D4 - 988 Policy and Capacity Expansion Workforce Initiatives: Year 1 Lessons Learned

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Location: Petree C, Level 1, LACC

None of the planners/faculty, unless otherwise noted, for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Relias, LLC and National Council for Mental Wellbeing guarantee this educational conference is free from bias.

Workshop Presenter(s)

Laura Evans (she/her/hers)

Director, National and State Policy
Vibrant Emotional Health
New York, New York
Kelly Clarke, PGDip Psych (she/her/hers)

VP, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Vibrant Emotional Health
New York, New York

Slides

Since the launch of the Lifeline 988 Suicide and Crisis Line, there has been a dramatic increase in call, chat and text volume. To respond to the demand, states and U.S. Territories have allocated resources and passed or proposed legislation to embed and support 988 efforts. Local behavioral health organizations, practitioners, CCBHCs and local/regional health authorities need to understand how 988 contacts are routed and how referrals are made. They must also understand how legislative efforts around 988 impact how crisis services are coordinated, are funded and the compelling arguments that advance these legislative initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

Learn the differences in federal and state 988 legislative efforts and how legislation that incorporated 988 state service fees have impacted the provision of crisis services.
Compare the ways 988 calls, chats and texts are routed and referrals are made, including which services are provided at a national vs. local level.
Discuss the strategies to increase workforce recruiting and retention efforts to meet the demands of 988.