CIT & Mental Health Service Accessibility in Police Encounters: Impact on Outcomes of Persons with SMI

Department Lead: Melissa Morabito

Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health 1R01MH096744-01A1 , $704,827 (P.I., Amy Watson, University of Illinois, Chicago)

This project aims to examine the role of variability in availability of/access to mental health services as they relate to the widely implemented Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of collaboration between law enforcement and mental health. The research addresses a critical knowledge gap in mental health intervention and services research, as little research has examined the role of mental health service accessibility on the effectiveness of CIT, especially in terms of safety, mental health service utilization and engagement, and criminal justice system involvement of individuals with serious mental illnesses.