Individual Award
Nominated by: Jock Pribnow and Keith Windsor
Mike Shirtcliff, DMD
"Dr. Shirtcliff is the 'real deal' in oral health specifically, and in public health in general. He has been on the front lines, working with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, in research, therapeutics, and prevention. He an advocate, an educator, a policy-maker, and a governmental consultant. Mike doesn't just talk--he acts on his ideas. We are sincerely grateful that he takes the time to be on our Public Health Advisory Board.'
"Besides being an active member of PHAB, Mike is active and invo!ved in more areas of public service than I can begin to think of. He is on numerous boards and advisory committees, and he is always looking to suppofl issues he believes in.
Group Award
Nominated by: Susan Keys
Deschutes County Crisis Intervention Team
"The Deschutes County Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit (CIT) began in the Spring of 2010. The team follows the Memphis TN model which was established in 1988 and is the standard for CIT instruction across the nation. The team serves as a conduit to get a person suffering from a mental illness or who is in a state of crisis, including those at risk of suicide, into the professional services offered throughout our county. The team responds 24/7.
Since its initiation, over one hundred local law enforcement officers and deputies have been trained as CIT specialists. This includes: Bend PD 49, Deschutes County Sheriffs Office 35, Redmond PD 13, Oregon State Police 3, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 41 Crook County
Sheriffs' Office 2, Black Butte PD 3, Sunriver PD 3, Prineville PD 31 Warm Springs PD 2. The CIT leaders have also trained officers from other law enforcement jurisdictions around the state, as well as firefighters, mental health providers security officers, and prosecutors. All of this training is free of charge.
The CIT officers also work in close collaboration with the Deschutes County Mobile Crisis Unit. The two teams meet regularly and have conducted multi-disciplinary team meetings to discuss cases and work together. Ride-a-longs with police occur and the Mobile Crisis Team members often join CIT officers at the scene of someone in crisis and provide their expertise on resolving the situation and getting those suffering from mental illness into the appropriate services.
Through the work of the Crisis Intervention Team law enforcement works together with social services in a highly effective manner. A closer working relationship between law enforcement and mental health services exists, with greater understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities. Lines of communication are open, and ultimately the citizens of Central Oregon receive better services.'
