Project Grant H79FG001179

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR STATES AND TERRITORIES TO IMPROVE LOCAL 988 CAPACITY - FLORIDA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR STATES AND TERRITORIES TO IMPROVE LOCAL 988 CAPACITY PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE FOR ANSWERING 988 CALLS, CHATS, AND TEXTS. THESE FUNDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE 13 ACCREDITED FLORIDA 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINES BASED ON THEIR CALL VOLUME SINCE VOLUME AND THE ABILITY TO IMPROVE IN-STATE ANSWER RATES DETERMINES STAFFING NEEDS. FUNDS WILL FLOW THROUGH THE SEVEN REGIONAL MANAGING ENTITIES THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO CONTRACT WITH TO MANAGE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM OF CARE IN FLORIDA. NO ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE MANAGING ENTITIES. IN ADDITION, FLORIDA WILL ALSO USE FUNDING FOR CREATING A STATE-SPECIFIC MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR 988. THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO FOCUS ON IMPROVING DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, INTEROPERABILITY WITH 911 PSAPS, TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT, AND FURTHERING POLICIES AND COORDINATION BETWEEN 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE CENTERS AND STATE MOBILE RESPONSE TEAMS. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FOUR GOALS FOR YEAR ONE. 1) EXPAND EXISTING WORKFORCE TO IMPROVE IN-STATE ANSWER RATES, SUPPORT INCREASES IN CALL VOLUME AND ACUITY, AND STATEWIDE COVERAGE WITHOUT COMPROMISING QUALITY OF SERVICE. 2) UNIFY AND STANDARDIZE THE EFFORTS OF THE FLORIDA 988 NETWORK THROUGH DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS AND TRAINING MATERIALS. 3) ESTABLISH FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE THREE STAGES OF THE 988 CRISIS CARE CONTINUUM, FOR EXAMPLE CALL CENTERS, MRTS, AND CSUS. 4) CONSTRUCT AND DISSEMINATE TRAUMA-INFORMED, EVIDENCE-BASED TRAININGS ON INTERVENING WITH HIGH-RISK AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.