Heartland Crisis Intervention Team recognized
The Heartland Crisis Intervention Team, a nearly 20-year-old first responder’s mental health collaborative program, recently received a gold-level certification from CIT International, recognizing the work that the program has done in the region since its inception in 2006.
The Munroe-Meyer Institute partners in the de-escalation training program for first responders with the Omaha Police Department and Lutheran Family Services, providing a component on intellectual and developmental disabilities to help first responders recognize and more easily interact with people with IDD in emergency situations.
“The IDD component of training for first responders is really a unique and valuable aspect of this training and well received by the participants being trained,” said Mark Shriver, PhD, director of the University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities at MMI.
Said Rachel Ray, MMI’s CIT program director, “This gold-level certification recognizes the work that we’re doing, especially in relation to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The international committee recognized us for including people with disabilities in our training, and that aspect of the training always receives high scores and good comments from the first-responder participants as well.”
MMI has been involved in the program, which is run under Lutheran Family Services, since 2015.
-John Keenan, UNMC strategic communications
Dr. Lally presents on breast health navigation study
Robin Lally, PhD, professor at the UNMC College of Nursing and director of the Center for Chronic Illness, Self-Management and Prevention (CRISP), presented her team’s abstract on the Nebraska Breast Health Navigation Program at the 22nd Annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference on March 5.
Her presentation highlighted findings from the REALIZE study.
The study is led by Dr. Lally and Juan Santamaria, MD, associate professor at the UNMC Department of Surgery and director of the Nebraska Breast Health Navigation Program. Both are members of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
The team includes PhD student Kia Scott-Sellers and Rebecca Johnson Beller, PhD, from the UNMC College of Nursing, and breast cancer survivors Phyllis Mitchell-Butler and Julia Weathers.
The study provides insights into how pairing newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with a peer breast cancer survivor from the local community can improve trust in the health care system, communication and treatment adherence among African American women with breast cancer. Early findings suggest the need for social support to help reduce fear and build confidence among breast cancer patients.
“By continuously evaluating outcomes, the team aims to refine the program model and potentially expand its implementation, ultimately improving breast cancer care for Black women in Nebraska,” Dr. Lally said.
-Nibedita Paul, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center