- What is CITI Michigan
CITI Michigan IS MORE THAN JUST TRAINING...it's a community program.
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program is a community partnership of law enforcement, mental health and addiction professionals, individuals who live with mental illness and/or addiction disorders, their families, and other partners to improve community responses to mental health crises. While CIT programs are known for CIT-trained officers, successful programs also focus on improving the crisis response system, advocating for needed services, and strengthening partnerships across the community.
CIT is a program that provides the foundation necessary to promote community and statewide solutions to assist individuals with a mental illness and/or addictions. The CIT Model reduces both stigma and the need for further involvement with the criminal justice system. CIT provides a forum for effective problem solving regarding the interaction between the criminal justice and mental health care system and creates the context for sustainable change.
Research shows that communities that prescribe to the CIT Program model, have higher success rates in resolving serious crisis situations.
Basic Goals:
The CIT Program, based on the “Memphis Model,” has been spreading across the U.S. and abroad since 1988. A sound CIT program based on the Best Practice Guide will help strengthen your community in working together to help people who live with mental illness and/or addictions who are in crisis, it will also improve your community mental health system, save lives and bring hope and recovery to those in need. A strong CIT Program (and not just training) will sustain for years to come.
If you are interested in technical assistance for starting or improving your CIT Program please contact us at info@citimichigan.org.
To learn more about CIT International, check out their website linked here.
Who is CITI Michigan?
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International, Michigan is a state office focused on promoting and supporting CIT Programs across the state of Michigan.
Our Mission
CIT International, Michigan’s mission is to promote community collaboration by applying the CIT International Model at the local, regional, and statewide levels. We improve and sustain more effective interactions between law enforcement, mental health professionals, individuals with mental illness, their families, and the broader community.
Our Vision
CIT International, Michigan envisions a state where every community is equipped to effectively and compassionately respond to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, ensuring the safety and well-being of all.
Our Values
Advocacy
At CIT International, Michigan, advocacy is our promise to stand up, speak out, and take action for individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorders, and promote more effective crisis intervention systems across Michigan. Through education, outreach, and systemic change, we work to break down stigma, influence policy, and build a more just and compassionate response to crisis. Advocacy is not just what we do—it’s who we are.
Collaboration
We believe that meaningful change happens when diverse voices come together with mutual respect and a shared goal. By fostering open communication and strong partnerships across law enforcement, mental health, advocacy, and community networks, we build solutions that are smarter, stronger, and more sustainable—for everyone.
Compassion
Compassion is the foundation of our work and the lens through which we see every individual in crisis. We respond with empathy, dignity, and respect, recognizing humanity in every situation. By leading with compassion, we build trust, reduce harm, and create space for healing and hope.
Excellence
Excellence means holding ourselves to the highest standards to ensure every person in crisis receives the compassionate, competent care they deserve. We are committed to ongoing learning, collaboration, and innovation that strengthen our practices and deepen our impact. In everything we do, we strive to serve with integrity, skill, and heart.
Model Fidelity
Model fidelity is our commitment to preserving the core principles that make CITI Programs effective. We honor the evidence-based structure of the CITI model, ensuring collaboration between law enforcement, behavioral health systems, and community advocates. By staying true to the model, we protect its purpose, strengthen outcomes, and remain accountable to the people we serve.
Our Services:
We empower communities to build partnerships between law enforcement, mental health professionals, and individuals with lived experience, to improve their crisis response systems. The services we offer include:
Capacity Building
We help you put systems in place to prepare for bringing a CITI Program to your community.
Technical Assistance
We support your community through the certification process and implementation of your CITI Program.
Advocacy
We fight for high quality response to and treatment of behavioral health crises across the entire state of Michigan.
Reach out to us today to discuss how we can help your community start, grow, and/or sustain your CITI Program!
Meet The Team
- Executive Director
Kevin Fischer
Kevin Fischer is the Executive Director Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International, Michigan and NAMI Michigan. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. A retired businessman, Kevin joined NAMI as a volunteer in 2011 after his oldest son Dominique was diagnosed with a mental illness in late 2007 and was lost to suicide in 2010. After serving on the NAMI Michigan Board of Directors as the NAMIWalks Chairperson for two years, and as Board Vice-President for two years, Kevin accepted the role of Executive Director in 2014.
A mental health and suicide prevention advocate, Kevin is the Founder and Director of The Dominique Fischer Memorial Foundation and CEO of EVERYBODY -VS- STIGMA.LLC, Past-President of Crisis Intervention Team International (CITI), a member of Governor Whitmer’s Suicide Prevention Commission, the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) Mental Health Diversion Council and Behavioral Health Advisory Council (BHAC), Co-Executive Producer of the Mind Matters with Dr. Michele Show. Kevin is a Certified CIT Coordinator and Trainer.
- Executive Assistant
Sonya Fischer
Sonya Fischer is a Certified CIT International Coordinator and Trainer. Sonya concurrently serves as the Executive Assistant of CITI Michigan and NAMI Michigan. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. After retiring from her 28 year career in Transportation Logistics, Sonya became a mental health advocate in 2010 after losing a close loved one to suicide. She was a NAMI Michigan volunteer for 10 years prior to joining as a full-time employee in 2024. As part of her efforts to remove barriers to mental health treatment, she is also Vice-President at EVERYBODY -VS- STIGMA, LLC. Her desire to improve the lives of individuals living with mental illness and their families is the driving force in the work that she does daily.
- Director of Programs
April Switala
April Switala is a dedicated public servant whose career spans both military and law enforcement. April began her journey with the Michigan Army National Guard attending basic training and military police school at Fort McClellan, Alabama. She was honorably discharged in 2003 and simultaneously perused her education at Eastern Michigan University, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Psychology.
Driven by a passion for service, April embarked on a 26-year career with the Bloomfield Township Police Department, where she held numerous roles and most recently served as a shift supervisor patrol sergeant on road patrol.
A trailblazer in mental health advocacy within law enforcement, April played a pivotal role in launching Oakland County’s first co-response crisis outreach team called CoRe, which began with one co-responder and has grown to include 10 co-responders across 15 municipalities. As her department’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator and a trained CIT Facilitator with the Oakland Community Health Network team, she has trained countless police officers in de-escalation techniques and mental health response. April is a Certified CIT Coordinator and Trainer and has written numerous policies which include mental health, crisis response, and peer support. As a current member of the CIT Oakland Advisory Council she collaborates with community partners to ensure resources align with best practices. April was just awarded the Oakland County CIT Law Enforcement Executive of the Year for 2025.
- Director of Community Engagement and Operations
Aubrey Gilliland, LMSW
Aubrey Gilliland is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with a macro designation and currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement and Operations for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International, Michigan. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Health Promotion from Michigan State University and her Master of Social Work from Wayne State University.
Aubrey began her career as a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) instructor, training hundreds of community members and professionals across various fields while raising awareness about youth mental health and suicide prevention. With over 10 years of experience in higher education and community mental health, she has held roles centered on research and evaluation, as well as community engagement and education. Aubrey is a Certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator and is dedicated to educating the community and reducing the stigma associated with mental health. Her passion lies in promoting health equity and expanding access to care for youth, a commitment that fuels both her personal and professional endeavors.