Yolanda Cruz is an advocate for inclusivity in law enforcement with over 20 years of experience. Inspired by her sibling’s disabilities, she advances disability awareness and response training as a Police Academy Instructor for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). She also serves on the Board of Directors for CIT International, supporting Crisis Intervention Team initiatives.

Joyce recently retired after more than 25 years as a municipal court judge in Fairfield, where she presided over certified mental health and drug court dockets. In 2000, she developed an innovative mental health docket that included a representative from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at weekly hearings to support individuals with mental health or substance use disorders and their families involved in the justice system. She has promoted specialized dockets nationwide through various leadership roles. Joyce is the Immediate Past President of both the NAMI National and NAMI Ohio Boards of Directors. She is also Past Chair of the Ohio Judicial Conference and a former member of the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Special Dockets, the Ohio Judicial College, and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation. She currently serves on the Butler County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board. Joyce earned her B.A. from Case Western Reserve University and her J.D. from its School of Law.

Paul Galdys has served as a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) instructor for 19 years, leading trainings across Maricopa County, Arizona, and supporting programs in rural Arizona and Ohio. Since joining RI International in 2017, he has advanced crisis system innovation nationwide. Previously, Paul served as an Assistant Director at Arizona Medicaid, helping oversee $12 billion in annual healthcare services. He was the lead author of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care, published in 2020, and led development of the Crisis Resource Need Calculator, now used nationally to design crisis systems. Paul is deeply committed to strengthening partnerships between behavioral health and law enforcement. His work supports comprehensive CIT systems of care and promotes “no-wrong-door” access through dedicated first responder pathways, reflected in RI International’s crisis operations across nine states.

Roy Eckerdt began his career in the United States Air Force in 1987 after graduating from the USAF Police Academy. He served both stateside and in Germany in leadership roles, including fire team leader, squad leader, and squadron command staff member. In 1997, Roy transitioned to civilian law enforcement, working in detention and patrol across several agencies before settling in Powell in 2003. He was appointed Chief of Police in 2011 and continues to serve in that role. Active in his community, Roy holds board positions with the County Prevention Organization, the County Mental Health Provider, and the Domestic Violence Coalition. He is also a past President of the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police. Roy has been involved with Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) efforts since their introduction to Powell in 2008 and remains a strong advocate for expanding CIT programs throughout Wyoming.

Angela serves as the Senior Police Social Worker with the Township of Hampton Police Department. Angela began her work with the department as in intern in August 2020. She went on to earn her Master of Social Work degree from Slippery Rock University, where she specalized in crisis intervention and forensic social work. She holds certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Advanced National Forensic Social, and is certified in Crisis Intervention (CIT) in Allegheny County. With over 13 years of experience in the substance use and mental health fields, Angela brings a wealth of clinical and community-based expertise to her role. She works collaboratively with the Police Department and various municipal departments and partner agencies to provide social services, therapeutic intervention, and ongoing support. Her work is dedicated to enhancing functioning, promoting well-being, and improving the quality of life for residents throughout Hampton Township.

Nate graduated from Hampton High School and earned an Associate of Science degree from Mercyhurst University in 2006 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seton Hill University in 2009. He graduated from the Allegheny County Police Academy in 2010 and began his law enforcement career with Brackenridge Borough Police Department and West Deer Township Police Department before joining Hampton Township Police Department in 2014, where he currently serves. Nate is a certified SFST Instructor and Field Training Officer, holds certification in FBI Hostage and Crisis Negotiations, serves on the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Project Lifesaver SRT Team, and is CIT certified through Allegheny County Crisis Intervention Team Program.

Thomas Adams is a Detective with the Hampton Township Police Department and a Squad Leader with the North Hills Special Response Team. With over a decade of law enforcement experience, he previously served as a Detective with the Port Authority of Allegheny County Police. His background includes extensive operational and investigative work, along with advanced training in crisis intervention, SWAT operations, intelligence coordination, and active threat response. Detective Adams is a certified instructor in multiple disciplines, including firearms, less-lethal tactics, and active shooter response. He is Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained and recognized for his commitment to safely managing behavioral health crises, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and partnership with social services. He is known for his receptiveness to multidisciplinary approaches that improve outcomes for individuals in crisis. He has also been formally recognized by the United States Marshals Service for his role in apprehending a fugitive wanted in connection with a child homicide.

Michael T. Compton, M.D., M.P.H. is Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University and a Research Psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Compton has maintained continuous NIMH research funding for 20 years, conducting research on first-episode psychosis, the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of collaboration between law enforcement and mental health, and community-based mental health services. His research has led to more than 275 publications. His primary area of research relates to criminal justice over-involvement among individuals with serious mental illnesses, most usually for minor misdemeanor charges. He is also very interested in incorporating public health and prevention into psychiatry, one means of which is by addressing the social determinants of health. His books include a manual for police officers responding to persons with mental illnesses, a guide for patients with first-episode psychosis and their family members, a textbook on the complex connection between marijuana and schizophrenia, and seven American Psychiatric Association books, including The Social Determinants of Mental Health (2015) and Entangled: How People with Serious Mental Illness Get Caught in Misdemeanor Systems (2025).

Professor, Wayne State University School of Social Work. Dr. Watson is a mental health services researcher focused on people with serious mental illnesses who come in contact with the criminal legal system. She has conducted extensive research on police encounters with persons with mental illnesses and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model. Her current work examines models to reduce or eliminate the role of law enforcement in mental health crisis response. Her direct practice experience includes working as a probation officer serving clients with serious mental illnesses and as a Forensic Social Worker on death penalty cases.

Jazmin Porter is Founder & CEO of We Create The Peace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering positive relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. She also leads P.E.A.C.E. Program, providing professional officer wellness and continuing education training for law enforcement agencies. She is a Psychology graduate of the University of North Texas and is recognized by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) for her continuing education programs. Jazmin is a certified yoga, meditation, and somatic wellness facilitator with over 8 years of experience guiding retreats, workshops, and in-service wellness programs for officers and first responders. Through her work, she has helped officers build resilience, improve emotional regulation, enhance decision-making under stress, and strengthen crisis response outcomes. Her innovative approach combines neuroscience, mindfulness, and community engagement to support officer wellness, effective de-escalation skills, and healthy connections with youth and community members. In recognition of her contributions to improving relationships between law enforcement and the public, she has received a mayoral proclamation. Jazmin’s work demonstrates the practical application of evidence-informed wellness strategies in policing, providing officers with tools to maintain personal well-being while positively impacting community safety. Her programs are designed to be sustainable, measurable, and transformative.

Kelly Miller is an experienced advocate and community leader with a professional background in crisis response, trauma-informed care, and cross-system collaboration. She currently serves as an advocate for victims of violence at ASPEN and manages the Park County BRIDGE Mobile Crisis Response Team in Livingston, Montana, where she leads rural crisis system development in partnership with law enforcement, EMS, fire, dispatch, behavioral health, and detention. Kelly previously served as a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) during her 13 year enlistment with the Montana Army National Guard, providing confidential victim advocacy and advising leadership on trauma response and prevention. She has worked closely with law enforcement throughout her career, including serving as a 911 Emergency Dispatcher for the City of Billings and as a Detention Officer for the Park County Sheriff’s Department. With extensive experience supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes, Kelly specializes in trauma-informed systems design, responder wellness, and training focused on secondary and vicarious trauma. She is dedicated to building resilient rural communities through strategic leadership, collaborative partnerships, and direct support for individuals in crisis.

Terri Markham is the co-founder and executive director of Uprising, a Wyoming-based organization focused on preventing human trafficking and exploitation through youth-centered education and community collaboration. Her work emphasizes the intersection of youth mental health, suicide risk, and exploitation, with a strong focus on trauma-informed communication and early identification during crisis encounters. Terri is a certified trainer in nationally recognized youth prevention curricula and the developer of Uprising’s Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), which equips youth and adults with practical strategies that support safety, disclosure, and resilience. She is also a founding leader of NAMI Sheridan Wyoming, where she served as the chapter’s first board chair and currently serves as vice chair, contributing a mental health–informed perspective to crisis prevention and community response. Her work regularly involves collaboration with law enforcement, behavioral health professionals, educators, and advocates to strengthen coordinated responses to youth in crisis.

Erin O’Donnell has officially been with the Philadelphia Police Department as their Wellness Manager/CIT Coordinator since 2024. Prior to that, she was their CIT Coordinator through the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities since 2019. In her role as the Wellness Manager and certified CIT Coordinator, Erin coordinates Crisis Intervention Training, Veteran Response Training (which started in October of 2024), assists with Peer Support and other special projects within the Philadelphia Police Department. During her time as the CIT Coordinator, Erin has trained approx. 2000 officers in CIT and 700 dispatchers. In 2025, Erin was a recipient of the Commissioner’s Appreciation Award for her work within Philly PD. Erin is also the recipient of the Pennsylvania 2025 CIT Coordinator of the Year Award. Erin received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015 with a child welfare and well being concentration. She also graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 2013 with her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Sociology.

Gregory D. Wright Jr., born and raised in North Philadelphia, is a proud graduate of Girard College. He later graduated from Peirce College with a degree in Criminal Justice and went on to earn his MBA from Eastern University. Mr. Wright’s professional career reflects a lifelong commitment to service. His experience spans law enforcement, military service, human resources, and public leadership. He served for 14 years in the Pennsylvania National Guard, retiring at the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6). During his military career, he deployed to the Middle East during the COVID-19 pandemic and earned several honors including the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. In 2025, Gregory Wright assumed leadership as Director of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Veterans Affairs. In this role, he is responsible for strengthening the connection between the City of Philadelphia and the veteran community by expanding access to resources, increasing outreach, and ensuring that veterans and their families receive the support they have earned through their service.

Dennis Brian Basmajian II is a Police Major with the Corporal Michale J. Crezcenz VA Medical Center Police Department in Philadelphia PA. Currently holding the position of Compliance Officer, Major Basmajian ensures Veterans Affairs Police are compliant with all policies, regulation, directives and best practices, ensuring the department maintains its professional accreditation. Having joined the VA Police in 2009, Major Basmajian has held numerous positions in the department such as Patrol Sergeant, Instructor (Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Active Threat Response), Training Officer, taught medical center staff in safety and crisis management, and liaised between clinical staff and police. Major Basmajian received his Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice, Concentrating in Criminology, from University of Southern New Hampshire in 2006 with a with his thesis paper focused on Veterans, Mental Health and Criminal Justice system. Major Basmajian has been a major proponent in crisis intervention and officer mental health safety, providing information to several CIT programs in the Greater Delaware Valley area, instrumental in the development, implementation, and coordination of four (4) Veteran Response Teams with several more in development.

Matthew Allen is a graduate of Harry S Truman High School class of 2007, the same year he enlisted in the United States Navy. After 4 Years of Active Duty, he transitioned to the Navy Reserves in 2011. In 2013 he was Hired by the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office where he spent 10 years. Matt was assigned to various positions throughout his tenure with the Sheriff’s Office. In 2019 he mobilized with DEVGRU and spent time in Somalia. He was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in September 2023. He became the Director of Veteran Affairs for Bucks County in April of 2023 where he started the Bucks County Veteran Response team in June 2024. He is married to Allison Allen and has two kids, Jack (5 Years Old) and Liam (3 year old).

Dan Roman, LMSW, NYCPS, is a Licensed Master Social Worker and New York Certified Peer Specialist who joined People USA in March 2021 as a clinician at the world’s first peer-run Crisis Stabilization Center. His dedication to providing compassionate, timely, and person-centered crisis responses quickly distinguished him as a leader within the organization. He now serves as Program and Training Manager, where he oversees program operations, staff development, and crisis response training initiatives. In addition to his leadership role, Dan is a facilitator of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) throughout Dutchess County, having trained more than 100 law enforcement officers in the past year alone. His work focuses on equipping officers with practical skills grounded in trauma-informed care, de-escalation strategies, and recovery-oriented engagement to improve outcomes for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. Dan is supporting the continuation of CIT initiatives in Dutchess County by piloting the development of a Crisis Intervention Training Implementation in a county forensic jail system. A passionate advocate for peer integration and stigma reduction, Dan is committed to strengthening cross-system collaboration and advancing compassionate crisis systems. Outside of his professional roles, he is an accomplished musician who thoughtfully incorporates music into his work.

Tammy Robson, LCSW, NYCPS-P, serves as Assistant Vice President of Crisis Services at People USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to innovative crisis response and wellness services. Since joining the organization in 2021 as Director of the Dutchess County Stabilization Center, the first peer-run center of its kind, Tammy has advanced into executive leadership overseeing a broad continuum of crisis programs across multiple counties. Her work includes the successful development and operation of two licensed peer-run crisis stabilization centers in New York State, oversight of Mobile Crisis Response Teams serving Westchester and Putnam counties, and leadership of forensic diversion teams that strengthen pathways away from hospitalization and justice system involvement. Tammy is supporting the continuation of CIT initiatives in Dutchess County by piloting the development of a Crisis Intervention Training Implementation in a county forensic jail system. With more than 15 years of leadership experience, Tammy is a recognized subject matter expert in peer-integrated crisis systems. She contributed to the development of a Crisis Specialization Track for Peer Specialists through the New York Academy of Peer Services and authored a training module for Pennsylvania’s Crisis Intervention Certification Program through a collaboration between the Office of Mental Health and Substance Use Services and Temple University. Tammy is deeply committed to advancing compassionate, recovery-oriented crisis care and strengthening system-wide diversion strategies that expand access, reduce reliance on emergency and correctional systems, and promote meaningful recovery.

Kailee Evans is a Correctional Counselor at Snake River Correctional Institution with the Oregon Department of Corrections and is the Team Lead of the Peer Support Team/CISM for 1,000 staff members. She has been involved with High Desert CIT in Malheur County for 10 years and is the CIT Coordinator. She is passionate about connecting local and rural community resources, law enforcement, mental health providers and more together to best serve the needs of the people. She also spends a lot of time encouraging first responders to promote cultures of mental health and self-care. She fully believes CIT helps make communities stronger and is committed to being a resource and helping other CIT Programs be successful.

Ridg Medford served as a police officer for over 16 years. He served his entire law enforcement career with the Ontario Police Department in Ontario, Oregon, and held his advanced police certification through the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). During his time with the Police Department, he served in many roles, including patrol officer, school resource officer, motor officer, and detective. He has also served as the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) coordinator for Malheur County, Oregon. Ridg currently serves as a behavioral health and justice specialist for the Oregon Center on Behavioral Health and Justice Integration (OCBHJI), which is a forensic division under Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Inc. (GOBHI). OCBHJI partners with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) to create the Oregon CIT Center of Excellence (CITCOE). CITCOE provides technical assistance and support to all CIT programs in the state of Oregon. Ridg is currently first vice presidnet on the CIT International Board of Directors.

Jennifer Fukuda graduated from Hamline University with her BA and is currently pursuing her master’s at Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Jennifer was a National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellow and focused her fellowship project on improving care for people impacted by substance use disorder and co-occurring disorders in marginalized communities through harm reduction strategies. Jennifer works at the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota in Addiction and Recovery Services and as a Shelter Advocate at an emergency overnight shelter in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has served people experiencing homelessness for over a decade. Jennifer believes a person-centered approach benefits everyone she supports and focuses on connection and dignity while viewing recovery and mental health through a harm reduction lens.

Cassie Villegas oversees Contact Center Operations and Clinical Services in Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma including crisis, mobile crisis dispatch, peer support, follow up services and law enforcement collaboration. She works with departments to improve efficiency and clinical quality with a focus on building cohesive, high-performing teams, and ensuring the contact center meets accreditation and licensure standards. Cassie provides oversight of data analysis and report development in collaboration with the business intelligence and quality teams. She previously held two other positions at Solari, first as a Compliance Officer and later as a Privacy Officer. Cassie has been certified in Health Care Compliance (CHC) through the Health Care Compliance Association since 2018, and she is a Licensed Associate Counselor. She has worked in the behavioral health field in various capacities including case management, intake assessment, counseling services, and quality and compliance over the last 21 years. Cassie earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona and her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a forensic specialty from Walden University.

Jess oversees operations and clinical services of the Arizona Contact Center at Solari which includes the Statewide Crisis Line, 988 and sub-networks, Law Enforcement Collaboration, as well as out of state operations of Mobile Team Crisis Dispatch. She previously served in several managerial positions with Solari, beginning in 2022, after launching the organization’s statewide 988 contract in Oklahoma, the company’s first outside of Arizona. She has since taken an innovative approach to system and program management, working closely with Solari’s technology, program, and clinical teams to strategize implementation, and outcome evaluation, while maintaining a departmental culture of compassion, effort, and ownership. Jess earned her Master of Arts in Social Work Advanced Standing from Northern Arizona University and has been licensed since 2020. Before joining Solari, she worked in community mental health through Serious Mental Illness adult case management, Intensive Outpatient Programs, direct care with high-needs youth/adolescents, as well as family and victim advocacy with local law enforcement.

Rain is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in crisis assessment and intervention. In her current role at Solari Crisis and Human Services, Rain oversees the daily operations and clinical services of the Colorado Statewide and 988 Crisis Lines. She possesses clinical expertise in direct intervention and coordinating care across various levels of crisis services in Colorado, including the crisis support lines, crisis walk-in centers, crisis stabilization units, intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization programs, and emergency room settings. Rain has held both direct care and leadership roles within the Colorado crisis system, where she has actively contributed to the development and implementation of innovative crisis programs aimed at enhancing care delivery and improving outcomes for individuals in crisis. Rain earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Binghamton University in New York. She then completed her Master of Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health along with a specialized certificate in Animal Assisted Social Work from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work.

Sergeant Collin Murray is an academy instructor, CIT coordinator, and CIT instructor with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. In addition, he is an operator, assistant team leader, and crisis negotiator with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office S.W.A.T. Team. He holds a master's degree in Criminology and Justice from Loyola University of New Orleans and is currently a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in the field of Learning Sciences. As an academic, he has conducted and published empirical research on police training, use of force, and de-escalation.

Dr. James Arey is a Licensed Professional Counselor, CIT coordinator, and Commander of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Crisis Negotiation Team. Formerly, he commanded the New Orleans Police Department Crisis Negotiations Team and was an adjunct professor at Loyola University of New Orleans, where he taught forensic psychology and crisis intervention. He holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Florida State University and has published numerous articles in both academic and practitioner journals on topics ranging from crisis intervention training to SWAT responses to mental health crises to stress management strategies for police recruits.

Dr. McLean graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice in 2018 and was named a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Sciences (LEADS) Academic in 2019. Dr. McLean works with law enforcement officers across the country to assess and recommend evidence-based practices for police departments. Dr. McLean's research interests focus on understanding police-community relations and evaluating efforts to reform the police to better reflect community demands of policing. Accordingly, Dr. McLean has conducted research in the areas of police legitimacy, police training, police culture, police use of force, and body-worn cameras.

Sheriff Will Akin of Clay County is a law enforcement executive, educator, and crisis communications specialist with more than two decades of experience across frontline policing, emergency management, and academic instruction. As Clay County’s former Emergency Management Director, he led crisis communications during large- scale disasters. As the office’s Spokesperson from 2013 to 2020, he developed expertise in public trust and transparency under pressure. Sheriff Akin has taught leadership, ethics, management, and crisis communications through the Missouri Police Chiefs Association Command Course and as an Adjunct Instructor at MidAmerica Nazarene University. He currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor in Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety Executive Management Program, as a forthcoming Lecturer at the University of Kansas, and as Faculty at the National Sheriffs’ Institute. He is also a long-standing speaker and instructor for the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association and has delivered keynotes at the Missouri Police Chiefs Annual Conference and the Heartland Tactical Officers’ Association. Sheriff Akin first completed CIT training with the Phoenix Police Department in 2005 and again in 2018 as Law Enforcement Co-Chair of his local CIT Council. That sustained commitment to crisis intervention principles underpins his approach to leadership — and makes him a uniquely credible voice on the intersection of law enforcement and mental health.

Kevin B. Miller is a nationally respected law enforcement commander, keynote speaker, and communication expert whose “Being Heard™” framework equips first responders and leaders nationwide to master crisis response and resilient, high-impact communication. With over 25 years of experience, Kevin has held leadership roles in SWAT, Major Crimes, and Crisis Negotiations. Kevin has delivered thousands of hours of training, consulting, and keynote presentations across the U.S. He hold a Bachelors Degree from Liberty University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Ashley Lunt, BSW, is the Forensic Peer Program Coordinator and CIT Specialist at NAMI Northern Nevada. She leads the development of a jail-based Forensic Peer Recovery Support Program in partnership with local justice and behavioral health agencies and supports the integration of certified peer specialists within crisis response systems, including collaboration with law enforcement mobile outreach teams. Her work focuses on strengthening diversion pathways, enhancing cross-system collaboration, and embedding lived experience within crisis system transformation efforts. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Social Work with an Addiction Treatment minor and is currently pursuing a Master of Justice Management at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Benni serves as a CIT officer with York Regional Police, one of Canada's largest police services, and works as an independent behavioural scientist. His career in crisis intervention started with Germany's federal crisis negotiations team and continued at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Population Health, where he earned his PhD in psychology. Now based in the Greater Toronto Area, he is passionately exploring the cognitive processes that underlie empathy-based rapport-building and decision making in crisis intervention contexts and beyond. His research regularly includes police officers and translates into evidence-based training and peer-reviewed publications. He has also edited a number of corresponding book projects under the SpringerNature umbrellatage. Benni also serves on the Toronto Police Services Board's Mental Health & Addictions Advisory Panel and as the vice-chair of the board of directors for Distress and Crisis Ontario, the province's umbrella organization for suicide prevention and crisis intervention helplines. He is committed to using his unique insights as a police officer, researcher, and community advocate to deepen understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable community members during encounters with the police, both on an individual and systemic level.

