentations by behavioral health specialists, experienced field officers and representatives from regional service providers. Officers will receive training in topics such as mental illness/signs and symptoms, co-occurring disorders, child and adolescent issues, medical conditions and psychotropic medications, and law enforcement response and legal issues. They will also learn advanced communication and de-escalation techniques, partake in valuable exercises, have a unique opportunity to participate in discussions with individuals who have a mental illness and or their family members and given an opportunity to exercise their skills in realistic scenario role plays.

Participants of this voluntary, 40 hour training program, receive intensive training on recognizing and addressing individuals in the correctional setting who have a mental illness or other behavioral health crisis. As this course is specially tailored for correctional officers responding to an inmate in mental health crisis, the CIT-C course may only be attended by certified county corrections officers. The five day course incudes presentations by behavioral health specialists, experienced CIT officers and representatives from regional service providers. The correctional officers will receive training in topics such as mental illness/signs and symptoms, co-occurring disorders, medical conditions that can mimic mental illness and psychotropic medications, child and adolescent issues and correctional officer response and legal issues. They will also learn advanced communication and de-escalation techniques, partake in valuable exercises, have a unique opportunity to participate in discussions with individuals who have a mental illness and or their family members and given an opportunity to exercise their skills in realistic scenario role plays.

As emergency dispatchers are a critical link in the CIT program, this 8 hour course will introduce and familiarize attendees with the CIT training program. Call takers/911 operators will gain knowledge in how to recognize a behavioral crisis call and the appropriate questions to ask and relay to the responding CIT officer.

This presentation is designed to assist law enforcement professionals by the development of behavioral strategies to inoculate against loss of idealist and inappropriate behavior patterns. It will review the short and long term effect on law enforcement officers on both the personal and professional aspects of their lives. The course will discuss how the initial enthusiasm and desire to professionally contribute can be transformed into negative cynicism, social distrust and hostility to the world at large that significantly impacts the professionals work performance, decision-making and ultimately over-all quality of life. The course will also review the impact on the children of law enforcement families in terms of school functioning and health. The goal of the course is to have the law enforcement professional review the potential impact the career causes in the personal life and to develop strategies for overall emotional survival.

Law enforcement officers have an important role to play in their interactions with community members. This includes responding to incidents with individuals who are suffering from mental health issues. This 8 hour course, developed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board, is meant to provide law enforcement officers with an awareness of mental health issues including a history of the mental health systems, types of mental illness including signs and symptoms, common treatments and medications. In keeping in line with the specialty CIT training course, this course, also focuses on potential interactions law enforcement officers have on a regular basis with these individuals, their families and service providers including de-escalating a potential crisis situation.

In the last four decades, the number of individuals with mental illness living in a community setting has risen drastically, resulting in increased contacts with law enforcement. Agencies across the country have responded by developing new protocols, hiring social workers, and implementing special response teams. This course is designed to increase officer awareness of mental health disorders and provide effective intervention techniques for handling mental health crisis situations. This training will benefit all levels of public safety, including police officers, corrections officers, probation officers, EMTs and telecommunicators. Topics include: • History and Background • National Perspectives • Types and Symptoms of Mental Illness • Medications and Co-occurring Disorders • Treatment for Mental Illness • Suicide Assessment and Response • Police Intervention Models • De-Escalation Strategies • Violence and Mental Illness • Legal Issues • HIPPA • Emergency Petitions

While the legislative requirements for police training in the subjects of mental health and de-escalation have skyrocketed in recent years, a critical element has been forgotten. Non-sworn public safety staff and emergency dispatchers have fallen behind in what are arguably the most important skills they may need. Ever on the front line of these emergencies, and most often the first point of contact, these vital pieces of the puzzle need to be considered for the critical role they play. This 8-hour training is specifically designed for 911 dispatchers, telecommunicators, 911 call takers, and any non-sworn staff required to interact with the public. We will cover the basics of identifying someone in a mental health crisis, de-escalation techniques, and crisis negotiation principles. These techniques are mandatory for those interacting with the public, and are applicable in person and over the phone. Also covered are legal requirements and mandates imposed on emergency call centers, focusing on Standard of Care and the most current legal findings. Of equal or greater concern is the lack of support and information on debriefing traumatic incidents and self-care. Developing current policies and recognizing the need for training and recognition stress the importance of these, and is paramount in helping our non-sworn staff be healthy and successful. At the end of this course, students should have a working knowledge of basic negotiation principles and practice, recognizing mental illness, crisis management, de-escalation techniques and practice, self-care and health options, legal requirements (including ADA regulations), and best practice for non-sworn interaction with the public.

The 1-day course has been designed to provide students with the tools needed to recognize and identify the roles and responsibilities of a Mental Health Resilience Officer, response to stress, understand mental health programs, peer to peer mental health support, create or enhance an agency mental wellness program.

