Schaumburg, IL – Law enforcement leaders, first responders and mental health professionals from across Illinois gathered this week to discuss officer wellness, crisis response and strategies designed to strengthen resilience in public safety.
According to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), the Together We Rise Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Resilience Summit was held Wednesday, June 24, in Schaumburg. Hosted in partnership with the ILETSB Executive Institute, the one-day event focused on supporting the emotional well-being of officers and other first responders who routinely respond to high-stress situations.
“Public safety is about more than responding to emergencies — it is about supporting the people who serve our communities and the individuals they encounter every day,” ILETSB Chairman Sean Smoot said in a statement.
The summit featured presentations from trauma-informed leadership expert Katharine Manning, mental health advocate and Cope Notes founder Johnny Crowder, and Cook County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention & Behavioral Health Specialist Jason Couch.
According to ILETSB, one of the event’s featured topics was the continued expansion of Illinois’ Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program, which places trained therapy dogs with law enforcement agencies to help officers recover following critical incidents while also improving community engagement.
Officials also highlighted the Tails of Redemption program, a Cook County Sheriff’s Office initiative in which incarcerated individuals help train future therapy dogs. Organizers said the program combines rehabilitation opportunities with public service while expanding access to therapy canines for agencies throughout Illinois.
ILETSB said the summit reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to advancing crisis intervention training, promoting officer wellness and strengthening community-focused policing statewide.
For more information about Illinois’ Crisis Intervention Team program, visit the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board website.