Megan Davdson, PhD is a Program Director in the Behavioral Health Division of the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center. In this role, she oversees the Stepping Up Initiative, which is a national initiative focused on supporting counties with their efforts to identify and address the behavioral health needs of people entering local jails. She also leads a portfolio of work focused on strengthening crisis response systems for co-occurring behavioral health needs and stood up a newer work area for CSG centered around the intersection of criminal justice and brain injury. Megan has over 15 years of experience leading complex projects involving stakeholder and community engagement, research and evaluation, and technical assistance at the intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice through which she has supported many jurisdictions with the implementation and evaluation of systemic efforts intended to improve outcomes for individuals involved in those systems. Megan earned her PhD in Public Affairs with a Concentration in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida.

Marianne Halbert is the Program Director at CIT International. She graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Marketing and earned a J.D. from the I.U. School of Law, Indianapolis in 1994. From 1996 to 2010, she was the Mental Health Coordinator for the Marion County (Indiana) Public Defender Agency. In that capacity, she helped develop the first pre-trial mental health diversion program in the United States in 1996. She managed this program for fourteen years. Indianapolis launched its CIT program in 2002 and Marianne served on the CIT Steering Committee and training subcommittee. As the Criminal Justice Director at NAMI Indiana from 2011 to January 2024, Ms. Halbert created and coordinated a statewide CIT program and technical assistance center, facilitated Indiana’s first Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) mapping workshops, and worked to improve public policy regarding issues impacting individuals with mental illness. She now oversees all of CIT International's programs, trainings, certifications, and technical assistance.

Jackie Weaknecht serves as Director of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), where she oversees statewide criminal justice, juvenile justice, law enforcement training, and behavioral health initiatives. In this role, she leads strategic efforts to strengthen cross-system collaboration among law enforcement, courts, service providers, and community stakeholders to enhance public safety and improve outcomes for individuals with behavioral health needs. With 45 years of combined experience in state government and county law enforcement, Jackie has advanced innovative initiatives that bridge public safety and public health systems. She, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Council of State Governments Justice Center, and CIT International, is leading the implementation of a statewide Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Technical Assistance Center, supporting agencies in developing sustainable, evidence-based crisis response models and strengthening community partnerships across the Commonwealth.

Michael Leister currently serves as the Deputy Director for Criminal Justice Improvements within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Office of Justice Programs. In this role, Michael oversees adult criminal justice initiatives related to behavioral health, corrections, courts, crisis response, law enforcement, probation and parole, and reentry. Prior to his current role, Michael served as the State Crisis Intervention Program Manager and Reentry Coordinator at PCCD. Starting in 2010, Michael began his career in Commonwealth service and worked in various roles at the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board focused on building private-public partnerships before joining PCCD in 2019. Michael holds a bachelor’s in telecommunications from the Pennsylvania State University.

Sergeant Jacob King has served with the Cobb County Police Department for twelve years and was previously assigned to the Partnership for Assistance Treatment Health (PATH) Team. He has previously worked as Probation Officer for the State of Georgia, and a Corrections Officer in Arizona, and Nebraska. Sergeant King is a veteran of the United States Army and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha in Criminology with a minor in Political Science. Sergeant King was a member of the Cobb County mental health crisis response unit which he created in July of 2019. Sergeant King has over 3,200 hours of State certified law enforcement training and currently holds certifications as a Field Training Officer, general instructor, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer as well was intermediate and advanced Peace Officer certifications. Additionally, Sergeant King has attended training courses on crisis negotiation, behavioral health threat assessment, and advanced psychology for law enforcement. Sergeant King is currently assigned as a Patrol Supervisor.

Kevin Elmore, MA, LPC, is a Crisis Intervention Behavioral Health Clinician at Highland Rivers Behavioral Health based in Cobb County, Georgia. With over 26 years of experience in the behavioral health field, Kevin specializes in mobile crisis risk assessment, de-escalation, and emergency admission procedures. He is passionate about providing immediate community-based behavioral support with empathy, compassion, and respect. In his free time, he enjoys Florida Gators sports, scuba diving, and international travel. 

Captain James O'Shields is a 25-year veteran of the fire service and works for Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services. He is a Paramedic and is assigned to the EMS Division as the Captain over the CARES (Community Assistance Referral and Education Services) Division in Marietta, GA. He has a BS in psychology and an MBA from Kennesaw State University (KSU). In 2015, he was the recipient of the Dr. Ed Montana Servant Leadership Award. In 2016, he completed the Certified Managerial Coaching (CMC) Program through KSU’s College of Continuing Education, and in 2024, he joined the John Maxwell Certified Coaching Team. He is the lead Chaplain for Cobb Fire, and an adjunct instructor with Cobb County HR as well as Cobb Fire. He coaches and mentors with Cobb Fire, in the KSU EMBA program, and with Cobb County HR supervisory and learning development programs.

Katelyn Goodall is a clinical psychologist in the Community Based Outpatient Clinic with VISN 8 at the Leo C. Chase Jr. (St. Augustine) VA. In this position, Dr. Goodall has been awarded funding through the Office of Suicide Prevention Innovations for expanding the Veteran Response Team curriculum to Corrections populations via the project CoVRT to increase supports for incarcerated Veterans at a greater risk of homelessness and death by suicide. She is also recognized as a selected participant in the All-Employee Innovations programming where she is currently piloting a program aimed at identifying gaps in resources to rural Veterans and agencies serving these Veterans. In her role, Dr. Goodall is also in process of establishing a psychodiagnostic assessment clinic to provide increased access to care and offer internal supports for diagnostically complex presentations. Outside of the VA, Dr. Goodall owns a private practice focused on providing assessment, consultation, and operational support to first responder agencies. Her research interests include issues pertaining to preemployment psychological evaluation, personality assessment, first responder mental health, and threat assessment.

Megan Wade is a clinical psychologist in the Mental Health Clinic and Police Liaison with VISN 10 at the John D. Dingell (Detroit, MI) VA Medical Center. As the VISN police liaison, she engages in crisis and mental health training with VA police departments throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, conducts psychological evaluations for police officers, and aids in police intervention with Veterans who have mental health conditions. She has also collaborated with community law enforcement departments to bridge VA and community resources for Veterans in crisis. Outside of the VA, Dr. Wade works as an embedded police psychologist with multiple local and statewide law enforcement departments and is a uniformed responder with Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. In this role, she has responded to school shootings, line of duty deaths, and mental health crises with the severely mentally ill. She has won the VA Psychology Leadership Special Contribution Award and IACP 40 under 40 Award for her work integrating mental health resources with law enforcement. Her research interests include disaster mental health, trauma and its comorbidities, preventative psychology, mental health crises, and suicidality.

Koren VanderWeele is a Senior Program Manager with Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC)’s Center for Health and Justice (CHJ), where she leads statewide and national efforts to expand first responder deflection and pre-arrest diversion. She provides training and technical assistance to help communities translate vision into action through effective planning and implementation. With a foundation in law enforcement, Koren began her career as a police officer in Roswell, New Mexico, before moving into behavioral health and justice reform. Her career reflects a powerful bridge between the realities of policing and the promise of public health approaches.  She has also served as a Technical Assistance Provider for the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP), led statewide deflection planning in Oregon, and helped develop the PTACC Deflection Fellowship Program. An honors graduate of Western Michigan University, Koren completed a thesis on pre-arrest diversion models for individuals with substance use disorders. A frequent national presenter, she shares her expertise at conferences such as PTACC, APHA, and RecoverCon.

Stephanie Keating is the Multi-Tiered System of Supports Coordinator for the Carson City School District, in Nevada. Stephanie brings 19 years of wisdom in both urban and rural districts, as an educator; building dynamic school/district wide multi-tiered systems; school administration; and most dear to her heart, working with and advocating for one of the most vulnerable populations, our adjudicated youth. She was the 2014 Kristine Nagy-Johnson Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Task Force recipient of the Mary McNine Outstanding Advocate for the Underserved Population. Stephanie brings a wealth of experience and professional education in social, emotional, and behavioral wellness as well as restoration. Stephanie has a Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis and Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno. In addition, she has completed Crisis Intervention Training and is a fully licensed Restorative Practices trainer through the International Institute for Restorative Practices. She has presented at local, state, and national levels, including the International Association of Positive Behavior Supports; keynote speaker for a Social Emotional Learning conference within Washoe County School District; and volunteers with the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice as a national Circle Keeper.

Sean Palamar brings nearly 20 years of dedicated law enforcement experience to his role as a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Carson High School in Carson City, Nevada. Throughout his career with the Carson City Sheriff's Office, he has served in a wide range of specialized assignments, including patrol, jail operations, the Gang Unit, Field Training Officer, K-9 handler, Motors, SWAT, drone operations, and school-based policing. As one of the law enforcement representatives on the District Intervention Assistance Team (DIAT), Sean collaborates closely with educators, mental health professionals, and community partners to provide early intervention and support for at-risk youth. He holds advanced certifications in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and Youth in Crisis response, equipping him to effectively de-escalate complex situations and connect students with critical resources. Sean considers his current assignment as a School Resource Officer his most rewarding role to date. He is deeply committed to building trusting, lasting relationships with students, staff, and families—fostering a safe, supportive school environment where students feel empowered to seek help and thrive. When not on duty, Sean enjoys family time with his wife and two children and actively supports his wife's dance studio in the community.

Michelle Toman is a tireless advocate, trainer, and national leader in suicide prevention, intervention, postvention, and trauma and grief-informed education. For more than 30 years, she’s supported individuals and families navigating grief and complex trauma while advancing legislative and systems change at state and national levels, unanimously passing mandatory annual suicide prevention education for youth in her home state to save lives. The sole survivor of her family as a child after the losses of her parents, Michelle’s lived experience(s) shaped her lifelong commitment to service in grief, growth, and healing. She emerged as a leading voice in suicide prevention after losing her sibling to suicide in 1994, and serves the nation as a long-term, multiple-loss survivor. Serving on multiple state and national foundations and coalitions, she’s a nationally multi-certificated trainer and facilitator, personally delivering thousands of trainings, programs, presentations and bereavement support groups. Her work, compassion and volunteer efforts in communities, schools, organizations and with families have been recognized with honors including West Virginia’s Wonder Women, National Advocate of the Year, and the Fighting for Justice and Power of Performance Changing Lives Award. Michelle is the founder of Brother Up Foundation and the co-founder of Keepers of Life.

Barri Sky Faucett, MA, has dedicated her career serving others through a lifelong commitment to mental and public health. Her work spans prevention, intervention postvention and treatment for those affected by mental health challenges, substance misuse, and suicide. Barri has delivered standardized and personally co-developed training for countless, diversified audiences. Her clinical experience includes providing direct services and leading outpatient and intensive programs. For almost two decades, Mrs. Faucett has served as a statewide director overseeing the implementation of comprehensive suicide prevention, intervention, postvention and mental health services, developing policies, procedures and strategies that strengthen the system-wide best practice and interagency collaboration. Barri has provided technical assistance and consultation services across multiple systems, served on local, statewide and national coalitions and championed grassroot efforts to build capacity and improve access to care. Her work is a passion beyond profession in honoring those lost to suicide, those who grieve their loved ones, and all individuals affected by mental health and substance misuse challenges. Founder of Sky’s No Limit and co-founder of Keepers of Life, Barri uses her own personal experiences as well as her professional life’s work pertaining to loss and trauma to help change and support the lives of others.

Michael Pracht is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and 22-year military veteran with extensive experience in emergency response, crisis intervention, and behavioral health partnerships with law enforcement and first responder agencies. His Army service includes deployments to Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where he flew as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot supporting air assault, general support, MEDEVAC, and special missions, operating in high-risk environments where rapid decision-making, teamwork, and composure under pressure were critical. With a career that spans both frontline service and clinical leadership, he brings a unique, mission-driven perspective to trauma-informed care and the delivery of mental health services in high-stress environments. Mike specializes in practicing and teaching de-escalation strategies, trauma-informed care, supporting high-risk individuals through acute and ongoing crises, and building integrated response models that bridge mental health and public safety. Currently serving as a Senior Director with Catholic Charities, he leads innovative initiatives that improve access to care, strengthen community-based responses to behavioral health challenges, and promote integrated, trauma-informed service delivery. In addition, he provides behavioral health consulting to organizations, supporting program development, workforce training, and cross-system collaboration aligned with his deep commitment to advancing public safety and mental wellness through education and evidence-informed practices.

Mark Stadler brings nearly 40 years of distinguished law enforcement experience to his role as Senior Program Administrator for Ventura County’s Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Program, a position he has held since July 2015 following his retirement as a Commander from the Ventura Police Department. A founding member of Ventura County’s CIT program in 2001, Mark has been instrumental in developing and advancing crisis intervention and mental health training for law enforcement professionals. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne. Mark is a recipient of the Law Enforcement Medal of Valor and is a graduate of the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Supervisory Leadership Institute and Command College. In addition to his administrative and leadership roles, he serves as an instructor at the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center and as a Senior Adjunct Professor for the University of La Verne. Mark also contributes to professional and community leadership as a Board Member for both the California Crisis Intervention Training Association (CACITA) and the Ventura County Leadership Academy (VCLA).

Aaron Kitzman has 30 years of experience supporting individuals diagnosed with a Serious Mental Illness or an Intellectual / Developmental Disability in a variety of settings. He has trained first responders for 15 years on how to achieve positive outcomes when contacting someone diagnosed with an Intellectual and or Developmental Disability. In his current role as a Crisis Intervention Team Program Administrator with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, he trains first responders on de-escalation strategies and techniques that are intended to reduce the intensity of the situation that often exists when responding to someone in a mental health crisis. He also has served on numerous nonprofit and government boards of directors and or commissions. Aaron has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Mark DiBona was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts. In 1985, Mark began his Law Enforcement career with the Braintree Police Department and later transferred to the Amtrak Police Department, Boston District. In 1993, Mark moved to Florida and continued his career with the Avon Park Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, 19 years as a Patrol Sergeant. After 25 years with S.C.S.O. and 33 years of Law Enforcement experience, Mark retired in 2019. Throughout his Law Enforcement career, Mark has held several positions and assignments, to include Field Training Officer, Traffic/DUI Unit, Peer Support Unit, Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Public Information Officer, Police Academy and in-service training Instructor. Mark is the President and Co-founder of Protecting The Guardian, a Non-Profit Organization. Mark is an advocate for First Responder suicide prevention, mental health education and wellness. During his career, Mark developed mental health issues and a suicide attempt. He is very open speaking about these issues and his wellness. He has been a Keynote Speaker nationally, internationally at several conferences. Mark has appeared in several media events, podcasts, webinars, newspapers, books, documentaries, magazine interviews, radio shows, conferences, training events and in a music video.

Tina-Marie Brown, LCSW-C has been with Affiliated Sante’ group for 15 years. Currently the Regional Director for Eastern Shore Crisis Response and Southern Maryland Crisis Response, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the regional crisis program which includes traditional mobile crisis teams, mobile response stabilization teams, specialized child and adolescent teams, safe station services, a regional call center which services a local hotline, 988 and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). This is a rural regional crisis system that serves 8 counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and 2 counties in Southern Maryland. Tina received her MSW from University of Maryland School of Social Work, her BSW from Salisbury University and has her Trauma Certification from Justice Resource Institute of Boston and is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management. She is a certified instructor by the Maryland Police and Corrections Training Commission, completed the CIT coordinators course and an approved instructor for group crisis intervention. She is experienced in program & policy development, program evaluation and management.

Katie Dilley, LCSW-C, serves as the Executive Director of Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc., Core Service Agency serving as a local authority of the Behavioral Health Administration, Maryland Department of Health, representing Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties. Mid Shore Behavioral Health is a 501(c)(3) located in Easton, Maryland, that is responsible for the planning, systems management, quality monitoring, capacity development, and oversight of the Publicly Funded Behavioral Health Systems. Dilley is the co-president of the Maryland Association of Behavioral Health Authorities, appointed member and co-chair of the Maryland Behavioral Health Advisory Council, appointed member of the Maryland Efficient Grant Application Council, co-chair of the Behavioral Health Coalition of the Eastern Shore, and member of the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition. Dilley held leadership positions in behavioral health in the District of Columbia, Austin, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Dilley has a passion for her career of service to the community and has special crisis intervention and behavioral health systems development. Dilley is a native of Maryland, a graduate of Tulane University with an undergraduate in Psychology, and a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Master of Science in Social Work.

Tammy Loewe is the Division Director of Behavioral Health at the St. Mary’s County Health Department. As Director, her responsibilities include providing system management for behavioral health services in our community which refers residents to local behavioral health resources, including both mental health and substance use treatment providers; substance use prevention programs; and strategies to educate, reduce and prevent substance use, opioid misuse and overdoses. The Division also manages state and federal government grant-funded behavioral health programs. Tammy has 27 years of experience working in behavioral health and social services. After graduating from the University of Baltimore with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she was employed at Mosaic, Inc., and then began working with Baltimore County Bureau of Substance Abuse. While there, she pursued her master’s degree in social work with a concentration in substance abuse from University of Maryland, School of Social Work. She moved to St. Mary’s County in 2006 where she worked at St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services for 10 years before joining the St. Mary’s County Health Department in 2017 as the Behavioral Health Director.

Amanda Stamps is a nationally recognized leader in crisis systems development and behavioral health–public safety collaboration. After retiring from the Mesa Police Department with 26 years of service, Amanda transitioned her frontline experience into building innovative, community-based crisis response models that strengthen both public safety and behavioral health systems. She currently serves in a senior leadership role with Community Bridges, Inc., overseeing Crisis Mobile Teams across Arizona, Oklahoma, and Idaho. In this capacity, she manages complex, multi-state operations, supports licensed clinical leaders, and ensures high-quality, ethical, and responsive crisis services for individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies. Amanda was the first full-time Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program Coordinator for Mesa Police Department and played a key role in developing co-responder models, call diversion strategies, and integrated crisis response systems. She is a founding board member of the Arizona CIT Association and remains deeply engaged in advancing best practices statewide and nationally. Amanda holds a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Relations from Northern Arizona University and is pursuing a Doctor of Behavioral Health degree at Arizona State University. She is also the owner of Practical Law Enforcement Crisis Solutions, LLC, where she advises agencies on sustainable crisis response initiatives.

Ms. Jones has been working with The Affiliated Santé Group for over 18 years. She has a wealth of behavioral health administrative support experience including program design, project management, proposal development, and data and reporting. She has worked with database design and reporting since 1999. She is currently the Director of Advancement for Santé and oversees development and data projects and daily advancement department activities. She is responsible for configuring, supporting, and training three separate data systems. She specializes particularly in crisis metrics and has participated in both local and State Crisis Metric workgroups and advisory sessions. Ms. Jones has a background in public health, particularly in the realms of development, data systems administration, and data analytics. She has had the pleasure of presenting on data best practices and strategies for crisis programs at CrisisCon, CIT International, American Association of Suicidology, and Open Minds Strategy and Innovation Institute.

Sam Richberg, Chief of Programs with Affiliated Sante Group, is a licensed clinical professional counselor, holding a Master’s Degree from Trinity University. He began his career in behavioral health as a clinician working with children, adolescents and adults struggling with severe and persistent mental illness. Remaining in the behavioral health field Sam transitioned into a management role as Director of Residential Rehabilitation Programs. Throughout his career he has gone on to be director of community-based psychiatric rehabilitation programs and outpatient clinical programs. With an understanding of the vast services within the behavioral health field, Sam became a certified CARF surveyor, where surveys and assisted behavioral health programs with obtaining necessary accreditation.

Dawn Peel LPC CPCS is the Senior Director of Crisis Coordination at the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Dawn became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2008 and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor in 2013. Dawn received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 1996 and her graduate degree from Canisius College in 1998. She has worked in the behavioral health field for over twenty-nine years with diverse roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Dawn has worked for DBHDD for over fourteen years and has been in her current role since 2022. Previously, she served as the Behavioral Health Regional Services Director for the Region Two Field Office. Dawn is responsible for enterprise oversight of the DBHDD state funded crisis system and collaborating with internal and external partners for ongoing management of 988. Dawn also serves as a CIT Coordinator for DBHDD.

Rachael Holloman currently works for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities as the Director of the Office of Federal Grant Programs and Suicide Prevention and has worked in various roles within the Department since 2016. She has a Master’s Degree in Clinical/Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has been providing services in the field of Behavioral Health for approximately two decades. Some of her past experience includes supervising a Community Support Team in rural communities, providing leadership as the Mental Health Director of a DJJ Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC), supervising an Intensive Family Intervention (IFI) team, as well as providing services in a private capacity for individuals involved with DJJ and DFCS, and assisting rural farmers in understanding, applying for, and receiving much needed grant funding following natural disasters. Rachael has spent her entire life both living and working in rural communities in Georgia, especially South Georgia. Rural mental health services and suicide prevention services are passions of hers.

Carol J. McVey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master's degree in Social Work and a Master's degree in Public Administration, both from Florida International University in Miami, FL. She has also earned certificates in addiction studies from the University of Miami, is a certified SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) trainer and a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator. In April 2022, Mrs. McVey joined Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and currently serves as the Senior Director over Adult Mental Health. Prior to this role, Mrs. McVey worked with Thriving Mind South Florida as the Vice President of Behavioral Health Services. Mrs. McVey has also worked as the Director of Programs at South Florida State Hospital and got her start at a non-profit psycho-social rehabilitation agency in Miami, FL. Mrs. McVey has over 20 years of experience working in behavioral health services and has a passion for criminal justice and mental health collaboration.

