title: Adapting the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of police-mental health collaboration in a low-income, post-conflict country: curriculum development in Liberia, West Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to develop a curriculum and collaboration model for law enforcement and mental health services in Liberia, West Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2013 we conducted key informant interviews with law enforcement officers, mental health clinicians, and mental health service users in Liberia, and facilitated a 3-day curriculum workshop.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mental health service users reported prior violent interactions with officers. Officers and clinicians identified incarceration and lack of treatment of mental health service users as key problems, and they jointly drafted a curriculum based upon the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model adapted for Liberia. Officers' mental health knowledge improved from 64% to 82% on workshop assessments (t=5.52; P<.01). Clinicians' attitudes improved (t=2.42; P=.03). Six months after the workshop, 69% of clinicians reported improved engagement with law enforcement. Since the Ebola outbreak, law enforcement and clinicians have collaboratively addressed diverse public health needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collaborations between law enforcement and mental health clinicians can benefit multiple areas of public health, as demonstrated by partnerships to improve responses during the Ebola epidemic. Future research should evaluate training implementation and outcomes including stigma reduction, referrals, and use of force.
authors.affiliation: Brandon A. Kohrt is with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC. Elise Blasingame is with The Carter Center Mental Health Program, Atlanta, GA. Michael T. Compton is with the Department of Psychiatry, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY. Samuel F. Dakana is with the National Police Training Academy, Liberian National Police, Paynesville, Liberia. Benedict Dossen is with The Carter Center Mental Health Program, Monrovia, Liberia. Frank Lang is with the Moultrie Police Department, Moultrie, GA. Patricia Strode is with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Georgia Affiliate, Atlanta. Janice Cooper is with The Carter Center Mental Health Program, Monrovia, Liberia.
authors.forename: Brandon A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kohrt
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blasingame
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Compton
authors.forename: Samuel F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Dakana
authors.forename: Benedict
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dossen
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strode
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000458:organization & administration; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007988:Liberia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D016495:Police / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014857:Warfare; D000078329:Workforce