Our History

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During the 1970's, a general movement toward de-institutionalization created many small, community-based residential programs for clients in corrections, mental health, physically disabled, domestic violence, etc. While this brought clients closer to the community, there was a general lack of training for staff and volunteers in these programs.

Beginning with volunteers in the corrections community, John Sawdon, the founding Executive Director, sought to address this problem through the establishment of a national voluntary agency that could provide training for and support networking among community based residential programs.

CTI continues to make significant contributions in this and other areas crime prevention by enhancing the effectiveness of services delivered by criminal justice and related human service agencies, as well as in the provision of crisis intervention and trauma support to individuals and communities.

During the 2001/2002 fiscal year CTI designed and field tested two new programs entitled "Supervising Crisis Workers", designed in response to a request from the Toronto Children’s Aid Society, and "Effective Supervision in Responding to Traumatic Events."

The second program entitled “Effective Supervision in Responding to Traumatic Events” was provided for managers/supervisors employed by Toronto Community Housing Corporation. This program includes a self-assessment component, an overview of traumatic stress responses, practice in providing both group care and one-on-one support, and a manager’s checklist in responding to tragic events.

Over the Past few years CTI has developed partnerships with a number of Colleges, Universities and related organizations as a means of providing greater access to CTI’s training programs. We are pleased and grateful to the following organizations for their co-operation in ensuring access to CTI sponsored programs:

• George Brown College
  In conjunction with George Brown’s "Advanced Counseling Program," CTI provides a 15-evening-version of our Crisis Intervention with the Hostile/Aggressive Individual Program. This program which averages 20 students per course is provided three times during the Fall/Winter, Spring and Summer Sessions.



• Humber College
  In conjunction with Humber College’s "Advanced Crisis Intervention and Counseling Certificate Program," CTI offers as an elective its Crisis Intervention Program. This program is offered once a year, either in the Winter or the Spring session.



• Mohawk College Public Safety Communications Program
  CTI’s Executive Director John Sawdon and Rosa Dragonetti of the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health team teach Human Behaviour I and II of this intensive 10-month Public Safety Communications Program. Human Behaviour is taught on Mondays from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm for students interested in careers as 911 operators, CACC Ambulance Centers, and Fire Dispatch.



• Traumatology Training Institute and Psych Inc. Resources
  CTI has partnered with Psych Inc. Resources in Toronto to offer a number of certificate programs in conjunction with Florida State University’s Traumatology Institute. These courses which were delivered in conjunction with The Centre for Professional Development and Green Cross Projects under the leadership of Charles Figley Ph.D. offer certificates in Field Traumatology, Mental Health Trauma Specialist and Compassion Fatigue – Accelerated Recovery Progam. For the current 2002/2003 year, York University’s continuing education division will become the coordinator of these certificate programs in partnership with the Traumatology Institute of Canada.



• Fountain of Life School of Ministry (Folsom) Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
  CTI has partnered with this private vocational Bible College in offering a 52-week Pastoral counseling Specialization Certificate Program. This program combines 26 weeks of formal academic training followed by 26 weeks of applied counseling under clinical supervision.



• Metis Nation of Saskatchewan – Western Region and First Nations Forum
  Through its recently developed Western Office, CTI has partnered with both of these organizations in offering a Problem Gambling/Treatment Certificate Program. In previous years CTI partnered with First Nations Forum in issuing certificates for two, one-year programs. A First Nations Governments Specialist Certificate Program and an Intensive Personal Development Certificate program were offered.



• The College of the North Atlantic St. John’s Newfoundland
  Kim Dreaddy M.Ed. provides CTI’s Crisis Intervention and Prevention training through the Office of Continuing Education.