Pat Strode is one of two CIT Coordinators for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), charged with re-tooling the Georgia CIT Program along with a cadre of DBHDD leadership and staff. Pat worked for the Georgia chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness from 1997 to 2017. During her employment with NAMI Georgia, she served as Program Director, and Interim Executive Director. In those positions she developed NAMI Family-to-Family outreach material for African Americans, and organized Georgia’s only Latino Mental Health Summit. As NAMI Georgia’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program Administrator, she was responsible for collaborating with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), local law enforcement, local Community Service Boards, advocates and other community partners to conduct CIT classes and community events across the state of Georgia. While at NAMI Georgia, she assisted in CIT curriculum revisions, and with the development of 8 and 16 hour in-service curriculums for first responders. In 2008, Pat coordinated the CIT International National Conference held in Atlanta – with 2,000 plus in attendance, at the time, it was the largest law enforcement conference held in Georgia.

Officer Stephen Powers (Ret.) served 22 years in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina, where his duties included patrol, community coordinator, and Crisis Response Team Officer. Before serving his community as a Law Enforcement Officer in North Carolina, Stephen was employed by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland where he worked in the detention facility as well as courthouse security. As an officer he was trained in Basic Crisis & Hostage Negotiating, Resources for Resilience, Veteran Trauma and Engagement, partnered with the Recast Program in Charlotte. Stephen also served as a member of the Charlotte Mayor’s Initiative for Suicide Prevention in Veterans as well as partners with local agencies to advocate for suicide prevention. He serves as Crisis Intervention Team Instructor for Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Rowan, Brunswick, New Hanover and Stanly Counties in NC and presents on topics with a central focus on Vicarious Trauma: Officer Wellness. During his career he was trained federally and locally as a Peer Support Officer. Stephen has also received certification in Crisis Incident Stress Management (CISM) through International Critical Incident Stress Foundation Inc. (ICISF) in Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention & Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention.

Lea Nagy is the current president for NAMI Humboldt and has taught for College of the Redwoods for many years, as well as taught special education in Southern Humboldt School District. Lea does various trainings in Humboldt County for community organizations which raise mental health awareness. Lea is a steering committee member for Humboldt’s CIT program. Lea regularly presents in the Humboldt community on topics concerning mental health, substance abuse, the unhoused, and children’s mental health. Lea has been a family liaison for Humboldt County Behavioral Health for over 25 years and currently presides over a family advisory board to give input to Behavioral Health and the community.

Jacob Rosen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California who has worked in acute psych. and crisis response for his entire career. He is currently the managing mental health clinician for the City of Eureka's crisis team - Crisis Alternative Response of Eureka (CARE). He is a CIT steering committee member, CIT coordinator, and teaches courses in de-escalation, involuntary detainments, suicide assessments, and more. He is also a trained crisis negotiator and is an active member of the Humboldt County Crisis Negotiations Team. From front desk to negotiations, Jacob emphasizes human connection as the core requirement for any successful crisis interaction, and that this connection becomes even more critical when family members are involved.

Kasey Parker was hired in 2006 as the Associate Director of the Mental Health Association of Nebraska (MHA). In July 2016, she was promoted to Executive Director. Kasey has assisted in developing and implementing Nebraska’s first peer-directed and nationally accredited (CARF) programs. MHA is one of the largest peer-run organizations in the Midwest, employing more than 70 Peer Specialists. MHA programs include: H.O.P.E. Supported Employment, the peer respite Keya House, and the law enforcement referral program. Most recently, Kasey has worked with MHA staff to open two re-entry houses in Omaha, Nebraska - the Green House and Terrapin Station. Kasey has worked with the Nebraska Department of Corrections, the Nebraska Parole Administration, and Nebraska State Probation to develop and implement peer operated re-entry services.

Retired Captain Michael Woolman served with the Lincoln Police Department for 37 years, holding numerous leadership and command assignments throughout his career. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management from Concordia University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (2012). During his tenure, Captain Woolman served as Field Training Officer Coordinator, Internal Resource Officer, Planning and Research Sergeant, Southwest Team Captain, Southeast Team Captain, and Duty Commander. He also commanded the Canine Unit, Tactical Flight Officer Unit, and Field Force operations. He served as Incident Commander for major community events, including the Lincoln Marathon and the Good Life Halfsy, coordinating multi-agency operations to ensure public safety and operational success. Captain Woolman spearheaded and chaired the department’s Memorial Committee, leading the design, fundraising, and construction of memorials honoring fallen officers. He collaborated with community stakeholders and city leaders to ensure their lasting recognition. Woolman worked closely with the Mental Health Association of Nebraska on several collaborative community initiatives. He currently serves as a member of the Mental Health Board for the Third Judicial District of the State of Nebraska.

I am an immigrant from Vietnam where my family was granted political asylum to move to Lincoln, Nebraska back in 1992. I am a graduate from Lincoln High School and received my BS in Chemistry from Creighton University. I decided to become a Police Officer because I wanted to help people and make a difference. When I was younger, Lincoln Police Officers would work off-duty at our church, and they looked “cool” and professional. They made an impression on me with their friendliness, demeanor, uniform and cruisers. This sparked my interests in becoming a Police Officer at a younger age but it did not manifest until I was working at Pfizer after college for a short time. My parents do not speak English very well which reflects a large population of the older Vietnamese living in Lincoln; therefore, I also wanted to bridge that gap between the Vietnamese community and the Lincoln Police Department to help them understand their rights, our roles and responsibilities, and what we can do to work together for a safer community.

Mr. Parker is a Vice President with Policy Research Associates, providing training/technical assistance that draw on his extensive experience as a provider of behavioral health services in correctional facilities and on his administrative expertise in behavioral health and managed care organizations. He previously served as the Vice President of System Transformation/Tribal Liaison and Director of Clinical Services for Magellan Behavioral Health. Prior to this, he was the Deputy Director of the Community Mental Health Center of Lancaster County, Nebraska, as well as the Program Director for the Behavioral Health Jail Diversion Program and the Emergency Services, Homeless, and Special Needs Departments. Mr. Parker completed behavioral health and suicide prevention training with almost 40 sheriffs and municipal police departments in 16 counties in the southeastern part of Nebraska, as he also served as a Crisis Response Counselor for 25 years. He has co-authored three articles published in American Jails, one article in Behavioral Sciences and the Law, one article in the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, and one article in The Prison Journal. He completed his M.S. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas and is licensed as an Independent Mental Health Practitioner and Certified Professional Counselor in Nebraska.

Joel Conger is a highly experienced professional with a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in the behavioral health community in Arizona. Currently, he holds the esteemed position of President, Connections West for Connections Health Solutions, a leading organization dedicated to serving the behavioral health needs of individuals in the state. Before joining Connections Health Solutions, Joel served as the Associate Vice President of Behavioral Health for Molina Healthcare. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in the procurement of integrated healthcare contracts across multiple states, including Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, and California. His strategic contributions were instrumental in expanding the reach of behavioral health services and ensuring the seamless integration of care for diverse populations. Joel Conger is committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals facing behavioral health crises, and his contributions continue to shape the landscape of behavioral healthcare delivery.

Jenna Possidento is the Recovery Support Specialist Manager at the Crisis Response Center, where she leads a dynamic team of Recovery Support Specialists who share personal lived experience, strength and hope with our clients. With over a decade of experience, Jenna has a proven track record of success in both mental and behavioral health. Prior to joining the Connections Health Solutions team, Jenna held key positions for the State of Arizona which included the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. Jenna began her journey in the Juvenile Justice system while studying Criminal Justice in College.

Ofer Lichtman is a Firefighter/Paramedic and Crisis Response K9 Handler with 28 years of experience in public safety. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to advancing innovative, multidisciplinary approaches to emergency response that improve outcomes for both responders and the communities they serve. Ofer has been instrumental in developing multiple forward-thinking programs within his region, including the creation of a multi-discipline High Threat Response Program that integrates fire, law enforcement, and EMS into a coordinated operational framework for complex and hostile incidents. His work emphasizes interoperability, tactical medical capability, and responder safety in high-risk environments. Recognizing the growing behavioral health crisis impacting communities nationwide, Ofer also helped design and build his city’s Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) — an integrated crisis response model that brings together a firefighter/paramedic, a licensed mental health professional, an experienced sheriff’s deputy, and a trained crisis response K9. As a K9 handler, he deploys his dog to assist with de-escalation, trauma support, and emotional stabilization during critical incidents. Ofer is passionate about bridging traditional emergency response with behavioral health innovation, building resilient systems that better serve individuals in crisis while supporting the first responders who protect them.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #132724) with over three years of post-licensed clinical experience, specializing in crisis intervention, clinical supervision, and behavioral health program oversight. Currently serving as a Clinical Therapist II for San Bernardino County DBH, providing real-time clinical supervision, facilitating law enforcement collaborations, and contributing to departmental training and evaluation processes. Proven leader in multidisciplinary settings, skilled in chart audits, quality assurance, and culturally responsive service delivery. Committed to supporting team growth and ensuring comprehensive care for diverse client populations across all levels of acuity.

Maria Spetalnik is a Board Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®) with 30+ years of experience helping others to establish control of their lives by helping them control their clutter. Her company, Conquer the Clutter, employs a team of organizers using a holistic, harm reduction approach with clients. She works with other professionals to help her clients work past the physical, mental and emotional causes of the clutter. Maria has taught classes internationally about Chronic Disorganization and Hoarding to the FBI, Police Officers, Sheriffs, Adult Protective Services, Code Compliance Officers, Fire Marshalls, Animal Control Officers, EMT’s, Social Services Departments, Therapists, and others. Maria has been a Volunteer in Police Service (VIPS) for 15 years and a member of the Fairfax County Interagency Hoarding Committee 10+ years. Her book, Hoarding for Law Enforcement and Other Public Officials – 2nd edition, is a guide for public officials on how to navigate in a world that can be overwhelming for the unprepared. Her book, A Practical Guide to Hoarding for Friends and Family, is for those that know the person who is hoarding and want simple, clear ways to help. Her newest book is a supplement to the guide for Therapists.

Dr. Isaza is a Senior Research Associate at the National Policing Institute. She is an applied policing researcher specializing in police effectiveness, police reform, crime prevention, police use of force, and evaluations of training programs—including de-escalation, peer intervention, and implicit bias. She has partnered directly with numerous law enforcement agencies and is a strong advocate for police–academic collaboration. As a principal investigator and co-principal investigator, she has led multiple state, federal, and philanthropic grants and has published in leading criminal justice journals and practitioner-oriented outlets.

Nicole Pruss joined the Department of Justice in 2010. She has worked for the COPS Office since October 2020 as a Social Science Analyst. Nicole focuses on crisis intervention and officer safety and wellness. She is also interested in officer recruitment and retention. Before she came to the COPS Office, she worked at the Bureau of Prisons constructing staff and inmate surveys. Nicole also reviewed research proposals and designed program evaluations. She completed her higher education in Texas - first, at Trinity University in San Antonio, and then at The University of Texas in El Paso. Nicole earned her PhD in Legal Psychology from UTEP by conducting original research on eyewitness interviews with interpreters and lineup instructions.

Dr. Hannah McManus is a Director of Science and Innovation at the National Policing Institute. She participates in research, training, and technical assistance in the criminal justice field, with a specific focus on police practice. Her current work aims to inform the implementation and assess the impact of use of force de-escalation training for officers. She also contributes to the development of evidence-informed training designed to support officers' responses to community members experiencing crises. As an advocate for police-research partnerships, Dr. McManus has worked directly with agencies nationwide and regularly participates in presentations, facilitated discussions, and other invited engagements to translate research into practice. She is a core research team member across multiple federally awarded grants and has published in academic peer-reviewed and practitioner-focused outlets, earning several awards for those publications.

Michael Hatch is a Senior Program Manager with the National Policing Institute, where he supports the development and delivery of evidence-based training and technical assistance. He works closely with NPI researchers to ensure that best practices guide all assistance provided to the field. Before joining NPI, Mike served as a Senior Project Associate with Policy Research Associates, leading criminal justice and SAMHSA GAINS initiatives focused on behavioral health crisis response. He provided nationwide training, technical assistance, and strategic planning, he has facilitated Sequential Intercept Mapping Workshops, and is a national train-the-trainer in Crisis Response and Intervention Training as well as How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice Responses. Previously, Mike was the CIT Coordinator and Director of Crisis Services for the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier in Broome County, NY, overseeing a mobile crisis team and crisis respite program. He helped develop a 911 Diversion Risk Assessment tool recognized as a promising practice by SAMHSA, NASMHPD, and CIT International. A retired police lieutenant, Mike has served in rural, village, and urban departments and has been a police instructor since 1996. He holds degrees from SUNY Corning, Keuka College, and SUNY Binghamton, including a Master of Public Administration.

Susie earned her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology. She graduated from the University of Washington with Bachelors degrees in Speech Communication and Zoology with a Marine Emphasis. Susie started as a Clinician with a community behavioral health agency. Susie promoted to Clinic Manager, Regional Operations Director, and Division Director overseeing the day-to-day operations of six outpatient clinics. Susie is the Program Manager for the Therapeutic Response Unit (TRU) that partners Mental Health Professionals (MHP) and Deputies to go to calls for service that involve behavioral health, social services deficits, or de-escalation. She is a negotiator/MHP for the Crisis Negotiation Team at the Sheriff’s Office. Susie works for NCPI as the Technical Advisory for Co-Response Program Development. Susie was the founding MHP for the Law Enforcement Co-Response Programs in Shoreline, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Redmond, and Duvall PDs. She is a national educator on Crisis & De-Escalation, Mental Health, Behavioral Threat Assessment Management, and Crisis Negotiation. Susie is a Master Trainer for Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (B-TAM) and a Basic Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (B-TERC) instructor from Homeland Security. She instructs at the Criminal Justice Training Commission and is the Mental Health Advisor for Crisis Systems Management.

Jamie Ford works for the Redmond Police Department (WA) as a sergeant assigned to the patrol division. Jamie is also a negotiator with the North Sound Metro SWAT Hostage Negotiation Team and is a member of the King County CIT Coordinators Committee. Jamie has been a part of Redmond's co-response program since its first implementation in 2018. Before coming to Redmond Jamie began his law enforcement career as an officer with the University of Texas Police Department in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Teri Peck is a Senior Medical Science Liaison at Neurocrine Biosciences and lives in Pensacola, FL. She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and began her career as a Probation Officer before pursuing graduate studies in Social Work at Temple University. While pursuing her master’s degree she worked in both a Community Mental Health Clinic and as a Crisis Interventionist in an emergency room in Pennsylvania. She later went on to earn her PhD in Psychology and her research focused on mental health legislative policymaking. Dr. Peck’s clinical career includes extensive experience across the continuum of behavioral health care, including outpatient services, partial hospitalization programs, and secured psychiatric units. Throughout her clinical career, she has provided counseling and support to individuals living with serious mental illness. As the owner and director of a licensed behavioral health clinic, Dr. Peck partnered with criminal justice diversion programs to deliver court-mandated treatment services and instructed state-approved educational curricula for repeat offenders. Her passion centers on matching appropriate treatment to people with mental illness, including within the criminal justice system.

Sgt. Richie Plunkett has been a police officer in Washington State for 13 years. Prior to becoming a police officer he earned his Bachelor's in Cultural Anthropology and his Master's in Mental Health Counseling. He has worked as a Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist. As a police officer, he has served as a Hostage Negotiator, Neighborhood Resource Officer, Public Information Officer, FTO, Co-Response Officer, Peer Support, and has spent almost a decade teaching CIT to current officers in WA State along with those going through the academy. He has taught around the country at multiple different conferences regarding officer wellness and a proactive approach to officer mental health. He is happily married and has to adopted children who are both neurodiverse--which has turned into a passion of his of working with law enforcement to better understand neurodiversity in the field.

Det. Sabrina Taylor has been a police officer for over 20 years. She served 5 years on the Los Angeles Police Department and 18 years with Phoenix Police Department. Sabrina has been a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) certified officer for 16 years and is currently assigned to the Phoenix Police Continuous Improvement Unit as the CIT coordinator. She was the former 1st Vice President of CIT International and assists other agencies with their CIT programs. She serves as a subject matter expert law enforcement mental health training for the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board as well as for CIT International training programs. She is 1 of 7 authors of the CIT International Best Practice Guide as well as various other publications, has her master’s degree in public administration, and is a 3rd year PhD student at Arizona State University.

Georgea Madeira, MBA, MA, LMFT, is a behavioral health executive, strategist, and licensed marriage and family therapist dedicated to transforming crisis systems through innovation, cultural humility, and strong operational leadership. She serves as the VP of Community and Operational Partnerships for Recovery Innovations, leading collaborative initiatives that strengthen behavioral health crisis systems nationally and internationally. Georgea brings extensive experience in operating, designing, and evaluating behavioral health and crisis response programs across diverse communities. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Business Psychology, deepening her expertise in organizational behavior and systemic change. Her academic background includes an MBA, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, and completion of the Executive Director Leadership Program at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Los Angeles. Fluent in both clinical practice and executive operations, Georgea has overseen multiple programs and led consulting efforts advancing crisis care across the U.S. Her career is grounded in advocating for families, promoting culturally responsive services, and strengthening recovery oriented systems of care. A proud Latina leader, she integrates her cultural identity and community insight into her work, championing equity, access, and collaboration in behavioral health systems.

Michael A. Riddle, MD, is a board certified adult psychiatrist with more than 17 years of experience in consultation liaison psychiatry, medical education, and behavioral health crisis care. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of Operations for Recovery Innovations, providing national clinical leadership across crisis systems of care. Dr. Riddle also serves as Medical Director for the Recovery Response Center in Peoria, Arizona, and the Fife Evaluation and Treatment Center in Fife, Washington, overseeing high acuity services for individuals experiencing psychiatric crises. Dr. Riddle has extensive experience in inpatient psychiatry, crisis stabilization, and interdisciplinary team development. His work focuses on strengthening behavioral health systems through operational excellence, evidence based practice, and integrated care models addressing both medical and social determinants of health. Originally from Indiana, Dr. Riddle graduated with honors in Chemistry from Butler University and earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency at Good Samaritan Hospital (now Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix). He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and has been recognized for excellence in teaching, including the Margaret M. Kuhn Award for Teaching Excellence.

Dr. Emily “Em” Ribnik joined the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence (CJ CCoE) as Director in May 2021. Prior to this, she worked for five years in emergency psychiatric and crisis services and ten years as a mental health clinician at a university campus. She was Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained in 2007 and served on the CIT Steering Committee for Portage County. As Director of the CJ CCoE, Dr. Ribnik works with both criminal justice and mental health partners to improve responses to individuals in crisis and justice-involved individuals living with mental illness. Her work includes leading the initiatives of the CJ CCOE including supporting and expanding Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs throughout the state of Ohio, coordinating the Ohio Cross-Systems Mapping Initiative and assisting to support the Substance Use Deflection Initiative. Dr. Ribnik received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in counseling from Kent State University. In 2023, earned her Ph.D. from Kent State University with her dissertation The Impact of Client Suicide on Counselor Supervisors. She also works with Light After Loss, a non-profit in Stark County Ohio, to support suicide loss survivors and better educate mental health providers on their clinical needs.

Marianne Halbert is the Program Director at CIT International. She graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Marketing and earned a J.D. from the I.U. School of Law, Indianapolis in 1994. From 1996 to 2010, she was the Mental Health Coordinator for the Marion County (Indiana) Public Defender Agency. In that capacity, she helped develop the first pre-trial mental health diversion program in the United States in 1996. She managed this program for fourteen years. Indianapolis launched its CIT program in 2002 and Marianne served on the CIT Steering Committee and training subcommittee. As the Criminal Justice Director at NAMI Indiana from 2011 to 2024, Ms. Halbert created and coordinated a statewide CIT program, technical assistance center, facilitated Indiana’s first Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) mapping workshops, and worked to improve public policies impacting individuals with mental illness. Currently, Ms. Halbert manages CIT International’s programs, including technical assistance, CIT Coordinator Certification, CIT Curriculum Train-the-Trainer, CIT Support Training for 911/Emergency Communications, and CIT Program Certification.

Robert developed and supervises the Advanced Crisis-Intervention Team (ACT) at the Olathe, KS Police Department, teaming CIT trained officers and Co-Responders for primary response to behavioral health emergencies, follow up, and advanced problem-solving for complex cases. Robert started his career with the Olathe Police Department in 2009, beginning in the Patrol Division. He has worked with the Field Training Program, the Explorers, Peer Support and CIT Unit. He is the agency CIT Coordinator for Olathe, KS PD, is a board member and treasurer for the International Co-Responder Alliance, and serves on the Kansas Law Enforcement CIT Council. He began working with co-responders early in his career and teamed with them to institute mental health diversion at the Olathe Municipal Court, develop Cop Culture to bring education about first responders to mental health professionals, expand the scope of the co-responder program, and develop ACT as a new unit at the police department. Robert also teaches courses for the 40-hour CIT training.

