Crisis Intervention and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

At the Western Tidewater Community Services Board (WTCSB), the Crisis Intervention Program provides immediate behavioral health or substance use treatment to individuals who are experiencing an acute dysfunction requiring immediate clinical attention. Service goals include:

• stopping exacerbation of a condition,
• preventing injury to the person served or others,
• providing treatment in the context of the least restrictive setting,
• averting or reducing the threat of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, incarceration, or homelessness,
• assessing and stabilizing acute symptoms of behavioral health disorders, alcohol, and other substance use. 

Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) are formed with local law enforcement. Trained team members improve interactions between law enforcement and individuals with behavioral health disorders. This program prevents inappropriate restraint, incarceration, and stigmatization of individuals with behavioral health disorders  CIT reduces injury to officers, family members and individuals in crisis while linking individuals with behavioral health disorders to appropriate treatment and resources in the community.