Criminal Incident Response Teams - CIRT

Disaster Behavioral Health

CIRT Mission

The mission of the CIRT initiative is to develop a coordinated, statewide model to mitigate the trauma caused by mass casualty criminal incidents by increasing readiness and response capacity, recovery coordination, behavioral health integration and community resilience.

PARADIGM SHIFT

• Victim-Centered / Trauma-informed

• Continuous and Ongoing

• Collaborative and Integrative

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CIRT Model

CIRT

Need / Gap Fulfillment

• In Texas, mass casualty criminal incidents have occurred at least once a year since 2014.

• Sutherland Springs and Santa Fe shootings highlighted the need for an enhanced coordinated statewide response.

Voices from Santa Fe

“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

Dr. Jackie Schuman Assistant

Superintendent Santa Fe ISD

“Melissa and her staff helped control the chaos of those wanting to help”

“Lean on the LMHA in this

type of event; I knew that our

school counselors were not prepared”

“We need the right people

with the right skill sets”

Melissa Tucker Gulf

Coast Center

CEO

“Bereavement is different than with a natural

disaster”

Dr. Julie Kaplow

Texas Children’s Hospital

Many Community based physicians

did not feel equipped to handle grief reactions and the post traumatic

stress”

What We’ve Learned

• Exercises/Drills

• Relationship with LMHA

• Get connected

• Standard Operating Guidelines

• Know your experts

• Community resilience

• Relationships are key

• Think out of the box and look for the unexpected

• Vet everyone

• Everyone is impacted

• Vicarious trauma treatment for all

Role of HHSC

• CIRT integration with ICS and Partners

• Guide regional CIRT teams

• Technical Assistance, Training and Professional Development of Teams

• Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG)

• Formal Evaluation of CIRT Initiative

• Needs Assessment and Reporting following CI

• Direct Service to IC and Partners

Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers ( CCBHC) – CIRT Regions

• Region 1 – Bluebonnet Trails• Region 2 – Burke Center• Region 3 – Emergence Health

Network• Region 4 – Montrose Center/Harris

Center• Region 5 – Helen Farabee Center• Region 6 – Integral Care• Region 7 – StarCare• Region 8 – MHMR of Tarrant County • Region 9 – Tropical Texas• Region 10 – Gulf Coast Center

CCBHCs – Year One

Phase I

• Staffing

• Training and Education: Staff, Community Partners and Regional LMHAs

• Networking and Relationship Building

• Infrastructure Development

• Anticipatory Rehearsal and Preparation

• Response and Recovery

CCBHCs – Year Two

Phase II

• Continued Training and Education

• Continued Infrastructure Building

• Continued Networking and Relationship Building

• Leading/Participating in Exercises and Drills

• Sustainability of CIRT initiative

• Documenting Best Practices and Lessons Learned

• CIRT Model Program Evaluation

• Response and Recovery

CIRT Team Structure/Composition

Staff Roles and Responsibilities

• Regional Coordinator

• Counseling and Training Supervisor

• Counselors

• Navigator I

• Navigator II

• Financial Specialist

• Administrative Assistant

Thank youChance Freeman

Director - Disaster Behavioral Health Services

512-380-4971

Chance.Freeman@hhsc.state.tx.us