Annie Burwell serves as Program Manager for the Crisis Response Unit at the Round Rock, Texas Fire Department, where she leads an interdisciplinary field-based team responding to behavioral health crises, overdose incidents, and complex social needs in the community. She previously directed the Mobile Outreach Team for Williamson County EMS, developing regional approaches to behavioral health crisis response and diversion. Ms. Burwell’s professional background of more than 30 years’ experience includes psychiatric acute care, experiential therapy, school-based mental health services, overdose prevention, crisis intervention, and community outreach initiatives. She has extensive training in grief and trauma interventions, substance use disorders, disaster response, and crisis negotiation. Ms. Burwell was deployed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to help organize first responder support services following the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting and has led large-scale multidisciplinary health, dental, and behavioral health outreach efforts serving vulnerable populations. She serves on the Board of Directors for the International Co-Responder Alliance, is Chair of the Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council Mental Health Workgroup, and is a member of the CSG Justice Center Expanding First Response Commission. In 2010 she was awarded the Behavioral Healthcare Professional of the Year by CIT International.

Zachary Zepeski is a dedicated law enforcement professional with extensive experience in crisis response and mental health intervention. Currently serving as a Deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Zachary is a key member of the Community Response Team (CRT), a specialized unit focused on addressing incidents involving mental health concerns. As part of this team, he partners with a mental health clinician to respond to a wide range of calls, including individuals experiencing mental health crisis, welfare checks, and citizen assistance requests. With a career spanning over a decade, Zachary has demonstrated a deep commitment to enhancing both law enforcement operations and community well-being. Over the past five years, he has played an integral role in the development and growth of the CRT, including the introduction of DCSO's first Co-Response Therapy Dog, Olive. His passion for mental health advocacy has also led him to become a Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Director and a respected instructor in Officer Survival, and Officer Mindset, roles in which he shares his expertise through public speaking and training initiatives. His training includes multiple leadership and crisis management programs, such as the FBI LEEDA Leadership Trilogy, and certifications in de-escalation, officer survival, and peer support.

Master Police Officer George Kimball has dedicated over 19 years to serving the Prince William County community, bringing extensive patrol experience that informs his practical, street-level approach to law enforcement. As a longtime Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) instructor, MPO Kimball is deeply passionate about CIT and its ability to improve the safety and outcomes of officers and individuals in crisis. He mentors younger officers in applying CIT skills effectively, emphasizing compassion, communication, and confidence in high-stress encounters. A United States Marine Corps veteran, MPO Kimball served honorably for over five years, achieving the rank of Sergeant and completing advanced combat, tactical leadership, and technical training during multiple deployments. His military experience fuels his dedication to supporting fellow veterans, both in crisis situations and as colleagues navigating the challenges of law enforcement. MPO Kimball’s combined experience in patrol, CIT instruction, and military service highlights his commitment to public safety, mentorship, and the well-being of those he serves. He is devoted to building trust, empowering officers, and enhancing the lives of veterans through informed, compassionate crisis response.

Wayne Handley is a values-driven executive leader and Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 30 years of combined experience in public safety, mental health, military service, and emergency medical services operations. Currently Chief of Police for the City of Buena Vista, Virginia, he integrates trauma-informed practices, wellness strategies, and resilience-focused leadership into agency management and community engagement. He previously served as Chief of Staff for the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office and as a Police Captain with the Norfolk Police Department, where he led large operational divisions, developed crisis intervention and peer-support programs, and implemented mental health and leadership initiatives for staff and individuals in custody. His earlier professional background includes national-level training leadership, advanced pre-hospital emergency medical instruction, and service as a U.S. Marine Corps platoon sergeant and communications operator (Airborne). Wayne holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Old Dominion University and is a published author and conference presenter on trauma, resilience, and wellness in public safety. He serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Rockbridge Connect and Nourish (CAN) and as a founding board member of the Buena Vista Police Foundation.

Ivonne Saldaña-Janampa, M.Ed., LCAS-A, completed her undergraduate degree in Social Sciences at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, and later earned her Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from Cambridge College in Boston, Massachusetts. A native of the Bronx, New York, Ivonne was born and raised in New York City. From a young age, she has been passionate about helping others. Being present and supportive is not only part of her nature but also a value modeled by her parents. Ivonne has extensive experience working in community-based clinical mental health and crisis management with children and families. At the Durham Community Safety Department, she began her career as a crisis responder and gained significant experience supporting adults facing challenges related to addiction, mental health, and quality-of-life concerns, broadening her scope of practice. In 2024, Ivonne was promoted to Shift Supervisor. In this role, she oversees staff across multiple crisis response units. She is a strong advocate for responder wellness and frequently develops creative strategies to address challenges faced by her direct reports while fostering a supportive and resilient work environment. In her free time, Ivonne enjoys caring for her houseplants, taking her dogs on walks, traveling with her husband, and spending time with family.

Allison Casey is an EMT and founding member of Durham Community Safety's HEART program. She has over decade of experience as a first responder in Durham and is passionate about community health, minimizing hospitalization through education and de-escalation, and working with marginalized communities.

Jay is a licensed clinical social worker living in Durham, NC. Jay has been with the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) as a HEART clinician since July ‘24 and has spent most of their time as a Crisis Call Diversion Clinician embedded in the Durham Emergency Communications Center (DECC). Jay is a graduate of UNC School of Social Work and has a diverse work history in both social work and emergency response fields. When not at work Jay enjoys adaptive hiking, biking, kayaking and outdoor adventures and spending time with their family.

Kendal Kimbrough, a Durham, North Carolina native who now serves the community she grew up in. Bringing 10 years of experience in her current role as a 911 dispatcher, including 4 years as a supervisor. She has completed multiple crisis- response courses and trainings, strengthening her ability to support staff, neighbors and the public in high-pressure situations. Kendal is married to a K-9 officer (who shares the same passion of serving the community he grew up in) and is the owner of three dogs - a German Shepherd, a Malinois/shepherd mix, and a Malinois. One of which she adopted while her husband was acquiring his new work dog - reflecting their family's commitment to caring for animals. The two of them share an outgoing teenage son who loves animals, sports and video games.

Ellen works at the Rockbridge Area Community Services Board (RACSB) and serves as the CIT Coordinator and Treatment Coordinator. Ellen also serves as a peer for RACSB and is currently working on her Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) certification. She has 16 years of experience working with victims/survivors of domestic and sexual violence, primarily supporting them through the criminal justice system. She was awarded the Pathfinder Catalyst Award by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance in 2017, because of her innovative effort to reduce sexual and domestic violence against people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. Ellen has served on many state committees including Virginias Sexual and Domestic Violence Program Professional Standards Committee and the Domestic Violence Firearms Restrictions and Protective Orders Committee. In 2023, Ellen was partnered with her facility dog, Rain, who is currently the only Assistance Dogs International (ADI) certified facility dog employed through a public mental health agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Rain serves a dual purpose as she also works as a service dog for Ellen due to a trauma related disability.

Elysse Stolpe is the senior assistant commonwealth’s attorney. She primarily prosecutes cases involving child abuse and exploitation, sexual assault and other violent crimes. Stolpe has practiced law in Washington, D.C., as a litigation associate in the fields of international arbitration and complex commercial litigation at the international law firm Dentons. She has been an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and is a member of the Virginia Commonwealth's Attorney's Services Council's child abuse prosecution training faculty. Stolpe serves as the chair of the board of directors for New Directions Center, a DV/SV agency. She is also a member of the board of directors for Magnolia Rose, a human trafficking shelter, and a board member for CHILD USA, a national think tank for children’s civil rights. She was a commissioner for the CHILD USA Game Over Commission, an independent multidisciplinary commission investigating and analyzing the systems that enabled Larry Nassar to sexually abuse hundreds of young athletes. Stolpe published her note “MS-13 and Domestic Juvenile Sex Trafficking: Causes, Correlates, and Solutions” in the Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law, the journal for which she also served as senior executive editor.

Director, Victim-Witness Assistance Program | Co-Founder; Executive Director, Magnolia Rose Cottage, Inc. Kristan brings over two decades of exceptional experience in systems-based advocacy and law enforcement, with a strong background as a child abuse investigator. Witnessing firsthand the flaws in support systems for trafficking survivors, she was compelled into action—founding Magnolia Rose alongside partner Jessica García to address these critical gaps. As Director of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program, Kristan adeptly guides victims through the legal process, assisting with court preparation, protective orders, and access to vital services. She champions trauma-informed care and works tirelessly on legislative fronts to advance victims' rights. Driven by a philosophy echoing William Wilberforce—“Let it not be said that I was silent when they needed me”—Kristan has spearheaded extensive training efforts. She educates law enforcement academies, faith-based groups, schools, hospitality staff, and community agencies, striving to shift culture and amplify survivor voices. Magnolia Rose has grown from a vision to a lifeline: offering emergency placements, a drop-in support center, and a community shop. They have supported over 180 individuals, all benefiting from coordinated care including healthcare, therapy, emergency services, and sobriety support.

Mary Jaramillo Mangia serves as the Clinical Director of Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Department in Miami Beach, Florida. With nearly three decades of experience in the mental health field, Mary brings a system informed and collaborative approach to care delivery and organizational leadership. Her work is grounded in the belief that mental health must be fully integrated into the broader concept of total health. She leads cross sector efforts that connect hospital systems, law enforcement, and community partners to build coordinated responses that support individuals in crisis and promote long term wellness. Through Mount Sinai’s quarterly CIT collaboration meetings, she helps foster shared dialogue, trust, and accountability across disciplines. Mary has supported the development and implementation of numerous initiatives shaped by community need, including programs that focus on wellness education, trauma recovery, and continuity of care. Her leadership supports models that value connection, psychological safety, and whole person care. She remains committed to expanding perspectives on clinical care and public safety, ensuring that systems are responsive, inclusive, and centered on the belief that healing is possible through relationships and coordinated support.

Officer Melissa Rosa has served with the Miami Beach Police Department for eight years, including the past four in the Homeless Resource unit, where she works at the intersection of law enforcement, behavioral health, and medical care. Through the Crisis Intervention Team model, she partners closely with Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Crisis Department to help individuals in crisis access appropriate care across the hospital’s continuum of services. She collaborates with clinical teams to coordinate treatment placements, follow-up care, and recovery support. She also frequently petitions for Marchman Act hearings, collaborates with mobile crisis teams, legal partners, and community agencies to ensure continuity of care during and after incarceration. Officer Rosa contributes invaluable field-based insight as a core member of Mount Sinai’s CIT Community Collaboration meetings. She also serves on the Hostage Negotiations and Crisis Intervention Teams and partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She holds a degree in public safety management and aspires to become a sergeant specializing in Mental Health, with long term goals of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, reinforcing the connection between law enforcement and community compassionate crisis responsive care.

Erika Smith is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, speaker, and community advocate based in Miami, Florida. With over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, she has served a wide range of populations including first responders, military personnel, forensic settings, individuals with disabilities, and people managing co-occurring behavioral and medical conditions. Erika currently works in the Outpatient Behavioral Health Department at Mount Sinai Medical Center and is the founder of The Lavender Way, LLC, a counseling center specializing in trauma-informed care. She is deeply committed to reducing stigma around mental health, particularly within law enforcement and public service communities. Since 2021, Erika has led the V.A.L.O.R. Method, a proactive psychoeducational training developed for law enforcement officers to support trauma awareness and emotional readiness. She also serves as the Mental Health Consultant for the Miami Beach Police Department’s Peer Support Program and as the educational liaison between the department and Mount Sinai. Erika brings warmth, clinical insight, and cultural humility to every setting. Her work strengthens the bridge between public safety and behavioral health, promoting connection, resilience, and long-term well-being.

Samantha Beltran, LCSW, is the Vice President of Sub-Acute Services at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she oversees critical service lines including Behavioral Health Services. With over a decade of dedicated clinical experience, Samantha brings a deeply rooted understanding of whole-person care to her executive leadership role, grounding every strategic decision in the lived realities of patients and the systems that serve them. Her career at Mount Sinai reflects the full arc of clinical growth. She began as a frontline therapist on the high-intensity crisis unit, gaining firsthand insight into how hospital processes and the gaps between them directly shape patient outcomes. That experience became the foundation for everything that followed: a move into Support Services, where she drove operational growth and team development, and ultimately her promotion to Vice President, where she now bridges clinical excellence with strategic healthcare administration across sub-acute and behavioral health networks. Samantha is passionate about building resilient, high-performing behavioral health environments where clinical rigor and compassionate care are not in tension, but in service of each other. Her work is a testament to what becomes possible when leadership stays connected to its clinical roots.

Jessica Krause, LCSW, is the Clinical Director for the Choices Emergency Response Team at Choices Coordinated Care Solutions. She provides clinical oversight for the mobile crisis team, which is contracted through the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction to respond to 988 calls as part of Indiana’s 988 crisis continuum. Jessica earned her Master of Social Work from the Indiana University School of Social Work in 2018, where she was recognized as a National Child Welfare Workforce Institute Scholar. She began her career with the Department of Child Services, serving as a family case manager and then supervisor for five years before joining Choices as Program Manager for the mobile crisis team. In her current role as Clinical Director, she transformed the team from a multidisciplinary model to an all-peer team with a peer supervisor, emphasizing lived experience, peer support, and person-centered crisis response. Jessica’s passion for crisis response is informed by her own experience navigating crisis. She is a strong advocate for collaboration across systems, ethical and trauma-informed practice, and maintaining human dignity in all interactions. She believes that effective crisis intervention relies on empathy, shared expertise, and empowering individuals in their moments of greatest need.

Lacey Guzman is a supervisor for a peer-led mobile crisis team in Central Indiana through Choices Coordinated Care Solutions. The team responds to 988 crisis calls under contract with Indiana’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction. After serving time in federal prison, Lacey rebuilt her life with a passion to help others. Drawing on her lived experience with substance use, incarceration, and recovery, she became a Certified Peer Support Professional (CPSP) and an Indiana Certified Crisis Peer. Drawing on her deep understanding of the barriers individuals face when seeking help, she supported individuals in her community who were navigating mental health and substance use challenges. Following a year as a peer responder, she was promoted to Peer Supervisor. Her journey through addiction, the justice system, and reentry informs compassionate, trauma-responsive crisis intervention and demonstrates that lived experience is expertise. She strives to ensure individuals in crisis feel seen, heard, and supported rather than judged. Lacey leads with authenticity, accountability, and hope, modeling that recovery and redemption are possible, while advocating for approaches that bridge behavioral health and justice systems and reduce stigma.

Sergeant Jeremy R. O’Connor is the Mental Health Officer and CIT Coordinator for the Shelbyville Police Department in Shelbyville, Indiana. He began his public-safety career as a Jail/Corrections Officer with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department (2004–2007), joined Shelbyville PD as a Reserve Officer in 2005, and was sworn in full-time in 2007. After fifteen years on nights and promotion to Sergeant in 2021, he transitioned in 2024 into a role focused on behavioral health response and community partnership. Sgt. O’Connor served fourteen years on SWAT as an Operator and BearCat Driver and is a certified Hostage Negotiator. His experience in critical incidents—including line-of-duty deaths and officer suicides—led him to pursue Crisis Intervention Training and Crisis Intervention Stress Management, reinforcing his commitment to trauma-informed, people-centered policing. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Law Enforcement from Vincennes University and is completing a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice at Indiana State University. Sgt. O’Connor is a Certified School Resource Officer and Field Training Officer and serves as a trainer in S.T.O.P.S., De-Escalation, Crisis Intervention, Active Shooter Response, and Peer Support. He lives in Shelbyville with his wife, Melissa, also a CIT Coordinator, and their daughter, Kieran.

Yolanda Cruz is an advocate for inclusivity in law enforcement with over 20 years of experience. Inspired by her sibling’s disabilities, she advances disability awareness and response training as a Police Academy Instructor for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). She also serves on the Board of Directors for CIT International, supporting Crisis Intervention Team initiatives.

Anne La Force is a Licensed Psychological Associate with a Master’s degree in clinical psychology. Anne has over 20 years of experience working with adults, adolescents and children with developmental disabilities and mental health need. As a Senior Project Manager and Director of Therapeutic Coaching, Anne provides consultation and training to START teams across the country and facilitates monthly practice groups for Therapeutic Team Leaders and Clinical Directors. Anne has experience in practicing and training other clinicians in crisis prevention and intervention, implementation of positive psychology approaches, assessment of biopsychosocial factors and trauma informed care practices.

Johanna Covault is currently the CIT Coordinator for Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, NC where she trains first responders to support people having a mental health crisis. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Work with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Previously, Johanna was a trauma therapist for the Child Development-Community Policing (CDCP) program, which partners with law enforcement to provide trauma therapy to children who are victims of or witnesses of violence or other trauma. Johanna continues her work as a trainer, teaching law enforcement officers about the impact of trauma on childhood development, trauma symptoms, and mental illness. She has been trained in different methods of therapy such as TFCBT, Perinatal Mood Disorders, EMDR, among others. Johanna has also worked with rape crisis and is currently in private practice providing counseling services.

John Osborn, LCSW is a CIT Coordinator and Veterans Specialist for Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, NC where he trains first responders to support people having a mental health crisis. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri. John is passionate about working with Veterans. As an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, he utilizes his lived experience to work toward a better crisis response system for Veterans experiencing a mental health crisis. Prior to his work with CIT, John worked with youth aging out of foster care and Veterans experiencing homelessness.

Koa C. Goode, LCSWA, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and the Co Responder Clinician for the Town of Davidson Police Department in North Carolina. Koa responds to 911 calls with Davidson Police officers and receives referrals from strategic community partners to provide crisis intervention, de-escalation, brief therapeutic intervention and linkage to resources. As a certified CIT Coordinator, Koa supports the department’s efforts in training and collaborative systems work with the Mecklenburg County CIT program. Koa was honored as the 2025 NC NAMI CIT Mental Health Advocate of the Year. She earned her master’s in clinical social work from the University of Kentucky in 2022. Koa's 20-year social services career has allowed her to gain experience in child protection, family stabilization, crisis intervention, program development and community engagement.

Matthew Moody, M.S., LAC, is a Principal Consultant at Advocates for Human Potential with over 15 years of experience in crisis mental health systems, including work supporting the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network. He previously served as Director of Operations for one of the largest crisis and 988 providers in the United States, overseeing three crisis lines and managing teams of up to 240 staff. Mr. Moody specializes in crisis system design, operational development, and data analysis across contact centers, crisis lines, and mobile crisis teams. He has designed and implemented GPS-based mobile crisis dispatch platforms and developed training programs to support crisis responders and dispatch staff. He has also helped develop multiple 911-to-988 diversion programs across the United States and Canada, supporting communities in building stronger partnerships between public safety and behavioral health systems. In prior leadership roles, he managed mobile crisis teams and dispatch operations responsible for more than 4,000 field responses per month. Mr. Moody regularly works with public safety agencies, behavioral health providers, and policymakers to strengthen crisis response systems. He currently serves on the board of CIT International and holds a Master of Counseling from Arizona State University.

The Salt Lake City Police Department Behavioral Health Team includes a co-response Social Worker unit that is core to the city’s Public Safety Plan and community crisis response. In addition to the Social Work Unit, the Behavioral Health Team includes civilian Youth Advocates focused on gang and violence prevention in schools, and the department’s Wellness team including Wellness and resilience, Peer Support, mental health therapy, and the Chaplain Corps. Director Christina Zidow has been with the department for two years. Prior to joining the police department, she spent 20 years with a large community-based behavioral health nonprofit, where she began her career as a clinician and spent her last 12 years as Chief Operating Officer. Christina serves as a member of the Utah State Sentencing Commission and enjoys policy work at the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system. She is committed to continuing innovative, cross-system work with partners who are willing to come to the table, engage in honest conversations about what isn’t working, and engage creatively to build accountability and lasting change.

The Community Impact Division is a cornerstone of Salt Lake City's Public Safety Plan. The division is comprised of Homeless Resource Center squads, Community Response Team, bicycle squads, and Crisis Intervention Team detectives who co-respond with social workers. The division is tasked with aligning criminal justice and mental health systems to improve outcomes for our highest utilizers. Commander Jared Gilbert has worked for the Salt Lake City Police Department for 20 years. As an officer, Jared was engaged with patrol, SWAT, bicycle patrol, and K9 Units handling a PSD K9 named Nacho. Jared received CIT certification in the police academy and has assisted in CIT trainings over the years. Jared also worked in the Detective Division and supervised Property Crimes units but found his passion overseeing the Special Victim's Unit. Working to collaborate with many stakeholders to serve some of the most vulnerable populations helped Jared transition to his leadership role over the Community Impact Division. Jared looks forward to continued work with key stakeholders and community members to create meaningful and lasting change in his Utah’s Capital City.

Jessie Drew, LMHC, CAADC, LCDP is the Senior Director of Evidence-Based Family Therapy at Child & Family in Rhode Island, where she leads innovative, community-embedded approaches to crisis response and system diversion for youth and families. With nine years of experience at Child & Family, Jessie is not only a system leader but also an active FFT-G clinician, bringing a frontline perspective to the challenges of engaging high-risk, system-involved youth and families. Her clinical work centers on trauma-informed engagement, family-based interventions, and reducing repeated contact with law enforcement, probation, and emergency services. Jessie also serves as a national consultant for FFT, LLC, providing training and consultation to FFT teams across the country, including Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, New York, and Connecticut. Her work supports agencies in implementing FFT’s evidence-based family interventions with fidelity while adapting to local crisis response systems and community needs. In addition, Jessie is a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainer in Rhode Island, bridging the gap between behavioral health, law enforcement, and community-based services. Her combined experience in CIT, FFT-G, and cross-system collaboration informs her practical, real-world approach to crisis diversion, co-response, and sustainable system change.

