RESPOND: Law Enforcement-Mental Health Response Team Overview
In this program, law enforcement and mental health professionals will recieve evidence-based education and training in how to effectively and compassionately respond to emergency calls involving individuals with mental illness. They’ll learn to work together in ways that improve outcomes for those in crisis and the people around them.
The program covers basic concepts of mental illness, including signs and symptoms, indications of pending crisis, approaches to de-escalation, and more. It explores the unique culture of police and sheriff’s departments and the basics of working within the law enforcement community, providing mental health professionals with guidelines for collaborating with law enforcement and supporting a successful partnership that improves community safety.
Faculty and Admissions
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Certificate Highlights
Entirely Online
The program is offered online.
Evidence-Based Expertise
Throughout the program, you’ll work and study with the field’s top professionals, helping to build your expertise in applying evidence-based skills in crises involving individuals with mental illness.
Curriculum Plan
Course 1: Responding to Individuals in Crisis
This course covers the basic concepts associated with mental illness, mental health crises, violence risk, and behavioral threat assessment. The features associated with specific mental illnesses, including signs and symptoms and behavioral indicators of potential crises, are explored. De-escalation and risk management strategies are reviewed. The course provides students with options to focus on community or school-based applications.
Course 2: Model Law Enforcement-Mental Health Response Initiatives
This course covers the basic concepts associated with mental illness, mental health crises, violence risk, and behavioral threat assessment. The features associated with specific mental illnesses, including signs and symptoms and behavioral indicators of potential crises, are explored. De-escalation and risk management strategies are reviewed. The course provides students with options to focus on community or school-based applications.
Course 3: Expanding the Impact of Law Enforcement-Mental Health Response Initiative
This course reviews innovative, supplemental strategies -- including dispatch protocols, safe school campaigns, and community-based public/private partnerships -- that can assist in improving crisis and threat response practices and the wellbeing of the individuals involved. The course provides students with options to focus on the ways in which impact can be enhanced in the community or in school-based settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is this course taught online or on-campus?
The Certificate in RESPOND: Law Enforcement-Mental Health Response Team program is offered online.
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Are scholarships and financial aid available?
Yes, there are private and public scholarships to help you meet the cost of your education and Alliant offers institutional scholarships for many of our students. Learn more about these scholarship opportunities here. Additional financial aid is available for those who qualify in the form of loans, grants, federal work study, and military aid. Learn more from our Financial Options Guide.
Degree Campus Locations
The Institute’s Certificate Programs are online. Explore all of our programs below.
Why Alliant
At Alliant, our mission is to prepare students for professional careers of service and leadership and promote the discovery and application of knowledge to improve the lives of people in diverse cultures and communities around the world. Our Vision is an inclusive world empowered by Alliant alumni.
Why CSFS
The California School of Forensic Studies is dedicated to graduating rigorously educated and trained professionals who impact society, public opinion, and policy by applying science in the service of preventing, investigating, and mitigating conflict and violence.