Welcome to a New Season of Connection, Collaboration & Care

Written By Jeremy Herko

The Crisis Intervention Teams Association of Colorado (CITAC) is excited to welcome you into a new season of growth, partnership, and purpose. Across Colorado, our network of dispatchers, mental health counselors, police officers, wellness coordinators, peer specialists, community advocates, and behavioral health partners continues to strengthen the foundation of crisis response. Every one of you plays a vital role in shaping safer, healthier communities.

CITAC’s mission is rooted in connection — bringing together law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community partners to share resources, expand training, and build a unified approach to crisis intervention. As highlighted on our website, our membership platform is the “cornerstone” of this mission, giving agencies across Colorado a centralized hub to collaborate, learn, and grow together.


What’s New Across Colorado

Over the past few months, CIT programs statewide have continued to expand:

  • More agencies joining CITAC membership, gaining access to specialized training and shared resources.

  • Increased cross-disciplinary collaboration, with dispatchers, clinicians, and officers training side‑by‑side.

  • Growth in wellness initiatives, supporting responders who carry the emotional weight of crisis work.

  • Enhanced communication pathways, helping teams coordinate more effectively during high-stress calls.

Every step forward is powered by people like you — committed, compassionate, and dedicated to improving crisis response for all Coloradans.

National Momentum & A Conference on the Horizon

Across the country, crisis intervention is experiencing a powerful wave of innovation and investment. Nationally, we’re seeing:

  • Expansion of 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline partnerships, strengthening coordination between call centers, mobile crisis teams, and law enforcement.

  • Increased federal support for co-responder and clinician‑embedded models, helping communities integrate mental health professionals directly into emergency response.

  • Growing recognition of dispatchers as frontline mental‑health responders, with new training standards emerging nationwide.

  • A renewed focus on officer wellness, acknowledging the emotional and psychological demands of crisis work.

  • More states adopting CIT-based frameworks, inspired by the success of programs like those in Colorado.

This national momentum reinforces what we already know: CIT works, and Colorado continues to be a leader in shaping the future of crisis response

 

CIT Across Colorado Conference – Coming Soon!

CIT Across Colorado Conference

CIT Across Colorado Conference

We’re thrilled to announce that the Crisis Intervention Teams Across Colorado Conference is on the horizon!

While full details are still being finalized, here’s what you can look forward to:

  • Workshops led by dispatchers, clinicians, officers, and wellness experts

  • Breakout sessions on de-escalation, trauma-informed response, and community partnerships

  • Networking opportunities with CIT programs statewide

  • Spotlights on innovative crisis‑response models

  • Recognition of outstanding CIT members and agencies

This will be a celebration of the work you do — a chance to learn, recharge, and connect with others who share your commitment to compassionate crisis response.

Stay tuned for official dates, registration details, and speaker announcements!

A Closing Note of Appreciation

Whether you answer the first call, arrive on scene, provide clinical support, coordinate wellness programs, or advocate for community resources — you are the heart of crisis intervention in Colorado. Your dedication saves lives, builds trust, and strengthens the fabric of our communities.

Jeremy Herko