Helen M. Midouhas, Ph.D., L.P.C., is a leader in evidence-based behavioral health implementation, organizational leadership, and community psychology. With more than two decades at Functional Family Therapy, LLC, she serves as Director of Implementation, overseeing the international dissemination of the FFT model, including FFT for gang-involved youth, and guiding large-scale projects across state agencies, Medicaid systems, and national organizations. Her expertise includes implementation science, quality assurance and improvement systems, evaluation frameworks, clinical consultation, and fidelity monitoring. Dr. Midouhas has also contributed to the development of web-based reporting platforms and e-learning resources. Her leadership in research, grant writing, stakeholder engagement, and systems-level coordination has advanced effective interventions for at-risk youth and families. Dr. Midouhas holds a Ph.D. in Leadership with a Community Leadership specialty from Alvernia University, where her dissertation examined attachment styles and leadership aspirations among mentors and mentees. She earned an M.S.Ed. in School and Community Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Psychology from Temple University, and completed Yale School of Management’s Women’s Leadership Program. A Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor, she brings clinical, academic, and organizational expertise to strengthening systems that support youth and families.

Susan Jacobsen is the Chief Executive Officer of Child & Family Rhode Island, a nonprofit provider of behavioral health, prevention and family support programs, foster care, supportive housing, and educational services statewide. She previously held leadership roles at Thundermist Health Center and served as Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island, where she led statewide advocacy and systems-change efforts to strengthen community mental health services and elevate the voices of people with lived experience. In 2019, she spearheaded the launch of Rhode Island’s first Crisis Intervention Team program (CIT-RI), building a collaboration among law enforcement, behavioral health providers, advocates, and community members to improve responses to mental health crises. Susan is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Rhode Island.

John serves as Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board where he handles matters related to program policy development, legislative review, and decertification. Prior to joining ILETSB, John served as a civil attorney and as legislative counsel for the Illinois General Assembly.

Jennifer Wooldridge: Deputy Director, State CIT Coordinator: Jennifer Wooldridge is the State CIT Coordinator for Illinois and has grown the program from 3 to 60 classes per year over a 20 year span. She has led the Illinois team to expand to all 102 counties of the State, created advance courses for seasoned officers, and conducts annual conferences to enrich the community. She also serves as Deputy Director of Operations for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board and is a certified crisis response therapy canine handler.

Jerry is a 25-year veteran of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and currently serves as Director of the “Tails of Redemption” program which allows incarcerated individuals to provide basic training programs to rescue dogs. Utilizing his background as a wellness trainer, Jerry has helped place hundreds of rescued dogs with adoptive families and is now offering training and certification for crisis response teams – with over 30 serving the public in various settings including hospitals, police agencies and dispatch centers.

Curtis is a police officer with the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Department, where he focuses on mental health response, crisis intervention, and community-oriented policing. He is CIT certified and trained in Mental Health First Aid and actively provides training to other officers in the department on topics related to officer wellness, crisis response, and community engagement. Curtis also serves as a certified therapy dog handler for the department’s Therapy K-9 Program, helping to support student wellness and build positive relationships across campus. He is committed to strengthening law enforcement’s role in crisis intervention through education, empathy, and meaningful outreach.

Megan Wade is a clinical psychologist in the Mental Health Clinic and Police Liaison with VISN 10 at the John D. Dingell (Detroit, MI) VA Medical Center. As the VISN police liaison, she engages in crisis and mental health training with VA police departments throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, conducts psychological evaluations for police officers, and aids in police intervention with Veterans who have mental health conditions. She has also collaborated with community law enforcement departments to bridge VA and community resources for Veterans in crisis. Outside of the VA, Dr. Wade works as an embedded police psychologist with multiple local and statewide law enforcement departments and is a uniformed responder with Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. In this role, she has responded to school shootings, line of duty deaths, and mental health crises with the severely mentally ill. She has won the VA Psychology Leadership Special Contribution Award and IACP 40 under 40 Award for her work integrating mental health resources with law enforcement. Her research interests include disaster mental health, trauma and its comorbidities, preventative psychology, mental health crises, and suicidality.

Katelyn Goodall is a clinical psychologist in the Community Based Outpatient Clinic with VISN 8 at the Leo C. Chase Jr. (St. Augustine) VA. In this position, Dr. Goodall has been awarded funding through the Office of Suicide Prevention Innovations for expanding the Veteran Response Team curriculum to Corrections populations via the project CoVRT to increase supports for incarcerated Veterans at a greater risk of homelessness and death by suicide. She is also recognized as a selected participant in the All-Employee Innovations programming where she is currently piloting a program aimed at identifying gaps in resources to rural Veterans and agencies serving these Veterans. In her role, Dr. Goodall is also in process of establishing a psychodiagnostic assessment clinic to provide increased access to care and offer internal supports for diagnostically complex presentations. Outside of the VA, Dr. Goodall owns a private practice focused on providing assessment, consultation, and operational support to first responder agencies. Her research interests include issues pertaining to preemployment psychological evaluation, personality assessment, first responder mental health, and threat assessment.

Dottie Davis is an internationally recognized speaker who previously served 32 years with the Fort Wayne Police Department where she attained the rank of Deputy Chief and was last assigned as the Director of Training at their police academy. She implemented and wrote policy for the agency for the Crisis Intervention Team and for the Lethality Assessment Program and served as a hostage negotiator for 7 years. During her career she received two Meritorious Service Citations, named law enforcement officer of the year by the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the Rocky Mountain Women in Law Enforcement. She is also a contracted trainer for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Consortium, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault. Davis is a graduate of the National FBI Academy, Gavin de Becker & Associates Advanced Threat Assessment Academy, and Purdue University, and is the owner of Davis Corporate Training, Inc., a private consulting firm focusing on violence prevention and expert witness testimony in both civil and criminal cases.

Barri Sky Faucett, MA, has dedicated her career serving others through a lifelong commitment to mental and public health. Her work spans prevention, intervention postvention and treatment for those affected by mental health challenges, substance misuse, and suicide. Barri has delivered standardized and personally co-developed training for countless, diversified audiences. Her clinical experience includes providing direct services and leading outpatient and intensive programs. For almost two decades, Mrs. Faucett has served as a statewide director overseeing the implementation of comprehensive suicide prevention, intervention, postvention and mental health services, developing policies, procedures and strategies that strengthen the system-wide best practice and interagency collaboration. Barri has provided technical assistance and consultation services across multiple systems, served on local, statewide and national coalitions and championed grassroot efforts to build capacity and improve access to care. Her work is a passion beyond profession in honoring those lost to suicide, those who grieve their loved ones, and all individuals affected by mental health and substance misuse challenges. Founder of Sky’s No Limit and co-founder of Keepers of Life, Barri uses her own personal experiences as well as her professional life’s work pertaining to loss and trauma to help change and support the lives of others.

Michelle Toman is a tireless advocate, trainer, and national leader in suicide prevention, intervention, postvention, and trauma and grief-informed education. For more than 30 years, she’s supported individuals and families navigating grief and complex trauma while advancing legislative and systems change at state and national levels, unanimously passing mandatory annual suicide prevention education for youth in her home state to save lives. The sole survivor of her family as a child after the losses of her parents, Michelle’s lived experience(s) shaped her lifelong commitment to service in grief, growth, and healing. She emerged as a leading voice in suicide prevention after losing her sibling to suicide in 1994, and serves the nation as a long-term, multiple-loss survivor. Serving on multiple state and national foundations and coalitions, she’s a nationally multi-certificated trainer and facilitator, personally delivering thousands of trainings, programs, presentations and bereavement support groups. Her work, compassion and volunteer efforts in communities, schools, organizations and with families have been recognized with honors including West Virginia’s Wonder Women, National Advocate of the Year, and the Fighting for Justice and Power of Performance Changing Lives Award. Michelle is the founder of Brother Up Foundation and the co-founder of Keepers of Life.

Katherine Gruver is a senior probation and community corrections executive with over 15 years of experience leading evidence-based supervision, behavioral health integration, and justice system reform. She is a recognized leader in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program development and oversight, advancing trauma-informed, data-driven, and risk-based practices that strengthen public safety while improving outcomes for individuals with complex behavioral health needs. As CIT Coordinator and Mental Health Boundary Spanner for the York County Department of Probation Services, Ms. Gruver provides executive-level leadership of a countywide CIT program aligned with state and national best practices. She leads policy development, governance, and system integration across law enforcement, courts, probation, and behavioral health partners, with a focus on diversion, accountability, and coordinated crisis response. Ms. Gruver oversees workforce development, certification, and leadership training initiatives and directs program performance, funding, and sustainability through data-driven evaluation and cross-agency collaboration. Her prior experience as a Probation and Parole Officer managing high-risk cases informs her strategic leadership approach. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Penn State University and maintains active leadership roles on regional justice and behavioral health advisory boards.

Desiree came to NAMI York-Adams Counties PA in January 2020 to oversee the daily operations of the organization and has extensive experience in advancement, executive leadership, marketing, grant writing, and event planning. Prior to working in the non-profit sector in 2023, Desiree graduated from York County Vo-Tech with a drafting degree and went on to earn her engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State. Through her work with NAMI York Adams, she has continued her education allowing her to stay informed on the issues peers and families face related to mental health. Desiree has become a certified CIT Coordinator, QPR Gatekeeper, Family To Family Facilitator, NAMI Basics Facilitator, and state trainer for NAMI Connections Support Group program where she works directly with law enforcement, peers, families and the community sharing her knowledge and raising awareness. My own personal experience with mental illness began after several life experiences in adulthood. “I didn’t recognize it as mental illness and struggled for several years before I was able to get the help I needed.” Desiree wants to share her experience and the wonderful programs and services of NAMI York-Adams Counties PA so others don’t have to live in silence as she did.

Emilie is the Program Director at NAMI Wisconsin, where she oversees the NAMI Wisconsin Programming Team. NAMI Wisconsin’s Programming Team supports 20 programs across the state of Wisconsin in support, education, and awareness for those living with mental illness and their families and communities. Emilie’s focus is on supporting all Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) and Crisis Intervention Partners (CIP) teams, coordinators, and trainings in Wisconsin. The Crisis Intervention Programs provide best practice training for law enforcement and other direct service individuals who interact with those in a mental health crisis. Emilie has a background in working in social services in areas including crisis management, program management, and trauma-informed care. Emilie received her master’s degree in Public Administration concentrating on Nonprofit Leadership from Clark University.

Dominique is the Program Manager at NAMI Wisconsin and is involved in coordinating and supporting NAMI Wisconsin Affiliates in NAMI programming and assists with the Crisis Intervention Teams and Crisis Intervention Partners Training efforts in Wisconsin. Prior to being the Program Manager, she earned her B.S. in Psychology with minors in Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. Further, she went on to earn her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa. She has also had the opportunity to engage in various mental health related jobs including providing mental health trainings on campus at the University of Northern Iowa, conducting psychological assessments and diagnoses at the University of Northern Iowa Psychological Assessment Clinic, and working with children in a trauma-informed day treatment program in Madison, Wisconsin. Her areas of interest include mental health research, mental health focused trainings, and providing opportunities for individuals to learn about and better understand mental health and mental illness.

Sarah Blanka is a licensed counselor in Arizona that has worked in crisis and suicide prevention for 18 years. She currently works at Optum Behavioral health doing product design for programs that support members experiencing mental health crisis. Sarah also works as a call taker and supervisor for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. She is a long-term presenter for CIT in both Arizona and Texas, focusing on the topics of Autism and Suicide Prevention. Sarah has held a variety of roles in behavioral health at all levels of care including call centers, observation units, detox, residential and Inpatient. She lives in the Phoenix area with her family and spends her free time running and enjoying time with her kids, husband and dogs.

Elizabeth Talley, MS, LPC – Director of Access and Urgent Care Services – Crisis Response Elizabeth has a master’s degree in psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Elizabeth is currently employed at Compass Health Network and is serving as Director for mobile Crisis Response teams. Compass Health currently serves 26 counties to provide immediate, in-person support to persons who may be experiencing a behavioral health and/or substance use crisis. Mobile crisis teams provide person-centered and trauma-informed services with individuals experiencing a crisis. Prior to her work in crisis, Elizabeth worked as an outpatient therapist providing individual, family, and school-based therapy services. During her internship and licensing supervision Elizabeth worked as an acute therapist in an adolescent inpatient hospital setting providing brief-solution focused therapy, DBT, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Teresa Brandon holds the position of Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services at UnitedHealthcare/Optum- Missouri. She also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ignite Hope, a St. Louis based behavioral health nonprofit organization specializing in grief, crisis, and trauma services In these dual leadership roles. Teresa is recognized as a performance-driven executive with a proven record of advancing organizational success through strategic direction, operational oversight, and the development and execution of clinical and administrative programs. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Occupancy Specialist, and a skilled organizational management and change consultant. Despite her extensive professional achievements, Teresa considers her greatest accomplishments to be raising her three successful children—LaMesha, Tyreka, and Torrance—and being a proud grandmother to Isiah.

Joseph Reid is the Founder and Executive Director of Broken People Peer Support, an international peer support organization focused on connection, hope, and recovery for individuals impacted by mental health challenges. Broken People has multiple satellite offerings, including an online peer group and in-person community gatherings. Joseph is a national speaker and the author of the Amazon national bestseller Broken Like Me: An Insider’s Toolkit for Mending Broken People. He’s presented at mental health conferences across multiple states, including state and local NAMI conferences, city-run mental health initiatives, and community-based crisis and wellness programs. His background includes brief experience in law enforcement after graduating third in his class from the Flint Regional Police Training Academy. Joseph holds an Associate Degree from Henry Ford Community College, a Bachelor’s degree from Liberty University, and a Certificate of Ministry from Berean College/Global University. Joseph serves on the Executive Board of Sheldon House Clubhouse, part of Clubhouse International, and contributed to the development of a regional health and wellness conference for first responders in Northern Wisconsin. Outside of his professional work, Joseph enjoys traveling with his wife, spending time with his five adult children and granddaughter, listening to audiobooks, and drinking chocolate milk.

Melissa Reid has been a steady and practical source of support throughout her family’s mental health journey. Married to Joseph Reid since 1997, Melissa has walked alongside him through seasons of challenge and recovery, working various jobs while supporting their family and helping him navigate the police academy and significant mental health challenges. Melissa is the Store Manager for Starbucks in Plainwell, Michigan, where she is known for her leadership, reliability, and strong work ethic. She is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, and proudly considers being a grandma one of her favorite roles. Her strengths include resilience, loyalty, perseverance, and a deep commitment to the people she loves. Melissa values consistency, growth, and showing up even when circumstances are difficult. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, being a grandmother, great coffee, good wine, and making meaningful memories with those closest to her.

Habsi Kaba is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 32 years of experience in behavioral health, public safety, and crisis response systems. She leads the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Criminal Mental Health Project’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program in Miami-Dade County and is a passionate educator and advocate for behavioral health and first responders. Habsi has served as the 2nd Vice-President of CIT International, she currently chairs the Florida CIT Coalition and the Miami-Dade CIT Coalition. With over 22 years in crisis response initiatives, she is a certified master instructor in law enforcement crisis intervention and de-escalation, having trained more than 15,000 first responders, including the Department of Homeland Security U.S. ICE Hostage Negotiation Team, veterans, criminal justice stakeholders, educators, and professionals across the U.S., Canada, and Spain. Internationally recognized for her expertise in CIT program implementation, crisis response models, curriculum design, first responder wellness, communication techniques, de-escalation, and behavioral health collaboration, Habsi shares her experience in systems transformation and liaison services. She has extensive experience in CIT police patrol operations and the behavioral health/criminal justice system, known for her ability to facilitate comprehensive approaches and partnerships between law enforcement and behavioral health systems.

Marissa Gore is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Master’s Addiction Professional, and Qualified Clinical Supervisor in the State of Florida with over 14 years of experience in the mental health field. Her professional background is rooted primarily in community mental health, where she has specialized in serving individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, substance use disorders, and justice-involved populations. Throughout her career, Marissa has held leadership roles overseeing Treatment Court programs, Intensive Outpatient services, DUI programs, law enforcement contracts, and homeless outreach initiatives. Her work has focused on building collaborative, cross-system approaches that enhance access to care and improve outcomes for high-need populations. Marissa currently serves as the Clinical Manager of the Behavioral Response Unit, a collaborative initiative between Devereux Florida and the Orange County Sheriff's Office, FL. In this role, she oversees clinical operations, ensuring effective coordination between behavioral health professionals and law enforcement to provide crisis response, diversion, and community-based support services.

Harry Prochet is a Sergeant with the Orange County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) and currently serves as the supervisor of the Threat Assessment and Threat Management (TATM) Unit. He brings over 15 years of law enforcement experience within OCSO, with a professional background spanning the Narcotics Unit and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI), where he specialized in Human Trafficking and Organized Crime investigations. He also serves as a Team Leader position in the Hostage Negotiations Team. In addition, Sergeant Prochet is a military veteran, serving 8 years as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles in Violent Crimes and Homicide Unit, Youth Services, the Behavioral Response Unit, and now the TATM Unit. As the TATM Supervisor, he ensures his detectives apply structured threat assessment methodologies to identify risk mitigation measures and implement long-term case management strategies, while fostering collaborative, multi-disciplinary partnerships to prevent targeted violence. Sergeant Prochet ensures effective coordination among behavioral health professionals, the State Attorney’s Office including the Division of Juvenile Justice, Orange County Public Schools, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (including the Behavioral Analysis Unit), and other key stakeholders to provide crisis response, diversion, and community-based support services.

Yehuda Green is a Sergeant with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, FL, where he supervises the Behavioral Response Unit within the Criminal Intelligence & Threats Section. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Central Florida and brings more than 14 years of law enforcement experience focused on crisis intervention, behavioral threat assessment, and high risk incident command. Sergeant Green has served in a range of operational and supervisory roles, developing expertise in Incident Command System operations, Active Assailant response, Critical Incident Stress Management, and threat assessments involving individuals and critical infrastructure. He also contributes to planning for large scale incidents, special events, and emergency response efforts in collaboration with public safety and community partners. In his current role, he leads a multidisciplinary team of deputies, analysts, and clinicians in a co responder model that pairs law enforcement with licensed clinicians to support individuals experiencing mental health crises, substance use disorders, or behaviors posing potential safety risks. He oversees case management, the agency’s Risk Protection Order process, and the integration of a clinician within the 911 Communications Center. His work supports efforts to reduce unnecessary arrests and involuntary commitments while connecting individuals to appropriate community based services.

Jessica Michael, MSW, LISW-S, is the Program Manager of Behavioral Health Acute Services at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH. She joined NCH nearly 12 years ago after starting her career as a supervisor for an adult crisis center and as an inpatient therapist at a psychiatric hospital. At NCH, Jess worked with the Outpatient Crisis Team and helped launch the Acute Crisis Response program, responding to combative patients, managing the Franklin County Youth Psychiatric Crisis line, and training staff in de-escalation models. In 2019, she became a Clinical Educator with the Behavioral Health Education team, assisting with program launches, including Mobile Response & Stabilization Services (MRSS). Jess then served as Supervisor for MRSS in 2022 and as Clinical Manager in 2023, also managing the Telecrisis Team. In 2025, she transitioned to her current role, supporting program operations, financial health, quality improvement, strategic initiatives, project management, and stakeholder relationships. Jess teaches for several CIT programs and serves on the CIT Steering Committee alongside Columbus Police. She is passionate about alternative response options and aims to enhance collaboration between response teams to help develop the overall crisis continuum of care.

Lt. Michael Voorhis is the TRACT (Treatment Recovery Addiction Crisis Teams) Lieutenant with Columbus Police. He began his career in December 2005 and spent the majority of his time in patrol. Lt. Voorhis obtained his Ohio Peace Officer Training Certification and teaches various topics at the Columbus Police Academy. He is a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) instructor and has been conducting recruit and advanced training since 2015. Currently, Lt. Voorhis oversees the Columbus Police Therapy Dog Unit, the Rapid Response Emergency and Addiction Crisis Team (RREACT), and Mobile Crisis Response (MCR), a team consisting of police officers paired with clinicians who respond to mental health calls. He is also the CIT Coordinator for Franklin County, Ohio, and serves on several committees, including the CIT Steering Committee, the Crisis Continuum Call Centers / Mobile Response Committee, and the ADAMH Crisis Care Community Advisory Committee. Lt. Voorhis collaborates with alternative response teams and hospital systems in Central Ohio to expand and enhance responses to mental health crises.

Nick Christian currently serves as the Program Director for a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center in Indiana and as a Coordinator for the Lake County Crisis Intervention Team (Indiana), where he focuses contributions to the development and instruction of the 40-hour First Responder CIT Training Program and 8-hr Public CIT Education Training. Nick has been involved with 988 operations since September 2022 and currently serves on the 988 Network Center Committee, which provides guidance and input to help shape the future of the 988 Lifeline from the call center perspective. Prior to his work in crisis services, Nick retired from a successful career in law enforcement. During that time, he held several rewarding positions, including Patrol Supervisor, Detective, Emergency Response Team member, HIDTA Federal Task Force member, Major Crimes Task Force member, Field Training Officer, and Law Enforcement Training Officer. Throughout his law enforcement career, Nick placed a strong emphasis on continuing education, training facilitation, and leadership development.

