By CHASE BOTTORF cbottorf@lockhaven.com 

LOCK HAVEN - About 20 Lycoming and Clinton County emergency service responders graduate crisis intervention training this week.

Graduates were celebrated yesterday at the Clinton County Department of Emergency Services office at 301 Frederick St. in Lock Haven.

Instructed by crisis intervention training coordinator, Barb Vanaskie, graduates were awarded a diploma for their week-long training efforts.

Vanaskie is the new coordinator in charge of scheduling training days, from mental health to proper crisis procedures.

The five days - or 40 hours - of training, included proper procedures of de-escalation during a crisis. This includes mental health diagnoses, awareness and diagnosis of substance use disorder and medicational awareness.

"It is so they're aware of all the symptoms and what to look for during a crisis as well as how to approach and de-escalate appropriately to keep the person responding to a crisis safe as well as the person having the crisis," Vanaskie explained.

Emergency service responders that undertook the training included probation officers, police officers, bail supervisors, crisis intervention and mental health case workers from both Lycoming and Clinton counties.

Among those who graduated was also Susquehanna Service Dog, Clarke.

According to Vanaskie, emergency service members take the course once in their career.

There are about two classes per year with 18-20 participants per class and will continue in 2024.

This was the first week of training held since 2019 due to COVID.

For more local news visit the Lock Haven Express.