The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Division of Forensic Services, in conjunction with the New York State Division of Criminal Justices Services (DCJS), Office of Public Safety, is pleased to offer the training Suicide Prevention in County Jails and Police Lockups: Instructor Level Course.

Nationally, suicide is a leading cause of death for inmates in jails and lockups. As a result, the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services and the NYS Office of Mental Health are pleased to announce a Suicide Prevention in County Jails and Police Lockups Instructor Course. This course was revised in 2020. 

This course has been updated in the following areas:

• Manual Format
• New Activities
• Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Use Content
• Suicide prevention screening guidelines
• Suicide prevention after cell assignment

The Suicide Prevention Instructor course is designed to be co-presented by a law enforcement instructor and a county or other local mental health instructor in a team-teaching format.

There is no fee to attend. The course will be delivered over two days and has been scheduled as indicated below.

Erie County (Williamsville)
September 28-29, 2021
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Monroe County (Rochester)
October 19-20, 2021
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Suffolk County (Hampton Bays)
November 16-17,2021
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

The Suicide Prevention in County Jails and Police Lock Ups TTT course is designed to be co-presented by a law enforcement instructor and a county or other local mental health professional instructor in a team-teaching format. Please note the following course prerequisites:

Law Enforcement instructors – must have successfully completed the MPTC Instructor Development Course for police or peace officers prior to attending.

Mental Health professionals – must meet the following qualifications: a Bachelor’s degree in a mental health field plus five years of service delivery experience, or a Master’s degree or higher in a mental health field. In addition to completing a course registration, mental health professionals are required to simultaneously submit a resume and Personal History Form (link at bottom of this announcement, to be completed by Mental Health professionals only!) to OMH. Additionally, written confirmation from the local police academy and the county mental health director or equivalent are also required with your submission. Documents should be scanned and emailed to ForensicTraining@omh.ny.gov
 

Please note, only instructors who have completed the MPTC Instructor Development Course for police or peace officers and mental health professionals meeting the requirements listed above are eligible to register for this training.

Health and Safety Measures 

The safety and wellbeing of the training participants, instructors, venue staff and OMH staff are of the utmost importance during the current pandemic, therefore OMH will be implementing several safety protocols for all OMH hosted events. In addition to following general Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and NYS Department of Health guidelines on proper health hygiene, all attendees, instructors and OMH staff will be required to: complete a daily electronic health screening prior to the scheduled start time, wear a mask or face covering at all times when in a classroom, venue or within six feet of another person outside of the venue, practice social distancing, utilize the same seating space for the duration of the training and follow all safety protocols established by the hosting venue.   

Failure to comply with any these guidelines will result in a removal from the training and premises and the attendees agency will be notified. The OMH reserves the right to follow up with any attendee or agency in the event of a failure to notify OMH staff of trainee absence, likewise, attendees must notify OMH staff of any absence after the commencement of training.  Trainees must also notify OMH staff of an exposure to COVID-19 or a positive COVID-19 test result within 14 days after culmination of training.  

The OMH will consult with the hosting venue to ensure proper cleaning/disinfecting of the classroom prior to each training day.  Cleaning supplies will be made available during the entire training day to be used on an as needed basis.  

Pre-Registration is required.  All interested parties must register at least two weeks prior to the course as seats are limited.  The location of training, class times and safety guidelines will be provided through an email confirmation; those who do not register will not receive this important notification and will not be admitted to the training.  Walk-ins and transferring of confirmation notices will not be permitted. Additionally, contact information provided (email and phone number) on the registration form will be used in the event contact tracing is required.  Be sure to provide the best contact information as circumstances may require contact outside normal business days or hours. Providing this information serves as consent for OMH use for contract tracing purposes only.  

Registration link: 

https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/6440848/Suicide-Prevention-in-County-Jails-and-Police-Lockups-Instructor-Level-Training