Thomas (Tom) von Hemert was the CIT Coordinator for the Thomas Jefferson Area CIT program for 18 years, the largest CIT program in Virginia covering nine counties. Tom and his Team trained over 3,000 First Responders (police officers, sheriff deputies, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, magistrates, firefighters/medics, probation officers and prosecutors) in CIT. He trained and mentored the development of many new CIT programs throughout Virginia and United States. Tom graduated from Boston University with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in finance. Tom worked as a Research Assistant Intern in the House of Parliament in London, England. Tom was a member of Virginia State CIT Coalition Board as Vice President and was also President of the CIT International Board. In 2023 Tom received the CIT Coordinator of the Year Award from CIT International. Tom now works for the University of Virginia Police (UVA) Department as the Crisis Intervention Specialist developing a Crisis Co-Response Team. This year Tom received the Peacekeeper Award from the UVA Batten School on Leadership for his “selfless service and sacrifice to our community.”

Veronica Delgado Torres, LMSW, is a CIT Clinician and embedded social worker with the Alamogordo Police Department in southern New Mexico, where she co-responds with CIT-trained officers to behavioral health crises in rural and frontier communities. She brings over 10 years of experience in mental health and community-based services, with a focus on crisis intervention, de-escalation, diversion, and cross-system collaboration. Veronica serves as President of NAMI Southern New Mexico, providing leadership in advocacy, education, and community engagement to strengthen local behavioral health systems and reduce stigma. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) candidate whose work emphasizes CIT Core Elements, prevention, and sustainable law enforcement–behavioral health partnerships. Her practice centers on improving access to crisis services, supporting officer wellness, and building community trust in rural and underserved settings.

Officer Dylan Sullivan is a CIT-trained police officer with the Alamogordo Police Department and a United States Army veteran who continues to serve his community through law enforcement. In addition to co-responding with an embedded CIT clinician on behavioral health calls, Officer Sullivan is actively involved in the department’s D.A.R.E. Program, supporting prevention, early intervention, and positive youth engagement. He brings a frontline law enforcement perspective emphasizing service, prevention, officer safety, and collaborative crisis response.

Kenneth G. Murray is currently a Lieutenant with the West Virginia State Police, currently in his 28th year, and is currently the Director of the Angel Initiative and Behavioral Health Services. Kenneth retired, at the rank of Major, from the West Virginia Army National Guard after serving 24 years with two deployments: Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. Kenneth earned undergraduate degrees in Police Science and Criminal Justice, he also completed his Master of Science in Strategic Leadership. Kenneth has earned many different training and additional education certificates from the United States Army and West Virginia State Police, most notable he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, session 280 with 14-hours master’s degree credit, and is a certified law enforcement instructor for the state of West Virgina. Kenneth and is wife Mari Jo have three sons, two of which have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Having children with ASD and working in the law enforcement profession led Kenneth to want specific ASD training for police. In 2021 Kenneth worked to get legislation passed requiring mandatory ASD training for entry level police, in 2022 he worked to obtain an amendment to include all police in West Virginia.

Mari Jo Murray is a stay-at-home mother and homeschool teacher for her three sons. Mari Jo attended Robert Morris University and West Liberty University studying psychology. Meeting her husband Kenneth in 1997 she exited higher learning to follow him to West Virginia where they began their life together. Having a lifetime of experience with children, after the birth of their first child Mari Jo quickly observed developmental delays. After diagnosis of ASD Mari Jo researched therapy options and all aspects of ASD impact on a person. Mari Jo has studied ABA, speech, and occupational therapy options which she utilized to work with her children. The Murray children entered public schools where Mari Jo self-educated on the process of Individual Education Plan (IEP) and the innerworkings of the special education system. As their oldest son was transitioning from elementary school to middle school the final IEP meeting resulted in a family decision to begin homeschooling. Mari Jo became the primary teacher of the Murray boys. Mari Jo customized curriculums for each of her children to ensure the learning process was appropriate for all three. Maintaining portfolios for each child has resulted in approval by the state of West Virginia homeschool requirements.

Carl Metzger began his career at the Orlando Police Department and served for 26 years, ultimately retiring with the rank of deputy chief. Metzger joined the University of Central Florida Police Department as a deputy chief in 2014, and in 2018 he was appointed Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police at the nation’s second largest university. Metzger retired from law enforcement in 2026 and is now the Director of Safety and Security at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando. Recognitions: the Keri Anne DeMott Foundation “Carl Metzger Decisions Award,” (named for him-2026); CIT Central Florida Inaugural “Carl Metzger Champion Award,” (named for him-2025); the Mental Health Association Community Hero Award (2025); the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Lifetime Achievement Award (2024); UCF Criminal Justice Distinguished Alumnus of 2022; and numerous law enforcement awards. Organizations: Immediate past president of the Orange/Osceola County Police Chiefs Association; Florida Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Wellness and Sustainability; Board of Directors for NAMI Florida; Advisory Board for Central Florida CIT. Carl Metzger is passionate about issues associated with mental health, is an advocate of crisis intervention training, and is a certified QPR Suicide Prevention instructor.

Mallory Kloucek is the Manager, NAMI Support Groups. Before her work at NAMI, she spent 3 years as the Ending the Silence (ETS) Coordinator at NAMI South Dakota and prior to her time at NAMI South Dakota, worked for 5 years as the Development Manager at a local nonprofit organization. While completing her master’s degree in administration from the University of South Dakota she transitioned to the nonprofit sector where she worked briefly for the Ronald McDonald House of Charities South Dakota. Mallory gives back to her community by volunteering for the local chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America as a board member along with numerous local committees.

Deputy Patrick “Razz” Rasmussen is a 29-year veteran of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, having begun his distinguished career in law enforcement in 1997. He currently serves in the Community Service and Re-Entry Division as the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Deputy, where he acts as a vital liaison between the Sheriff’s Department and the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health. A recognized expert in mental health law and crisis communication, Deputy Rasmussen specializes in de-escalation techniques and 5150 protocols. As a CIT instructor, he provides essential training to first responders and community members, helping to bridge the gap between law enforcement and those experiencing behavioral health crises. He also serves as an influential member of the Sheriff’s Department’s CIT Committee. Throughout nearly three decades of service, Razz has built a diverse and comprehensive professional portfolio. He has also held specialized roles such as Field Training Officer, Investigator (Retail Theft, Fraud, and Auto Theft-SANCATT), School Resource Officer, Active Shooter Awareness Trainer, Background Investigator, HOPE and InnRoads Deputy (Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement).

Tenika Wilson serves as a Training and Resource Coordinator with Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans (MCV) under the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration. In this role, she leads the planning, development, and execution of statewide conferences and workshops that equip behavioral health professionals, educators, and community partners with evidence-based and culturally competent strategies to serve Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF). Tenika also facilitates Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainings across Southern Maryland, collaborating with law enforcement and first responders to strengthen military cultural competency and improve de-escalation practices during veteran-related crisis calls. With over eight years of experience supporting military-connected communities nationwide, Tenika has worked for the Department of Defense and veteran-serving organizations across the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Southern University and A&M College. As a former military spouse and a proud member of a family with a longstanding tradition of military service, Tenika brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She remains deeply committed to advancing cross-sector collaboration, crisis response innovation, and equitable access to behavioral health care for those who have served.

Hannah Rodriguez began her career in public safety, serving nine years as a firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) in Connecticut, where she trained and mentored first responders. She later enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialist. Following her military service, Hannah transitioned to supporting the military-connected community through suicide prevention. In 2021, she joined the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration as the Service Member, Veteran, and Family (SMVF) Suicide Prevention Administrator. She leads statewide initiatives to prevent suicide among veterans, service members, and military families and chairs the Lethal Means Safety and Safety Planning Workgroup under the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among SMVF populations. Hannah is also a trainer for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) program, How Being Trauma-Informed Improved Criminal Justice System Responses, bringing expertise in trauma-informed strategies to support law enforcement and justice professionals. She leverages her combined experience in public safety, military service, and leadership to advance trauma-informed, community-centered suicide prevention strategies.

Pete began his career in 1997 as a Correctional Officer before joining the Hamilton Police Service in 2001. Over the course of his policing career, he served in several specialized roles, most notably as Sergeant of the Crisis Response Branch, where he helped develop strong community partnerships addressing the complex intersection of mental health, addiction, and homelessness. In 2021, Pete led the development of the Rapid Intervention and Support Team (RIST), securing an $8.3 million grant from the Ontario Solicitor General. This initiative created a collaborative response model that brought police together with nine specialized social service agencies to better support high-risk and marginalized individuals. Following his retirement from policing in 2025, Pete joined Street Smarts VR, the official partner for Mental Health Crisis Response (MHCR) training. This evidence-based program, developed through Wilfrid Laurier University, is now mandated for all Ontario police officers and integrates scientific research with immersive virtual reality to enhance de-escalation, crisis intervention, and decision-making skills.

Kristin Sauerbier, LCSW, is a Senior Project Associate II with the GAINS Center at Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA), where she provides national technical assistance to co-responder, mobile crisis, civilian crisis response, and other crisis services. Ms. Sauerbier brings extensive clinical and leadership experience from outpatient, inpatient, emergency department, co-response, civilian crisis response, and community-based settings. Her background includes expertise in crisis systems, technical assistance, program evaluation, peer advocacy, recovery-oriented models, and trauma-informed practices. Prior to joining PRA, Ms. Sauerbier was the Director of The Neighborhood Center’s Mobile Crisis Assessment Team, where she supervised more than 50 staff across mobile crisis, co-response, peer crisis response, 988, and local crisis line programs. She secured and managed multiple state and federal grants—including Community Crisis Response Partnerships (CCRP), crisis stabilization, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) implementation—to expand and sustain behavioral health services. She also launched and oversaw the development of the first co-response pilot team in Utica, NY, which has since expanded regionally, reflecting her strong interest in building effective partnerships between behavioral health, law enforcement, and first responders. She is a member of CIT International and the International Co-Responder Alliance.

Chan Noether is a Vice President at Policy Research Associates (PRA). In this capacity, Mr. Noether oversees a portfolio of criminal justice and behavioral health-focused training and technical assistance initiatives for PRA. In his primary role, Mr. Noether serves as the Director of SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation. As Director of SAMHSA’s GAINS Center, Mr. Noether oversees all training and technical assistance activities for the Center, including the How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses training initiative and Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping Workshops. Mr. Noether also serves as PRA’s Director for the BJA-funded Academic Training to Inform Police Responses National Initiative to Enhance Police Engagement with People with Behavioral Health Conditions and Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Noether is former Director of the Law Enforcement and Community: Crisis Intervention Team Training Model program funded under the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s VALOR Initiative and has previously served as Project Director for several other initiatives at PRA, including SAMHSA’s Statewide Family and Consumer Networks TA Center and the NIMH-funded Suicide Prevention for Justice System Gatekeepers training program. Mr. Noether received his MA in Community Psychology and Counseling from Russell Sage Graduate School. Mr. Noether has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and publications and presents frequently at a variety of national meetings and conferences. Mr. Noether is also an adjunct professor for research and evaluation at Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. His research and practice interests include criminal justice, trauma, and peer integration, as well as training and program evaluation.

Heather D. Winters is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, including 15+ years in senior administrative roles. She has extensive experience in program development and management, strategic planning and executive management. Heather received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Illinois University and graduated from the University of Miami in 2000 with a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Ms. Winters has served in various roles throughout her career including Clinical Director, Division Director, Chief Programs Officer, and Executive Director. Her clinical areas of specialization include trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. In 2023, Heather began working for the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office as the Community Mental Health Manager. She works with the Crisis Response and Threat Management Units, serves as the supervisor and a mental health consultant for the Crisis and Hostage Negotiator Team, is a CIT Coordinator, and provides training on mental health, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and other related topics.

Matthew is a deputy sheriff with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (formerly the Miami-Dade Police Department) with more than 10 years of law enforcement experience and is currently assigned to the Crisis Response Unit, where he serves as the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator. Over the course of his career, he has worked in uniformed patrol and the Homeland Security Bureau’s Threat Management Unit. In addition to his primary assignment, he is a Crisis and Hostage Negotiator with the MDSO Special Response Team, a law enforcement instructor, and a peer advocate with the MDSO Backing Our Brothers and Sisters in Blue program. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology from Faulkner University and is currently enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Master of Science – program at Nova Southeastern University.

Nicholas Greco IV, M.S., B.C.E.T.S., C.A.T.S.M., F.A.A.E.T.S., President and Founder of C3 Education and Research, Inc. has over 28 years of experience training civilians and first responders on over 950 training programs globally across various topics including mental health disorders, verbal de-escalation techniques, and officer wellness. He is an approved CIT instructor for both the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), and the Chicago Police Department, CIT Coordinator for Basic and Advanced CIT and CIP Coordinator for NAMI – Kenosha, a CIT Advisory Board member for NAMI Wisconsin, and a QPR Instructor. He is a certified CIT Coordinator with CIT International. In 2024, he co-created and instructed the CIT train-the-trainer curriculum for the Ukrainian National Police.

Officer Luke Hofmann, is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in law enforcement, public speaking, and mental health advocacy. Over his 26.5-year career, Luke has served with distinction. This includes 5.5 years of active duty as a Military Police Officer in the US Army, followed by 21 years as an Officer with the Kenosha Police Department. His experience encompasses numerous critical incidents and deployments, including a tour of duty in Baghdad in 2003 and an officer-involved shooting in 2005. Beyond his law enforcement career, Luke is a widely sought-after public speaker and trainer, delivering presentations across Wisconsin on diverse topics such as Veterans and PTSD, officer wellness, active listening, de-escalation techniques, and hearing voices simulation. He's a certified Voice Simulation trainer and a skilled CIT scenario evaluator, providing invaluable feedback to trainees.

First Sergeant Whitney Lanier brings over 19 years of law enforcement experience with the Prince William County Police Department, including roles in criminal investigations, crisis intervention, crisis negotiation, and operations. She holds a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Master’s in Public Administration, uniquely positioning her at the intersection of public safety and mental health. A former therapist and juvenile probation officer, Whitney integrates her clinical experience with law enforcement practice, focusing on resilience, trauma-informed approaches, and officer wellness. As a Certified CIT instructor and Train the Trainer, she has helped shape the Greater Prince William CIT program and instructor team. She also serves on the Virginia CIT (VACIT) board, supporting statewide training and program development. A mindfulness instructor, Whitney teaches techniques that enhance emotional regulation and responder readiness for officers, mental health professionals, and co-responders. She has presented nationally and at state conferences, including CIT International and the National Co-Responder Conference. In 2025, she was named VACIT Instructor of the Year for her contributions to CIT training and responder well-being.

Zach is a Licensed Professional Counselor with five years of clinical experience, holding a Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Montevallo. He currently serves as the Community Mental Health Liaison for Shelby County, where he works at the intersection of public safety and behavioral health to strengthen crisis response infrastructure. In this role, Zach leads efforts to bridge the gap between law enforcement and mental health services, develop and implement a county-wide Mental Health Officer Program, and build an integrated mental health and crisis response system designed to improve outcomes for individuals in crisis and first responders alike. His work focuses on practical, scalable solutions that enhance collaboration, safety, and access to care across community systems.

Judge Boyd earned her law degree from the University Of Alabama School Of Law and her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Judge Boyd practiced law in areas of insurance defense, probate, divorce and real estate law prior to joining the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office in 2007 where she was responsible for the prosecution of crimes against children, violent felony crimes and served as a prosecutor for the Mental Health Court and Drug Court programs. In 2016, she was appointed to serve as Mental Health Program Coordinator and Legal Counsel to Shelby County Judge of Probate. She was elected as Judge of Probate in June 2018, re-elected in November 2024, and began her second term as Shelby County Judge of Probate in January 2025. Judge Boyd serves as a member of the Commission on Adult Guardianships and Conservatorships and a member of the Standing Committee on the Rules of Conduct and Canons of Judicial Ethics by the appointment of the Supreme Court of Alabama. She serves on the Board of Directors of Leadership Shelby County and Central Alabama Wellness. She is a member of the Alabama Law Institute’s Adoption Committee and Guardianship Reform Committee.

Mr. Harvey is the Director of Juvenile and Risk Operations for Shelby County, overseeing Juvenile Court and Probation Services, Juvenile Detention, Operational Safety, and Risk and Emergency Management. Previously, he served as Director of Emergency Management from 2012 to 2022 and holds the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) credential from the International Association of Emergency Managers. He is active on Mental Health, Children & Disasters, and K-12 committees and has extensive disaster response experience, including service as a Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer and chaplain during the 2010 Haiti earthquake response. Mr. Harvey’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Juris Doctorate from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. A licensed attorney for over 25 years, he has worked in private practice and as a Deputy District Attorney prosecuting felony crimes involving child victims. He also serves as an Assistant Professor at Liberty University, where he teaches Business Law and received the 2015 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Mr. Harvey has held leadership roles on multiple state and national boards, completed advanced leadership programs, and resides in Shelby County with his wife.

Cory Sutton is a retired police officer and father of twin girls with a developmental disability, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS). Cory worked for the OU Police Department in Norman, OK for 17 years. This book ended around 8 years with the Norman Police Department. He was able to retire from law enforcement in 2022. Cory has had a diagnosis of major depressive disorder since 2007. In 2020, while on duty, Cory was hospitalized for serious suicidal ideations. He was able to fully recover and return to full duty for the remainder of his career. Cory has shared his story with several organizations, and groups throughout Oklahoma. Cory teaches a section about his experience and the outcomes to law enforcement academies and agencies with the hope that some will recognize it is all right to get help and still work as an officer. Cory now works for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Cory is the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program Manager in Oklahoma. Cory uses his professional and personal experiences with mental illness to help first responders learn about de-escalation, resources and help available in Oklahoma.

Jamie Ford works for the Redmond Police Department (WA) as a sergeant assigned to the patrol division. Jamie is also a negotiator with the North Sound Metro SWAT Hostage Negotiation Team and is a member of the King County CIT Coordinators Committee. Jamie has been a part of Redmond's co-response program since its first implementation in 2018. Before coming to Redmond Jamie began his law enforcement career as an officer with the University of Texas Police Department in Austin, Texas.

Susie earned her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology. She graduated from the University of Washington with Bachelors degrees in Speech Communication and Zoology with a Marine Emphasis. Susie started as a Clinician with a community behavioral health agency. Susie promoted to Clinic Manager, Regional Operations Director, and Division Director overseeing the day-to-day operations of six outpatient clinics. Susie is the Program Manager for the Therapeutic Response Unit (TRU) that partners Mental Health Professionals (MHP) and Deputies to go to calls for service that involve behavioral health, social services deficits, or de-escalation. She is a negotiator/MHP for the Crisis Negotiation Team at the Sheriff’s Office. Susie works for NCPI as the Technical Advisory for Co-Response Program Development. Susie was the founding MHP for the Law Enforcement Co-Response Programs in Shoreline, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Redmond, and Duvall PDs. She is a national educator on Crisis & De-Escalation, Mental Health, Behavioral Threat Assessment Management, and Crisis Negotiation. Susie is a Master Trainer for Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (B-TAM) and a Basic Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (B-TERC) instructor from Homeland Security. She instructs at the Criminal Justice Training Commission and is the Mental Health Advisor for Crisis Systems Management.

Devon Chianos holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Investigation and Administration from Waynesburg University. She began her career in 2013 as a counselor at a long-term juvenile treatment facility, working directly with youth in the juvenile justice system. In 2015, she transitioned into juvenile probation and joined Dauphin County Juvenile Probation in 2017. In 2020, Devon became one of the founding members of the Co-Responder Program with the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. Her leadership and dedication to behavioral health and crisis intervention led to her promotion to Lead Co-Responder in May 2023, and later to Deputy Chief Co-Responder in December 2023. Devon plays an active role in numerous countywide initiatives and task forces. She serves on the Dauphin County Threat Advisory Group, the Dauphin County Elder Task Force Multi-Disciplinary Team, and is Co-Chair of the Dauphin County CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Steering Committee. She is also a Certified CIT Coordinator and CIT De-Escalation Train-the-Trainer. Additionally, Devon serves as Co-Chair of the Dauphin County Stepping Up Committee under the Criminal Justice Advisory Board, advancing efforts to reduce the number of individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system.

Michele Saunders, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has devoted over 40 years to the field of community mental health services. During these years she has held several roles in nonprofit, government and private sector work at the direct service level to executive management level. Michele is a founding member of CIT International, Inc. in 2008, and served as Vice President of the board for 10 years. Michele played a significant role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction, provided technical assistance to CIT communities nationwide, and coordinated the annual conference. Michele currently works on contract for CIT International assisting with the annual conference, providing technical assistance, instructing for the CIT Train the Trainer course and building cross system relationships. Michele is also a consultant with Policy Research Associates, where she conducts Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping, SIM Facilitator Training and CIT Program development. Michele earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from James Madison University and a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University. She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1986.

Sergeant Seth Blaine began his law enforcement career with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in 2017. Officer Blaine received the February 2018 Officer of the the month for life saving action on an elderly woman. Officer Blaine served as patrol officer and FTO for KCSO. Feeling the call to serve in the inner city, Officer Blaine joined the Knoxville Police Department in 2021 where he has served as a Patrol Officer, FTO, Community Liaison Officer and serving currently as a Co-Reponder. Sergeant Blaine had received many accolades while at the City of Knoxville to include Life Saving Award, 2023 Neighborhood Liaison of the Year Award, and 2024 Officer of the Year. Officer Blaine is a regular instructor for Crisis Intervention and De-Escalation at the KPD Academy and coordinates the KPD CIT Program. Sergeant Blaine is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. Sergeant Blaine is passionate about mental health, and is an advocate for jail diversion and access to resources for all and is flattered to be working with NAMI as member of the NAMI Knoxville Board of Directors. He is a lifelong Knoxville resident and a Central High School alumnus.

