Lead
Eleventh Judicial Circuit Criminal Mental Health Project
Miami, Florida
Habsi Kaba is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 32 years of experience in behavioral health, public safety, and crisis response systems. She leads the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Criminal Mental Health Project's Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program in Miami-Dade County and is a passionate educator and advocate for behavioral health and first responders.
Habsi has served as the 2nd Vice-President of CIT International, chair of the Florida CIT Coalition and Miami-Dade CIT Coalition. With over 22 years in crisis response initiatives, she is a certified master instructor in law enforcement crisis intervention and de-escalation, having trained more than 15,000 first responders, including the Department of Homeland Security U.S. ICE Hostage Negotiation Team, veterans, criminal justice stakeholders, educators, and professionals across the U.S., Canada, and Spain.
Internationally recognized for her expertise in CIT program implementation, crisis response models, curriculum design, first responder wellness, communication techniques, de-escalation, and behavioral health collaboration, Habsi shares her experience in systems transformation and liaison services. She has extensive experience in police patrol operations and the behavioral health/criminal justice system, known for her ability to facilitate comprehensive approaches and partnerships between law enforcement and behavioral health systems.
Habsi has received numerous awards and has been featured in various articles, national and local television, radio, and the PBS Documentary - "The Definition of Insanity," which focuses on the decriminalization of persons with mental illness.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM MDT