The Hampton Roads Disabilities Board (HRDB), a regional organization supported by the HRPDC, is sponsoring a symposium, Crisis Intervention Teams: How First Responders Address the Mentally Disabled, on Friday, October 14, 2016, in the Regional Board Room, from 9am-12pm. The symposium will provide an overview of Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) programs and how they respond to a crisis and create positive outcomes and avert tragedies.

CIT Training is a community-driven program to equip first responders with the skills needed to improve relations between the community, mental health organizations and individuals living with mental illness. The CIT program provides an avenue for the development of community partnerships and the collaboration of working together for community interest of service and care.

Sergeant Colin Elliot, Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), will be the guest presenter and discuss VBPD’s CIT program.

In addition, the city of Virginia Beach will provide a presentation and overview of its Project Lifesaver Program.  Project Lifesaver is a national proactive, electronic tracking, program used to assist in locating people with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or children with Downs Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder that wander from home and become lost.

There is no cost to attend the HRDB symposium, but registration is required and space is limited. For more information and to register to attend, visit the event page: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=f87jftcab&oeidk=a07ed7l29f6405190d0