Elaine Blanton is currently the Assistant Director for the Criminal Justice Division at the McNabb Center. She provides administrative oversight and clinical supervision for the Knoxville Co-Response Team, Criminal Justice Liaison Program, Tennessee Recovery Oriented Compliance Strategy Program, Forensic Services, Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center and FACT Team, TDOC Peer Project and therapy for United States Probation. Elaine received her graduate degree in social work from the University of Tennessee in 2010. Elaine has experience working in several social work areas including, pre-school aged trauma victims, adolescents with co-occurring disorders, and adults with mental health, substance use and co-occurring disorders in the criminal justice system. Elaine has been with the McNabb Center for nineteen years. In addition to her duties, she serves on the Knoxville/Knox County/University of Tennessee CIT Board, is a trainer for CIT, and works closely with law enforcement in five jurisdictions.

Officer Nigel Payne is a 14-year veteran of the Memphis Police Department. He currently serves as a patrol officer at Appling Farms Station but previously served as the Crisis Intervention Coordinator at the Memphis Police Department Training Academy. Officer Payne is a Field Training Officer, Crisis Intervention Officer, and a Peer Counselor. Officer Payne is proficient in less-than-lethal weaponry, such as the SL6 and Taser. Officer Nigel Payne enjoys working in the community and has completed several hours of community service by working with juveniles at JIFF (Juvenile Intervention Faith Follow-up), the local juvenile center. He is a graduate of The University of Memphis, with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology. He is a graduate of Bethel University, where he obtained a master’s degree in criminal justice. Officer Payne is married and has two children. He is a proud member and Sgt at Arms of Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity Incorporated, Memphis Chapter. He is a lifelong Memphian and loves Memphis.

Mr. Otis Fox received his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Mississippi, Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of the Air Force, and Associate Degree in Personal Training from Pinnacle Career Institute. He has received several instructing certificates from the Memphis Police Department and Air Force to address the suicide and PTSD management crisis in the military and in the community.

Lieutenant Marcarles Walker, a dedicated Memphis native, commenced his tenure with the Memphis Police Department on January 19, 2009. Throughout his distinguished career spanning nearly 15 years, Lieutenant Walker has exclusively served in the patrol division, demonstrating unwavering commitment and expertise at Raines Station and North Main Station. He assumed the pivotal role of Specialized Training Coordinator at the Training Academy in 2022, where he contributed significantly to basic recruit training initiatives and gathering Crisis Intervention Team data for the department. As a seasoned Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator, Lieutenant Walker obtained certification through CIT International, underscoring his proficiency in crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies. Furthermore, he holds certification in Foundation in Intelligence Analysis, acquired through the prestigious Bureau of Justice Assistance, further amplifying his skill set in data analysis and intelligence gathering. Lieutenant Walker's relentless pursuit of professional development is evidenced by his acquisition of several additional certifications, including Basic Instructor Development, A.L.E.R.R.T Active Shooter Level 1 Train-the-Trainer, and Simunition Scenario Instructor. Notably, he completed the Many Faces of Autism course through the Autism Certification Center and received training in ICAT (Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics) Train-the-Trainer. Beyond his commendable professional achievements, Lieutenant M. Walker finds solace in travel.

First Sergeant Amanda Rourke has served at the Prince William–Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center for 16 years, with distinction, applying Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) principles to both inmate care and staff wellness. CIT-certified in 2018 and an instructor since 2022, she has become a leader in the Greater Prince William CIT Program. Amanda helped develop corrections-specific training modules and regularly contributes to the 40-hour CIT course, where her realistic role-play and compassionate instruction prepare officers for challenging scenarios. In addition to her training role, she co-founded the ADC Wellness and Morale Committee, promoting staff resilience and mental health. Her leadership continues to strengthen both the CIT program and the culture within the detention center.

Eleni is currently a Clinical Services Caseworker for the Prince William- Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center, located in Manassas, VA. She has a total of nine years of experience working with in the mental health field, both overseas and in the United States. She has worked in community health settings, school settings, and forensic settings. Eleni has worked with a wide array of diverse populations, spanning across several socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, religious beliefs and forms of spirituality, and languages; she offers MH services to the non-English speaking Latino population in their native language. Eleni is a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Adult (QMHP-A) specializing in risk assessment, forensic involuntary commitments, risk assessments, suicidality, and diagnostic evaluations. She is also a CIT instructor for Prince William County.

Nicole Wolf earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Temple University in 2006 and has been working in various roles at Lenape Valley Foundation in Bucks County for 20 years. She has held the positions of Crisis Worker, Behavior Specialist, and Mobile Therapist before accepting a leadership role in the Crisis Program. Throughout her journey, she honed her passion for education and advocacy. In January 2021, she became the Director of Education & Training. She is a founding member of the Bucks County Crisis Intervention Team Taskforce and an instructor in the 40-hour certification course. She is a CIT International certified Coordinator and Trainer. In January 2022, she was nominated for and accepted the role of Bucks CIT Taskforce Co-chair.

Dom Dovidio, a graduate of West Chester University, began his law enforcement career in 2015 with Solebury Township and Central Bucks Regional Police. Currently, he holds the rank of Corporal with the Northampton Township Police Department, where he also serves as a Use of Force Instructor, De-escalation Instructor, and Field Sobriety Test (FST) Instructor. In addition to his departmental responsibilities, Dom is a dedicated member of the South-Central Emergency Response Team and has been actively involved in the Bucks Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Task Force since 2022. With a strong commitment to public safety, Dom is passionate about fostering effective communication to enhance both community and officer safety. He prioritizes professionalism in his role, ensuring that officers are equipped with the skills needed to engage respectfully and responsibly.

Meghan Mohon has been working within the CIT world for most of her career. With a B.A. in Psychology & Criminology, and M.A. in Forensic & Legal Psychology, she worked as a CIT Coordinator in Louisiana before making her way to the City of Alexandria, VA, where she was their CIT Coordinator for 3 years. She then became the Crisis Diversion Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services overseeing CIT Assessment Centers across the state. However, when this position with Virginia CIT opened up, she was ready to return to the training world to help VACIT expand into all it can be. Passionate about teaching and training, Meghan is also an adjunct professor for both undergraduate and graduate Forensic & Legal Psychology classes at Marymount University in Arlington, VA.

Jimmy Chapman is the inaugural Executive Director of the Virginia CIT Coalition. He brings 29 years of law enforcement experience with the Roanoke County Police Department, where he retired as Assistant Chief. His involvement with Crisis Intervention Team programs began in the late 1990s. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Chapman holds degrees from SUNY Brockport and Northeastern University, and is committed to advancing CIT initiatives across Virginia.

Nick was a police officer for twenty years and served as the Phoenix Police Department's CIT Coordinator. He has served on numerous Boards and is also the President of Crisis System Solutions, Inc. He has worked diligently on improving public safety and the quality of life in communities by the effective integration and utilization of the Public Health System. Utilizing a System Engineer perspective, he has extensive experience in the area of Crisis Services, Homelessness, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs, Veteran Issues and Suicide Prevention. He has worked closely with Community Behavioral Health, Law-Enforcement and various community stakeholders to develop and help connect silos of care and services, which have improved quality of care, efficiency and fiscal accountability. He has trained 2000+ officers and behavioral-health practitioner, is author of The Five-Legged Stool: A Model for CIT Program Successt; published in IACP's The Police Chief Magazine and & No Wrong-Door-The Integration of Law-Enforcement and Crisis Stabilization; National Council Magazine, 2016 Issue 1, and has been selected for numerous national presentations on improving public safety, via collaboration with public behavioral health.

Rob is a Tempe Police Sergeant who brings over ten years’ experience working to improve public safety the quality of life in the community, by effective integration and utilization of the Public Behavioral Health System. As Co-Coordinator for the Phoenix-Metro CIT Program, he has direct experience in training as well as extensive experience working directly with individuals in crisis, homeless individuals and the Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA). Rob works closely with Community Behavioral Health, Law‐ Enforcement and various community stakeholders, by developing and helping to connect silos of care and services. Rob also serves as the President of the Tempe Officers Association (TOA), has served on several behavioral-health related community boards and helped design and implement the Full‐Time Homeless Outreach Police Officer Position.

Det. Sabrina Taylor has been a police officer for over 20 years. She served 5 years on the Los Angeles Police Department and 18 years with Phoenix Police Department. Sabrina has been a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) certified officer for 16 years and is currently assigned to the Phoenix Police Continuous Improvement Unit as the CIT coordinator. She is also the former 1st Vice President of CIT International and assists other agencies with their CIT programs. She serves as a subject matter expert law enforcement mental health training for the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board as well as for CIT International training programs. She is 1 of 7 authors of the CIT International Best Practice Guide as well as various other publications, has her master’s degree in public administration, and is a 3rd year PhD student at Arizona State University.

Joseph Blanchette is the Senior Director of Outpatient Services at Directions for Living, bringing nearly two years with the organization and over 14 years of experience in non-profit behavioral health. His career began as a Forensic Case Manager, and he has extensive experience collaborating with Felony Mental Health Courts, Drug Courts, and other problem-solving court initiatives. Joseph holds a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and Rehabilitation from Barry University and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor in Florida.

Mara Macchia is the Supervisor of Mental Health Court at Directions for Living, where she has served for nearly two years. After beginning her career in higher education, Mara transitioned to the social work field in 2023 and quickly discovered that her passion for helping others was best fulfilled through direct community impact. Her experience as a Justice Advocate in the courthouse deepened her understanding of the significant overlap between mental health and the criminal justice system and highlighted the urgent need for more accessible resources. This experience continues to drive her leadership and advocacy within the Mental Health Court program. Mara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminology and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership. She is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor at Stetson University College of Law, with plans to graduate in May 2026. Mara intends to use her legal education to further advocate for mental health reform and the expansion of supportive resources within the justice system.

Sara M. Hnilica, LMHC-QS, is a licensed psychotherapist and behavioral health leader committed to transforming crisis care with compassion and accountability. Licensed in Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, she brings a broad, systems-informed perspective to mobile response and community-based behavioral health services. Her clinical experience spans inpatient hospitalization, PHP/IOP, and private practice, alongside leadership in quality compliance and program development. A proud graduate of the University of Georgia and the University of Miami, Sara’s academic foundation uniquely blends mathematics and studio arts, disciplines that shape both her analytical precision and creative problem-solving approach to complex behavioral health challenges. Driven by a deep passion for advocacy, Sara works to reduce stigma, expand equitable access to care, and strengthen interdisciplinary crisis response systems. Through trauma-informed, evidence-based practice, she champions mobile response as a bridge between safety and dignity. Her mission is to equip providers with practical tools while inspiring a culture of courage, clinical excellence, and hope within evolving community mental health systems.

Jasmine Quander-Smith is a Mobile Response Team clinician who has been with the program for 2 years. In her role as a clinician, Jasmine dispatches to community crisis calls, providing mental health crisis assessment services, deescalation, as well as coordination of follow-up support services. Jasmine earned her BA in Interpersonal Communication from UNC Chapel Hill and MS in School Counseling from John’s Hopkins University. Jasmine began her career in mental health as a School Counselor with Broward County Schools for 7 years. She then gained her licensure in Clinical Mental Health and began working with Westcare as an outpatient therapist for at-risk youth. In 2024 she joined the Mobile Response Team as a clinician. Jasmine has since expanded her role to include Crisis Intervention Team instructor and Mobile Response Team presenter. Jasmine has been in the mental health field for 14 years and is most passionate about supporting at-risk populations and educating communities about identifying and treating mental health concerns.

Rolando Nooks is a corrections practitioner and systems thinker working at the intersection of technology and human services. His work focuses on how custodial and community supervision systems respond to grief, trauma, and critical life events, and the operational consequences when those moments are left unmanaged. He is the founder of Compassionate Reprieve, developed through direct collaboration with correctional leaders, chaplaincy services, mental-health professionals, and community organizations. With more than twenty-five years of experience designing and operating complex technical and service systems, Rolando approaches bereavement as an issue of institutional stability, risk management, and rehabilitation rather than sentiment alone. He is recognized for advancing the idea that grief must be treated as public infrastructure, essential to safety, engagement, and reintegration outcomes. His work is grounded in practice and shaped by partnerships across public, private, and non-profit sectors. Rolando also serves as a Founding Architect at Human Systems, where he leads applied think-tank work focused on juvenile justice and designing the next generation of systemic alternatives to incarceration.

Joe Smarro is a decorated United States Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He later joined the San Antonio Police Department, where he spent 15 years in patrol and specialized assignments, including 11 years in the department’s pioneering Mental Health Unit. As one of its original officers, Joe helped develop and expand a nationally recognized best-practices co-response policing program serving individuals in behavioral health crisis. Joe is the co-founder and CEO of SolutionPoint+, a national training and consulting organization that has worked with law enforcement, corrections, dispatch, fire/EMS, and behavioral health professionals across North America to strengthen crisis response, de-escalation, and responder wellness practices. He left SAPD in 2020 to advance system change efforts focused on improving outcomes for both first responders and the communities they serve. Joe is widely known for his role in the Emmy Award-winning documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops and for his TEDx talk I See You. He is the author of Unarmed: De-escalation Techniques to Cultivate Courage, Compassion, and Connection and remains committed to advancing suicide prevention and mental wellness in public safety professions.

Dawn is a mother of two sons, and a lifelong resident of Pinellas County for more than 40 years. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to crisis response and mental health education. She is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist for family members and a Facilitator for Youth Mental Health First Aid, with extensive experience supporting individuals and families navigating mental health challenges. She recently retired from the Pinellas County School Board, where she served for 15 years as the Employee Wellness Coordinator, leading initiatives focused on prevention, resilience, and workplace mental well-being. Her professional work is deeply informed by personal experience; her oldest son, Scott, was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 23. Through this journey, she has had direct interactions with both CIT-trained and non-CIT-trained law enforcement officers, offering a unique perspective on how crisis response practices impact families on scene. She is the founder of Speak Up: Let’s Talk About Mental Health, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to education, stigma reduction, and community engagement. She is an active volunteer with NAMI, trained to facilitate multiple NAMI programs, and is also a Certified CIT Program Coordinator, working to strengthen collaboration between families, mental health systems, and law enforcement.

Johnny has been a long-standing leader in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) development and mental health advocacy in Pinellas County and across Florida. In 1999, he played a key role in launching CIT in Pinellas County, making NAMI Pinellas the first NAMI affiliate in Florida to implement a CIT program and helping set the standard for collaborative crisis response statewide. His contributions to the field have been widely recognized. Johnny is a recipient of the CIT Consumer Award and the IRIS Award for excellence in mental health advocacy and community impact. He is also a NAMI Smarts for Advocacy teacher, training individuals and leaders to effectively advocate for improved mental health systems and policies. In addition to community-based and law enforcement training, Johnny has helped lead specialized instruction for federal law enforcement, including training with the FBI focused on mental health issues encountered in high-risk and crisis situations.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Miami Beach, Florida. Bo grew up without a father and was raised by his mother, who was in and out of his life. Bo's mother experienced a lot of trauma and pain throughout her life. She dealt with the passing away of Bo's oldest brother and sister, whose lives both ended as young adults (Bo never had the opportunity to meet them). Bo's brother passed away from Aids, homeless on the streets and his sister's life was taken. Bo was a young child and teenager, growing up with so much sorrow, depression, loneliness and poverty. Eventually, he ended up on the streets of South Beach. He began using drugs, alcohol, committing crimes and coming close to taking his life. He found himself dropping out of school, in and out of the juvenile detention system and ending up homeless, on the streets of Miami Beach. He would go on for years ending up chronically homeless and hopeless, until he met a couple of angels, who never gave up offering him hope, support, and an opportunity off the streets.

Yolanda Cruz is an advocate for inclusivity in law enforcement with over 20 years of experience. Inspired by her sibling’s disabilities, she advances disability awareness and response training as a Police Academy Instructor for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). She also serves on the Board of Directors for CIT International, supporting Crisis Intervention Team initiatives.

Commander Leonard LaFrance has nearly 19 years of service with the Eureka Police Department and currently serves as the Patrol Commander. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, education that has shaped his systems-based, collaborative approach to crisis response and community safety. In 2018, while serving as a Sergeant, he founded the Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET) to proactively address homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorder, and individuals experiencing crisis. What began as a small, specialized unit grew to include outreach workers and mental health professionals working together to focus on upstream intervention—preventing crises before they occur and helping individuals move toward long-term stability. In 2019, the work of CSET was featured in the PBS documentary Addicts Among Us, which explored the long-term impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). From 2018 to 2022, Commander LaFrance supervised crisis response operations, implemented advanced de-escalation strategies, and built partnerships across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, Tribal agencies, and private industry. He co-coordinates Humboldt County’s 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team training and contributes to statewide POST curriculum development. In 2025, he was named CIT International’s Law Enforcement Executive of the Year.

Jacob Rosen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with a career focused on acute psychiatric care and behavioral health crisis response. He currently serves as the Managing Mental Health Clinician for the City of Eureka’s crisis team, Crisis Alternative Response of Eureka (CARE). Jacob plays a central role in Humboldt County’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program as both a steering committee member and CIT coordinator. He regularly provides training to law enforcement, behavioral health professionals, and community partners on de-escalation, involuntary detainments, suicide risk assessment, and other crisis response practices. In addition to his clinical leadership, Jacob is a trained crisis negotiator and active member of the Humboldt County Crisis Negotiations Team. Across roles ranging from frontline crisis response to high-risk negotiations, Jacob emphasizes a consistent principle: effective crisis intervention begins with authentic human connection. His work focuses on strengthening collaboration between behavioral health and law enforcement while promoting practical, relationship-driven approaches to crisis engagement.

Andrea Smith serves as Director of Community Engagement with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. In this role, Andrea leads the oversight, development, implementation, and monitoring of clinical service models. During her tenure, Andrea has been instrumental in the implementation of the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for law enforcement in Wayne County, Michigan. She has seventeen years of increasing expertise within the field of health and human services. Her prior experiences have included division manager, program evaluator, project manager, veteran supportive housing coordinator, lecturer, research associate, and child development specialist. In addition to being a featured interviewee on multiple local news stations, Andrea has received recognition for her contributions, receiving multiple awards. A dedicated community leader, Andrea serves as the Wayne County Suicide Prevention Chair and sits on several advisory boards, including the Wayne County Community Corrections Advisory Board, Wayne State University's Center for Social Work Research, and the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research. She holds a master’s degree in social work and has completed all coursework toward a Doctorate in Health Administration.

James E. White is a servant leader dedicated to advancing behavioral health services in Detroit and Wayne County as President and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN). He drives sustainable growth by expanding access to mental health and substance use services, strengthening provider networks, and ensuring vulnerable residents know help is available. White brings extensive public service experience, having served as Detroit Police Chief for four years, where he navigated federal consent agreements and championed the Crisis Intervention Team program—pairing officers with clinicians to respond to mental health calls. As Chief, he led the department through the NFL Draft, a major national event that drew over 700,000 attendees in a single weekend—the largest in league history—while partnering with DWIHN coresponse-trained officers. He also served as Executive Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, bridging law enforcement with protecting residents' rights across housing, education, and public services in underrepresented communities. A state-licensed mental health counselor, White holds degrees from Wayne County Community College, Wayne State University, and Central Michigan University, including an MBA and Honorary Doctorate from Cleary University. His career reflects a deep commitment to strengthening critical partnerships between law enforcement and behavioral health to serve the community.

Captain Derrick Griffin leads the Detroit Police Department's co-response efforts and manages community policing and neighborhood safety initiatives. Griffin's team has been instrumental in transforming how the department responds to mental health crises. He recognizes that individuals in crisis often fear police intervention, despite officers' intent to help. The department responds to over 16,000 mental health calls annually—averaging more than 40 per day. Griffin actively leads multi-agency crime reduction initiatives across Detroit. His work extends beyond traditional law enforcement to incorporate building inspectors, animal control, and health department officials to address quality-of-life issues for residents.

Larry Friedland holds a Master's in Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary with a concentration Pastoral Counseling, Spiritual Direction, and Chaplaincy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from Florida State University. He has served as Training and Development for Valley Community Services Board in Staunton, Virginia for the last 20 years creating and delivering training content in dozens of topics for VCSB as well as agencies, schools, and private organizations throughout the Shenandoah Valley. In addition to his work at VCSB, Larry has served as a Police Chaplain for the Waynesboro Police Department since 2018. Larry has served as the training coordinator for Blue Ridge CIT for the last 15 years and recently received his CITI Coordinator certification. Larry has created and delivered curricula for 49 Basic and Instructor level certification courses since the program began in 2010. A Therapeutic Options instructor for over 20 years, Larry has trained thousands of students in verbal and physical crisis de-escalation response. In addition to this, Larry works professionally performing, teaching, and choreographing theatrical violence for and with actors of all ages for schools and theatres throughout the Shenandoah Valley.

Kelly is a retired Police Captain who served for 35 years as a sworn officer, supervisor and administrator with the Waynesboro Police Department. He has experience in Patrol, Investigations, Crime Prevention, as well as Support Services. In addition, Kelly is a trained Crisis Negotiator who served for 23 years on the department’s Crisis Negotiations Unit as a team member, unit commander and finally as Unit Manager. Kelly has served as the coordinator for Blue Ridge CIT for over 13 years and is certified by CIT International as a CIT Coordinator. He has been an active DCJS General Instructor for over 30 years and has instructed numerous courses including Juvenile Law, traffic stops, search and seizure and laws of arrest. Kelly also served as a patrol field training officer for 5 years and for several years as a Virginia DARE Instructor being certified to teach elementary, middle school and high school DARE. In addition he has been a CIT Instructor since 2009 and a CIT TTT Instructor since 2010. Teaching various CIT blocks including role play and evaluation of student performance in 49 CIT 40 hour trainings. He has presented on various topics to numerous community and professional groups.

