Community Bulletin
Family medicine physician Andrew Colebank, DO, has joined WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital at the Brushy Fork Rural Health Clinic in Buckhannon, where he is now scheduling patients of all ages for appointments beginning in October. Read more →
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Kimbra Wachob, assistant director of Upshur County 911, was honored at the 4th Annual WV 988 & Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Summit in Parkersburg, where she was named WV CIT Dispatcher of the Year during the annual CIT Awards Luncheon.
The summit was hosted by First Choice Services, a Charleston-based nonprofit that operates multiple helplines, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The WV CIT Dispatcher of the Year award recognizes a 911 dispatcher who has demonstrated exceptional skill in handling mental health crisis calls and coordinating appropriate responses, including warm transfers to 988, CIT-trained first responders or mobile crisis teams. Recipients are recognized for their ability to identify behavioral health emergencies, de-escalate situations over the phone, gather critical information and dispatch the appropriate resources with compassion and professionalism.
In addition to her work as a dispatcher and assistant director, Wachob has become a leader in Crisis Intervention Team training for emergency communications professionals throughout West Virginia.
Lata Menon, CEO of First Choice Services, said Wachob’s impact extends well beyond her own communications center.
“Kimbra has demonstrated that dispatchers play a vital role in the crisis response system. Through her leadership, her calm and compassionate approach to emergency communications, and her commitment to training other dispatchers, she has helped strengthen CIT programs across West Virginia.”
Wachob has worked with agencies and mental health professionals throughout the state to deliver CIT for Dispatchers courses over the past several years. She has also lent her direct support to CIT officer training in nearly every region of the state. She is recognized as an engaging and knowledgeable instructor who is passionate about preparing both new and experienced dispatchers to respond effectively to behavioral health crises.
Beyond her work in emergency communications and training, Wachob manages her responsibilities as assistant director of Upshur County 911 while also playing a key role in developing and coordinating a regional peer support program for first responders.
Crisis Intervention Team programs bring together law enforcement, behavioral health providers, emergency responders, hospitals, dispatchers and other community partners to improve responses to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
According to the American Psychological Association, at least 20% of police calls involve a mental health or substance use crisis, and approximately 65% of jail inmates report mental health concerns. Dispatchers are often the first point of contact during these emergencies, making their ability to recognize behavioral health crises, provide calm guidance and coordinate appropriate resources essential to positive outcomes. CIT training equips dispatchers with the skills needed to support callers and connect individuals with the help they need.
