Emergency Services

Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) are programs that bring together local stakeholders, including:

• Consumers of Mental Health Services
• Emergency Dispatchers
• Law Enforcement Officers
• Mental Health Treatment Providers
• Others, such as:
  • Hospitals
  • Emergency Medical Care Facilities
  • Family Advocates
  • Non-law enforcement First Responders

Goal of CIT

The goal is to improve multi-systems’ response to persons experiencing behavioral health crises who come into contact with law enforcement first responders.

Training

The Middle Peninsula Northern Neck CIT program has four trainings annually throughout the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. In addition, there are two CIT assessment centers located in Kilmarnock and Gloucester. The Recovery Assessment Support Centers (RASC) is staffed with a CIT trained law enforcement officer, a certified peer support specialist and an emergency services counselor. The RASC sites offer a therapeutic environment for assessments and pre-admission screenings.

It is the mission of the Emergency Services staff of the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck MPNN Community Services Board CSB to provide immediate intervention to any individual in the catchment area who may be experiencing acute distress or dysfunction due to mental illness or substance use. Staff is available 24 hours a day and will respond initially by telephone and, as needed, face to face to determine the least restrictive level of intervention required to include community diversions involving short term solution focused therapy and crisis stabilization services as well as inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations.

Crisis stabilization services provide intensive short term mental health care to non-hospitalized individuals (of all ages) experiencing an acute crisis of a psychiatric nature. The goal is to address and stabilize the acute mental health needs at the earliest possible time with ongoing services, avert hospitalization or re-hospitalization; provide a high assurance of safety and security in the least restrictive environment, and mobilize the resources of the community support system, family members, and others for ongoing maintenance, rehabilitation and recovery.
Crisis stabilization services are provided in the community, in the home of an individual (whether the person lives independently, with family or another primary caregiver); or in community based programs licensed by DBHDS to provide these services such as our Discovery Place residential programs. (DMAS CMHRS Provider Manual August 22, 2018)

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

Critical Incident Stress Management, or CISM, is an intervention protocol developed specifically for dealing with traumatic events. It is a formal, highly structured and professionally recognized process for helping those involved in a critical incident to share their experiences, vent emotions, learn about stress reactions and symptoms and given referral for further help if required. It is not psychotherapy. It is a confidential, voluntary and educative process, sometimes called 'psychological first aid'. These services are offered at the request of the community and its members.

The state standardized preadmission screening evaluation verifies the consumer’s need for inpatient psychiatric treatment. This evaluation is conducted by the Community Services Board (CSB) staff certified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. 

The prescreening process ensures the ability of the CSB to manage and coordinate psychiatric admissions to the state and private facilities thereby assuring limited hospital resources are utilized appropriately. The preadmission screening evaluation is a uniform method of entry to all psychiatric facilities that is required by the Code of Virginia.