Professor, Wayne State University School of Social Work. Dr. Watson is a mental health services researcher focused on people with serious mental illnesses who come in contact with the criminal legal system. She has conducted extensive research on police encounters with persons with mental illnesses and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model. Her current work examines models to reduce or eliminate the role of law enforcement in mental health crisis response. Her direct practice experience includes working as a probation officer serving clients with serious mental illnesses and as a Forensic Social Worker on death penalty cases.

Program Manager, Behavioral Health Crisis Provider Training, Wayne State University School of Social Work. Meghan co-developed the CARES Model and leads the Behavioral Health Crisis Provider Training program. She has over 10 years of experience in clinical and crisis services. Prior to Wayne State, she supervised crisis services, jail services, and a CIT program at a community mental health organization. She currently serves on the Calhoun County hostage negotiator team and is a former CIT International Board member.

Behavioral Health Crisis Provider Training Specialist, Wayne State University School of Social Work. Melinda brings 15 years of behavioral health experience across community mental health, inpatient psychiatric care, and community crisis response with law enforcement. She co-developed the CARES Model and helps develop and deliver the Behavioral Health Crisis Provider Training. Named Michigan CIT Clinician of the Year (2019), she also serves on the NASW-Michigan Board of Directors.

Brandon Styles is a recovery advocate, speaker, and community leader whose work is rooted in lived experience, hope, and service. As a person in long-term recovery, he delivers honest, hope-centered messaging that bridges personal insight with practical knowledge for professionals, community members, and those directly impacted by addiction and crisis. Brandon serves as Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist with Metro Drug Coalition, strengthening community response and expanding education around substance use, overdose prevention, and recovery. He is pursuing his LADAC credential, directs Sage Recovery — a men’s recovery housing program — and serves as 2nd Vice President of NAMI Knoxville. He has delivered keynotes at the Knoxville Day Reporting Center, Community Corrections Day Reporting Center, East Tennessee Wellness Roundtable, and the Tennessee Leadership Academy, among others, and has been named a Hope Ambassador at the 2026 Rx Summit in Nashville. His work has earned the Community Impact Award from Turn Up Knox, the Serve Award from Young Professionals of Knoxville, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Tennessee Department of Corrections. For CIT audiences in particular, Brandon’s message is a powerful reminder that people in crisis are more than their hardest moment — and that compassionate intervention can change everything.

David Roberts brings more than three decades of distinguished service in law enforcement and public service. His career began in the United States Coast Guard where he spent over 20 years in a variety of leadership roles and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He went on to serve nearly two decades with the Oklahoma City Police Department, ultimately achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. In 2010, David started David Roberts Consulting, LLC, providing professional security services to businesses, large-scale events, and mental health facilities. Building on this expertise, he launched RIDECARE in partnership with the State of Oklahoma in 2021. Created to fill a critical gap in behavioral health services, RIDECARE offers safe, reliable transport for individuals requiring psychiatric care. As the largest secure transportation provider in Oklahoma, RIDECARE reduces barriers, improves access to treatment, and supports some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

For over 10 years he served in the role of Medical Director for 3 State Psychiatric hospitals, including inpatient and 3 outpatient sites until 4/30/12. Since 5/1/12, he has served as the Medical Director for the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board. He helped start CIT in Lucas County in 2001 and has coordinated CIT in Summit County Ohio for almost 14 years. He helped create and launch the Summit County Outreach (mobile crisis) Team in 2024. During the past 28 years in Ohio Dr. Smith has been involved academically, serving as Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toledo and at the UHHS-Case School of Medicine. In 2012 he additionally joined the Psychiatry Faculty at the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) where he is a full Professor and the Director of Community Psychiatry, He has given more than 200 presentations to a wide range of professionals, students, and the public at many venues in Ohio and at regional and national meetings. He has co-authored more than 20 publications. Dr. Smith has continued to be active at the state level, particularly with NAMI Ohio.

Brianna Day, MSW, LSW, earned both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Social Work from Chamberlain University. Her interdisciplinary education in nursing and social work provides a unique perspective on behavioral health crisis response, systems leadership, and integrated care. Brianna serves as the Senior Director of Crisis & Emergency Services at Portage Path Behavioral Health, where she leads one of Ohio's most comprehensive community behavioral health crisis continuums. She provides strategic and operational leadership for Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES), a 16-bed Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for Summit and Lake counties, and the Summit County Outreach Team (SCOUT), a co-responder program in partnership with the Akron Police Department and Akron Fire Department. Prior to her current role, Brianna served as Mobile Crisis Manager, where she provided leadership during the development and expansion of the SCOUT co-responder program. She has been instrumental in advancing innovative crisis response initiatives that strengthen collaboration among behavioral health providers, law enforcement, EMS, hospitals, emergency communications, courts, and community partners. Her leadership has helped create diversion pathways that connect individuals experiencing behavioral health crises to timely, compassionate care while reducing unnecessary emergency department utilization, arrests, and justice system involvement. Throughout her career, Brianna has focused on building collaborative systems that improve access to behavioral health care, strengthen cross-system partnerships, and expand community-based crisis response. She is passionate about translating evidence-based practices into sustainable, real-world crisis services that improve outcomes for individuals while supporting first responders and behavioral health professionals.

Cory is a Lieutenant/paramedic with the City of Akron Fire Department in Akron, Ohio, assigned to overseeing the EMS bureau. Part of the responsibilities include overseeing some of the specialty programs that the department provides such as, R.E.A.C.H. - Resources, Education and Advocacy for Community Health, S.C.O.U.T-Summit County Outreach Team and the QRT-Quick Response Team. Prior onboarding with the City of Akron, he worked in several capacities at the Boardman Township (OH) Fire Department. With a wide array of experience and interests, he has an investigative background from working as a fire investigator as well as previous law enforcement experience. He also serves as an instructor for the University of Akron, the City of Akron and for Mahoning County Career and Technical Center. A native of Western Pennsylvania, Cory attained an associate’s degree in business management from Eastern Gateway Community College, Youngstown, OH. Cory is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in fire administration.

Sgt. Donohue is a supervisor in the Patrol Division of the Akron Police Department. Prior to his time with the Akron Police Department he was a licensed social worker. He had worked at the Summit County Board of MR/DD, Summit County Children’s Services Board and the Akron Children’s Hospital Medical Center. While at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center he was assigned to the Emergency Department as well as the CARE CENTER, where he did evaluations of children who were possible victims of physical/sexual abuse. Sgt. Donohue has been a Field Training Officer (FTO), Bicycle Officer and CIT Officer in the department. He has also been a detective with the Gun Violence Reduction Tactical Unit. Sgt. Donohue is currently the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator with the Akron Police Department. Sgt. Donohue received his BA in Social Work from the University of Akron. He also holds a Master in Social Service Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

Drea Letamendi, Ph.D., LCP, is a clinical psychologist, mental health trainer, and two-time TEDx speaker. She earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her Masters and PhD from the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. After completing her predoctoral internship at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center and her postdoctoral appointment at UCLA’s Department of Psychology, Dr. Letamendi worked with community-based mental health agencies contracted with the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, building and implementing crisis training programs to service providers across L.A. County. Since 2017, she has served UCLA as a campus mental health leader, which included 3 years as the Interim Director of the UCLA Resilience Center and 8 years as the Associate Director of Mental Health Training, Intervention, and Response in Residential Life. In March of 2025, Dr. Letamendi was appointed the Inaugural Director of the Compassionate Response (CORE), UCLA's first mobile crisis response program. As a CIT Coordinator, Dr. Letamendi brings a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed, and compassionate approach to her program’s initiatives.

Fabi Leon is a Threat Management Unit Sergeant with the UCLA Police Department, where she specializes in threat assessment, oversees criminal investigations, and the management of persons of concern within a university setting. A UCLA graduate with a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies (2010), she has served the department as a patrol officer, detective, and crisis intervention–trained responder for 12 years. She also leads the department’s Peer Support Team as Sergeant, supporting officer wellness and resilience. Fabi is passionate about improving responses to mental health and crisis-related calls and works to bridge gaps between law enforcement and the community. Fabi is a member of UCLA’s Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) and the Consultation and Response Team (CRT). Through multidisciplinary collaboration across campus partners, she promotes proactive, prevention-focused strategies that strengthen safety and care within the university community.

Eduardo Caldera, LPCC, is an Assistant Clinical Director at the Counseling & Psychological Services Department, manager of the Triton CORE, Mobile Compassionate Response Team, at the University of California, San Diego. He has spent over 10 years specializing in mobile response and behavioral health crisis response across community and campus-based settings. Born in Managua, Nicaragua and raised in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Eduardo earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and his master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. His career has centered on high-acuity and field-based crisis work, as a firefighter in Albemarle County, VA, work in crisis residential programs, and as a clinician with San Diego’s Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT). Across these roles, he has developed experience in rapid risk assessment, de-escalation, culturally responsive care, and coordinated case management aimed at stabilizing acute crises while reducing future system involvement. At UC San Diego, he leads the development of a student-centered, trauma-informed, clinician-led crisis response model that prioritizes safety, dignity, and stabilization without default reliance on law enforcement.

Anne LaForce is a Licensed Psychological Associate with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She has over 29 years of extensive experience in the field of clinical psychology, developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental disorders. She has worked in a variety of mental health and community services and continues to provide consultation to local and state entities on improving the quality of and access to mental health care for people with I/DD. Currently, Anne serves as The Director of Therapeutic Coaching and Senior Project Manager for the National Center for START Services. In her capacity, she provides training and consultation to START teams across the country, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to support people with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. Her leadership extends to facilitating monthly practice groups for Therapeutic Coaching Team Leads and Clinical Directors, where she fosters collaboration and growth among professionals in the START team network. Anne's areas of expertise are particularly focused on trauma and trauma-informed practices, crisis prevention and intervention, and the assessment of biopsychosocial factors. Her commitment to implementing positive psychology practices reflects her belief in the power of resilience and strengths-based approaches to foster well-being.

Jill Hinton, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with people with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and mental illness. Dr. Hinton is the Clinical Director for The Center for START Services where she provides consultation and training across the country, ensures clinical integrity in START practices and training, and facilitates a monthly practice group for START program clinical directors. During her career, she has worked with the Autism Society of NC, and The Arc of NC, and Easter Seals UCP in provision of supports to individuals and families. Jill also provides consultation and training on intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, mental health issues in people with IDD, trauma informed care, trauma and grief in people with IDD, and a variety of other topics.

John serves as Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board where he handles matters related to program policy development, legislative review, and decertification. Prior to joining ILETSB, John served as a civil attorney and as legislative counsel for the Illinois General Assembly. 

Megan Cambron is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) where she helped to develop their co-response program, REACH (Response Evaluation and Crisis Help).  REACH partners social workers called Crisis Responders with specially trained CIT officers known as Behavioral Health Detectives as the primary response team to police calls that have some component of mental health concerns. Megan coordinates REACH, supervises the Crisis Responders on the team, and is a certified trainer through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, training both officers and co-responders in the field.

Tony Rigano retired as a Lieutenant from the Elgin, Illinois police department in June 2025 with over 22 years in Law Enforcement. He has 20 years-experience as a CIT Officer and Instructor for ILETSB and created his own company, ARC Training Collaborative, where he teaches de-escalation in the private sector. He created three separate co-response initiatives for the Elgin Police Department and the Kane County States’ Attorney’s Office between 2016 and 2021 which are still operational today.

Michael Pracht is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and 22-year military veteran with extensive experience in emergency response, crisis intervention, and behavioral health partnerships with law enforcement and first responder agencies. His Army service includes deployments to Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where he flew as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot supporting air assault, general support, MEDEVAC, and special missions, operating in high-risk environments where rapid decision-making, teamwork, and composure under pressure were critical. With a career that spans both frontline service and clinical leadership, he brings a unique, mission-driven perspective to trauma-informed care and the delivery of mental health services in high-stress environments. Mike specializes in practicing and teaching de-escalation strategies, trauma-informed care, supporting high-risk individuals through acute and ongoing crises, and building integrated response models that bridge mental health and public safety. Currently serving as a Senior Director with Catholic Charities, he leads innovative initiatives that improve access to care, strengthen community-based responses to behavioral health challenges, and promote integrated, trauma-informed service delivery. In addition, he provides behavioral health consulting to organizations, supporting program development, workforce training, and cross-system collaboration aligned with his deep commitment to advancing public safety and mental wellness through education and evidence-informed practices.

Edward Constantine is an Investigator with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office in Central New York, where he has served for 11 years. He is currently assigned to the agency’s Mental Health Unit, responding to calls involving individuals experiencing emotional or psychological distress, conducting follow-up investigations, managing Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and supporting data-driven response initiatives that inform training, resource deployment, and long-term strategic planning. He works alongside his certified therapy dog, Addie, a Golden Retriever, who assists with crisis response when appropriate and participates in community outreach events throughout the county, helping to build trust and strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the public. Ed also serves on the department’s Peer Support Team, Wellness Committee, and is an active member of the Oneida County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Prior to his law enforcement career, Ed served seven years in the United States Marine Corps (2009–2017), including deployments to Afghanistan and Kuwait. His experience as a machine gunner, retrograde officer, and platoon sergeant shaped his leadership philosophy and reinforced his belief that effective service, whether in the military or civilian community, begins with communication, adaptability, and listening.

Michael Vasconez, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with a diverse background in crisis response, child welfare, community behavioral health, and early psychosis intervention. He began his career in the child welfare system, first as a Dependency Case Manager and later as a Child Protection Investigator with the Florida Department of Children and Families, gaining frontline experience in safety assessment and crisis decision making. From 2017 to 2021, Michael served as an Evaluation Coordinator for a minority youth violence prevention initiative by Gang Alternative, Inc. at Florida International University. Since 2017, he has also worked with the NAVIGATE program at Citrus Health Network, providing evidence-based, coordinated specialty care for individuals experiencing first episode psychosis. In 2023, he was invited as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Miami Dade County’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, where he helped develop an innovative clinician–peer co presentation model. In 2024, Michael launched a private practice dedicated to cultivating support for first responders. Michael holds a purple belt in Shintō Yōshin Kai Jujutsu, a traditional samurai art that stresses balance, patience, and calm under pressure. He incorporates these principles into his clinical approach and his work with first responders.

Alfredo served as a Peer Support Specialist with the NAVIGATE Program at Citrus Health Network, where he supported individuals experiencing first‑episode psychosis for three years. His work was grounded in both professional training and his own lived experience of psychosis and recovery. Alfredo navigated a period of active psychosis lasting approximately six to nine months, following years of declining mental health beginning in adolescence. Prior to joining the team, Alfredo participated in and graduated from the NAVIGATE program himself. Through that experience, he achieved meaningful improvements in his mental health and developed a renewed sense of purpose and direction. This journey informed his approach to peer support, allowing him to connect authentically with those he served. Alfredo also incorporated creative expression into his work, using art, music, and writing as tools for reflection, coping, and meaning making. He viewed creativity as a powerful pathway for understanding internal experiences and fostering healing. Through his work, Alfredo emphasized connection, shared humanity, and hope, supporting individuals as they navigated their recovery journeys.

As Chief Operating Officer for Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN), Trisha Zizumbo provides strategic leadership and oversight of the organization’s operations, programs, and services. A key member of the executive leadership team, she plays a vital role in advancing OCHN’s mission, goals, and long-term vision. Trisha also represents OCHN through active participation in local, state, and national workgroups focused on improving behavioral health systems and community well-being. Since joining OCHN in October 2018, Trisha has built strong partnerships with providers, county leaders, and community stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and service delivery across Oakland County. Prior to her current role, she served as OCHN’s Director of Training and Justice Initiatives, where she led impactful programs such as the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM), and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) workgroup. Before joining OCHN, Trisha held leadership and public health roles with the Oakland County Health Division, Oakland County Children’s Village, and Ionia County Health Department. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) and holds a Master of Science in Administration (MSA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Education and Spanish from Central Michigan University.

Captain Todd Hill is a thirty-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, serving as the Commander of the Homeland Security, Wellness & Professional Development (HSWPD) Division. Captain Hill oversees the Training Unit, Force Analysis Unit, Crisis Response Unit, Recruiting & Retention Unit, Accreditation, the Peer Support Team, the Comfort K9 Program and is K9 Cali’s Handler. Captain Hill implemented the agency’s CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) program in 2015 and the agency’s Peer Support Team in 2017. Captain Hill was the Incident Commander at the agency’s Line of Duty Death in 2017 and the Incident Commander for the 2021 Oxford High School Mass Casualty Shooting. Captain Hill has previously served as a Substation Commander for the contracted area of Independence Township (Patrol Services Division) and has worked in several other areas of the Sheriff's Office, including the Satellite/Court Services Division; Pontiac Division; Investigative and Forensic Services Division (as a Fugitive Unit and Auto Theft Detective); Uniformed Patrol in the Alcohol Enforcement, Crash Reconstruction and Motor Units; and the Corrective Services Division. Captain Hill has received numerous awards, including Command Officer of the Year (2016), Meritorious Service Citations, Professional Excellence Citations and Distinguished Unit Citations.

Kiran Sahota has been working in the social services sector for three decades. Her role as a social worker led to many opportunities in county and nonprofit employment, including developing independent living skills for transitional-aged youth, CIT training for law enforcement, and building mental health innovation and prevention programs within a large county mental health plan. In 2020, Ms. Sahota retired from county mental health as a Senior Behavioral Health Manager. Since retiring, Ms. Sahota has been working as the President and CEO of Concepts Forward Consulting. Through her consulting business, she is working with multiple California counties on a statewide Innovations impact project to test digital Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs). During this time, she was also a Medi-Cal EQRO Reviewer working with county Mental Health Plans, reporting the quality of services rendered to the Medi-Cal members. She continues to provide organizations with her expertise in strategic planning, outcomes, evaluation, and quality review. Ms. Sahota has made significant contributions to community behavioral health programming. She has worked on quality improvement, program evaluation, and digital transformation with a global lens to enhance community service and drive systemic change. Ms. Sahota holds a Master's degree in Clinical and Community Psychology.

Isaiah Hicks is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over 20 years of experience in public safety. Having started his career with the Orange County Sheriff's Department in 2003, he brings a wealth of knowledge from a diverse range of roles, including working at correctional facilities, as well as extensive experience in patrol operations. With more than a decade of service in South and North Operations, he has developed a deep understanding of community policing and tactical response. Currently serving as a Master Field Training Officer with the Behavioral Health Bureau, Isaiah specializes in training new and current officers and enhancing the department's approach to mental health crisis intervention. As a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Instructor and Facilitator, he plays a key role in shaping the department’s efforts to respond effectively to mental health emergencies.

Michael Rompal is a retired Sergeant with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, where he served for 26 years in various capacities. Throughout his career, he held multiple supervisory and training roles, gaining extensive experience in crisis management and intervention. As the Administrative Sergeant at the department's largest substation, Michael became the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Coordinator, overseeing the program’s implementation and leading efforts to enhance the department’s handling of mental health crises. In addition to his law enforcement career, Michael is an adjunct professor in the Administration of Criminal Justice Program at Ventura Community College, where he shares his knowledge with aspiring criminal justice professionals. As the first responder training manager for Concepts Forward Consulting and CIT Certified, he specializes in training and program development and Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) tools to help first responders navigate and de-escalate mental health situations. Committed to improving the relationship between law enforcement and the mental health community, Michael believes that trust and transparent communication are the foundation of effective crisis intervention.

Jared Mayhue is dedicated to transforming the behavioral healthcare system. Combining his academic background in sociology with practical experience, he focuses on addressing systemic flaws and inequalities. Through collaboration with stakeholders and communities, Jared champions innovative strategies for holistic and equitable care. A priority focus is working with Transitional-Age Youth (TAY), highlighting this often-overlooked demographic. A Certified Peer Support Specialist driven by empathy and research, Jared advocates for a future where behavioral health support is accessible and reflective of diverse needs.

Sharon Doncourt is the Director of Victim Services for the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office in Florida where she oversees victim advocacy programs and develops initiatives to improve law enforcement responses to vulnerable populations. With a professional background in mental health services, she developed and currently supervises the agency’s co-responder program, which deploys mental health professionals to respond with deputies on mental health crisis calls. While pursuing her PhD in Psychology from Liberty University, Sharon conducted research analyzing body-worn camera footage of law enforcement encounters with individuals experiencing mental health crises. Her work focuses on identifying communication patterns and behavioral dynamics that influence escalation and de-escalation during crisis calls, with the goal of translating real-world encounters into practical strategies that strengthen crisis response and officer decision-making.

Julie Collinson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with a Master’s in Professional Mental Health Counseling and Addictions Studies from Lewis & Clark College. Since 2006, she has advanced behavioral health and public safety across Oregon. Her career began with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, where she developed training programs and organized nationally recognized conferences on child abuse, domestic violence, search and rescue, and peer support. In 2014, she became Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator, strengthening collaborative crisis response efforts. In 2018, Julie joined the Oregon Department of Corrections, creating parenting programs, curricula, and family support services for adults in custody. Since 2020, she has served as Behavioral Health Program Coordinator at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training’s Center for Policing Excellence. Certified in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), Julie is a clinical member of DPSST’s Peer Support and Threat Assessment Teams. She also maintains a private practice specializing in trauma-focused care for first responders and military professionals and frequently delivers training locally and nationally on crisis intervention, veterans’ awareness, resiliency, de-escalation, and stress management.