NEPA CIT

03/13/2026

03/09/2026

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𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆
𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐔𝐌𝐀-𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃
𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄
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REGISTRATION: PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION AT: https://forms.office.com/r/4Spxprx9Pu
OR SCAN THE BELOW QR CODE.

03/04/2026

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TRAINING COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
MEREDITH HOSE CO.
100 MAIN STREET, CHILDS PA 18407
MARCH 21, 2026 8:30AM TO 4:30PM
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REGISTRATION: PLEASE ACCESS THE QR CODE OR COMPLETE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION AT:
https://forms.office.com/r/Qm7CsUKZ56

02/28/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗕𝗜𝗡
𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗘𝗣𝗔 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗜 & 𝗡𝗘𝗣𝗔 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 (𝗡𝗘𝗣𝗔 𝗖𝗜𝗧)

The NAMI/NEPA CIT Challenge Coin program recognizes CIT trained First Responders who have provided extraordinary service in response to mental health crisis calls and/or provided exemplary leadership toward the development and expansion of CIT in our community. The person being recognized receives a letter recognition for their exemplary service and a Challenge Coin.

Mandy LaCoe, Scranton Counseling Center crisis co-responder, recently presented Scranton Police Department Officer Philbin with the CIT Challenge Coin. Officer Philbin has shown genuine compassion for individuals, ensuring their safety while showing understanding and empathy. Officer Philbin truly goes above and beyond for the community! Presentation was made during roll call by Mandy, Marie Onukiavage, Executive Director NAMI NEPA; Ray Hayes, John Chilleri and Cherianne Scala, CIT Coordinators for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Crisis Intervention Team and The Advocacy Alliance.

02/22/2026

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𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘: 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗗

𝗗𝗨𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 -"𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗕𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗨𝗠𝗔 -𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗬𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗘" 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗙𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗗.

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘.
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01/06/2026

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NEPA CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM
TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT
40 HOUR CRISIS AND DE-ESCALATION PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMS, DISPATCHERS, CORRECTIONS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL & OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS.
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12/31/2025

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CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING:
HOW BEING TRAUMA-INFORMED IMPROVES CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE.
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REGISTRATION: PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION AT: https://forms.office.com/r/UWdqmrCTA2
OR SCAN THE BELOW QR CODE.

12/10/2025

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TRAINING COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
LACKAWANNA COUNTY
PUBLIC SAFETY 911 CENTER
JANUARY 21, 2026 8:30AM TO 4:30PM
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REGISTRATION: PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION AT
https://forms.office.com/r/8m5yezUzJM

12/07/2025

Congratulations to the 16 Pennsylvania Ambulance EMT Students on their completion of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course conducted on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The Mental Health First Aid course is another tool these EMS Providers and other First Responders utilize when they encounter individuals who may be dealing with crisis, Mental Health emergencies or substance use disorders. The training provides an action plan for providers to interact safely with those they serve.

This Mental Health First Aid course was instructed by the Northeastern Crisis Intervention Team (NEPA CIT) Coordinators, John Chilleri and Ray Hayes as part of the Lackawanna County De-Escalation & Crisis Intervention Collaboration Project.

In 2026 The NEPA CIT Team will be conducting additional Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training throughout NEPA. Dates for Mental Health First Aid training and the 40 hour CIT program are posted on NEPA CIT website, page and Instagram.

11/07/2025

On behalf of the NEPA CIT Coordinators, Cherianne Scala, John Chilleri, Marie Onukiaviage, & Ray Hayes, we congratulate the newest CIT Graduates of the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training Program. The program was conducted on October 6, 2025 Through October 10, 2025, at The Lackawanna County Public Safety 911Center, Jessup Pa.

The course was attended by 28 individuals from Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services , Probation, Parole, Corrections, Fire Service, and Mental Health Crisis Professionals. This course provides attendees with the tools and knowledge to assist individuals experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis. The course concludes with Student Scenario Based Skills Training/De-Escalation Communication, Strategies.

This Program was funded by a federal grant titled Lackawanna County De-Escalation and Crisis Intervention Collaboration Project that was received by Lackawanna County Commissioners and administered by The Advocacy Alliance.

The next CIT program is scheduled for April 2026 The course announcement will be posted on the NEPA CIT page and also sent to all Public Safety Agencies and other Crisis First Responder organizations.

10/29/2025

CIT ADVANCED/CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM CONDUCTED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2025, AT CAMP FREEDOM
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STAYING GROUNDED WELLNESS STRATEGIES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS CONDUCTED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2025. On behalf of the NEPA Crisis Intervention Team Coordinators Cherianne Scala, John Chilleri, Marie Onukiavage & Ray Hayes, we would like to thank Camp Freedom for hosting this Advance Training/Continuing Education course. We would also like to thank all of our presenters for taking time from their busy schedules to share their knowledge & expertise.
The purpose of this training was to prepare First Responders to identify the different types of stress and to utilize strategies for building resilience. There were 34 First Responders in attendance at the program.

08/31/2025

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FIRST RESPONDER CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING:
WELLNESS STRATEGIES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
CAMP FREEDOM, CARBONDALE, PA
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REGISTRATION: PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION AT: https://forms.office.com/r/281wHkbNYK
OR SCAN THE BELOW QR CODE.