News & Updates
Frequently Asked Questions
CIT International Michigan provides several primary services. We provide capacity building by helping you put systems in place to prepare for bringing a CITI Program to your community. We support your community with technical assistance through the team building process and implementation of your CITI program. We provide direction and advocacy for your program by helping your team work through system barriers and fight for high quality responses to, and resources for behavioral health crisis across the state of Michigan.
If you have a question on whether CIT International, Michigan can help your program, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@citimichigan.org! We may have policies, sample projects, or be able to connect you with someone who can provide your team with assistance.
Although our main office is located in Lansing, we service the entire state of Michigan. We are available to meet in person and/or virtually, depending on the needs of your community. If you are interested in meeting with us to learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out to info@citimichigan.org!
The team (the “T” in CITI) is your steering committee. This is made up of local stakeholders in law enforcement, the mental health provider community, advocates with lived experience impacted by mental illness. They meet regularly to improve your community’s response to mental health crisis and to host training for law enforcement.
CITI Steering Committees are the heart of a CITI program. These committees bring together law enforcement, mental health professionals, and advocates to collaboratively guide the development and implementation of CITI in the community. A strong first step is to convene your key stakeholders-such as a local law enforcement executive, a mental health provider, and a NAMI representative or individuals with lived experience-to begin building relationships, identify shared goals, and lay the groundwork for a formal and broader steering committee.
This committee becomes the collaborative body that oversees the CITI program, improving crisis response protocols, addressing gaps in the system, helping to shape training, and ensures the program is sustainable and reflective of local needs. It’s not about launching training-it's about building a lasting partnership.
For a detailed roadmap to help your community get started, we recommend using the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs: A Best Practice Guide for Transforming Community Responses to Mental Health Crises (linked here), which outlines essential steps and offers practical tools for launching and sustaining a CITI program. Also see additional resources on our website.
Call for Presentations are typically launched 4-6 months prior to the date of the conference. If you would like to subscribe to our emails and/or have any idea you would like to share with us, don’t hesitate to reach out to info@citimichigan.org.
The biggest investment in developing a CITI program is time. Establishing a successful program requires that Steering Committee members commit the time to meet regularly and collaboratively to build the core elements of the initiative.
Most CITI programs are run by agencies that volunteer to be a part of the Team. Designating a CITI coordinator to help manage the program can be a full-time, part-time, or a volunteer basis. The staffing of the CITI coordinator role depends on the funding available, and the priorities set by the Steering Committee.
Ultimately, the costs of a CITI program vary by community. The structure and scope of your program should reflect your local needs, resources, and commitment. With thoughtful planning and shared ownership, many communities have successfully launched CITI programs with minimal financial resources.