Crisis Intervention Team Education Collaboration Class of 2018

Area school professionals completed a week-long training in crisis intervention and mental health sponsored by the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County. The class, which is modeled after the Crisis Intervention Team training for police, was developed by Carrie Suvada 11 years ago for educators. Suvada, a teacher at Waterloo High School, organizes the class each summer.

The training began with a presentation by Brian Valletto, who was one of the first EMTs on the scene at the Chardon High School shooting in 2012. He shared his experience and discussed the importance of school safety planning and mental health awareness.

Topics included human trafficking, substance use disorders, gender and sexual minorities, domestic violence, and internet safety with presenters from the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Streetsboro Police, Coleman Professional Services, Children’s Advantage, Townhall II, and the Portage County Health District.

The group toured the Coleman Access facility and the Juvenile Court and Detention Center.