This course will provide fact-based information and debunk the numerous nutrition, health and wellness "fads" that exist. The course will empower attendees with science-based information to make positive changes to their nutrition, fitness, and overall health. Attendees will leave this training session with the knowledge and resources to have better informed conversations with their personal physicians and ultimately become the best advocates for their own health optimization. This course is designed for administrators/supervisors as well as front line staff. This program is interactive and will take a commonsense approach to explaining the subject of health, wellness, and fitness. The training will cover in detail - not vague suggestive terms - how to build a successful wellness/fitness program for individuals as well as organizations.

Peer Support is a non-clinical process of listening, encouraging, sharing knowledge and skills, and providing assistance to peers in order to help them effectively deal with the challenges of stress and trauma as they experience them through their work and their life. Peer Supporters are individuals who share common experiences and/or challenges with the people they are helping. Peer Supporters have the desire and enthusiasm to help their peers work through the emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual challenges they face as a result of the stress and trauma they have experienced through their jobs and life in general. This 3-day Peer Support Training class will introduce the student to the process of peer support and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide emotional support and practical guidance to other 1st responders who are in need of assistance. The course consists of a combination of classroom lecture and practical reality-based training scenarios in which the student will participate in listening exercises as well as mock one-on-one peer support sessions. The student will apply the knowledge and skills they learn during the classroom portion of the training in scenarios where they will alternately play the role of peer supporter and peer supportee.

This 2-day class will increase the resiliency of your officers while equipping them to train and respond to their fellow officers. A resilient, pro-active department focused on mental fitness increases performance, morale, retention, and recruitment.

This 4-hour training focuses on understanding the unique changes that have been made to the jail standards that affect pregnant inmates. This training will address how to interact with pregnant inmates during their incarceration and during the time of their birth. Information will be provided as to the medical, emotional, and nutritional needs of the pregnant inmate.

This engaging one-day course has been designed to introduce and enhance participant skills with regard to coping with the trauma and experiences associated service in law enforcement. The course will educate attendees in techniques for increasing and practicing resilience to improve officer wellness both professionally and personally.

COMING SOON

This 8-hour course focuses on understanding the increasing phenomenon of inmate suicide and the safeguards that are required to decrease this issue. Participants will be provided information regarding the reasons for suicide and how the correctional officer can intervene. The training will also focus on the increase of mentally ill citizens that are incarcerated in county jails. Participants will be presented the major categories of Mental Illnesses as prescribed in the DSM-V. Intervention suggestions will also be provided.

Because officers have to protect their own safety, as well as the safety of those around them, they only have a small amount of time in which to establish a communication mode that minimizes the risk of violence. Agitated, not-yet-violent individuals can often be directed away from violence through the proper use of communication skills. These techniques, like effective physical defensive tactics, are both simple and broad-based. Additionally, the verbal de-escalation techniques are geared to “set up” those being controlled so that physical control techniques are enhanced, whenever they are necessary. Finally, successful verbal de-escalation of agitated individuals in public view will increase respect for law enforcement among the general population. Such respect can contribute to future officer safety.

Across the United States, police departments spend countless hours training officers on the use of force involving simple wrist locks and pressure points; chemical agents and physical strikes; and progressing to impact weapons and firearms. While this type of training is critical for all law enforcement officers, agencies must provide proper “Tactical De-Escalation Techniques” to officers as well. Regardless of an agency or officer’s individual views of de-escalation tactics, it MUST be implemented into every police department’s training program. Many officers believe that the use of de-escalation techniques will jeopardize their safety and place them at a tactical disadvantage. But the proper use of de-escalation has the complete opposite effect. Statistics and studies show that it increases officer safety and places the officer in a more advantageous tactical position. This one-day course will provide officers with the necessary tools to properly de-escalate a situation while maintaining a tactical mindset. Officers will learn effective techniques for communicating under stress without escalating a situation. Instruction will also focus on field contacts with emotionally disturbed persons and mentally ill subjects. Officers will learn about key mental health issues relevant to street encounters, as well as specific de-escalation tactics for this special population. Practical, classroom-based scenarios will be presented to demonstrate these concepts.

BULLETPROOF MIND is a presentation in which Lt. Col. Grossman presents a model for action that ensures professionals can train for and overcome the unique mental stressors of possible violence. Find out what to expect when your heart rate rises and blood drains from your face, and how to avoid it. A cornerstone for professional training if you might come into contact with inter-personal violence. Knowing what strange and wonderful things might happen to your body in these stressful situations is the first step to making the correct decision in the heat of the moment...and after.

The focus of this course is empowering officers with verbal techniques for effective de-escalation to decrease or eliminate conflict and/or potential violence. Verbal Judo is the mastery of communication by redirecting behavior with words. Verbal Judo De-escalation is the "gentle way" to use words to gain compliance. Approximately 7.5 hours of this course is dedicated to this topic. Part of being able to deliver proper de-escalation techniques is having control over your own emotions. This course talks about the stages of burnout (Recognizing Signs and Symptoms of Work-Related Cumulative Stress) and how to address it (Job Related Stress Management Techniques). Approximately 30 minutes of this course covers this topic.

This course uses tactical breath work, physical drills, and cognitive behavioral therapy resulting in optimal functioning of the entire psychophysiological system. This includes increasing mental toughness, enhancing tactical skills, preventing injury, self-de-escalation, regulating the nervous system and more.