Creating powerful learning opportunities, customized to meet the needs of our public safety partners, is at the core of NCPI’s mission and the services we provide. That doesn’t always look like “training” in the traditional sense; rather, it’s often one-on-one connections built between our team and local practitioners throughout the country.
This month, NCPI facilitated a peer-to-peer learning experience between the Anchorage (Alaska) Police Department’s Mobile Intervention Team (MIT) and the King County (Washington) Sheriff’s Office’s Therapeutic Response Unit (TRU), both of which utilize a co-responder program to serve community members experiencing mental and behavioral health emergencies.
Offered as technical assistance through NCPI’s CIT ASSIST Community of Practice, the engagement centered upon APD MIT members visiting King County to learn from their colleagues in real-time, observe field responses, shadow deployments, and connect directly with TRU program leaders to share ideas and experiences.
The 3-day site visit was packed with opportunities for the APD MIT members to learn from the more established TRU program, with the goal being to adopt and adapt strategies that improve service delivery, reduce repeat crisis calls, and ensure safer outcomes for both individuals in crisis and responding personnel in Anchorage.
We hope this site visit is just the beginning of the journey to greater internal capacity for the APD MIT, and we’re grateful to the King County Sheriff’s Office for openly sharing their knowledge and best practices.
If you are interested in being part of something similar, please contact us to explore our Services. To learn more about how NCPI can help you, click the links below.