WESTERN montana 988 crisis center follow-up project - WESTERN montana mental health center (WESTERN) is the 988 crisis lifeline provider for missoula, flathead, ravalli, lincoln, mineral, and…

WESTERN montana 988 crisis center follow-up project - WESTERN montana mental health center (WESTERN) is the 988 crisis lifeline provider for missoula, flathead, ravalli, lincoln, mineral, and sanders counties in WESTERN montana. WESTERN will use grant funding to improve follow-up care and coordination after crisis services, reduce suicides and attempted suicides, and decrease law enforcement involvement for the seven counties covered by its 988 call center. In 2022, its first full year of operation, the call center had 1025 answered lifeline calls; 740 of these were repeat callers, indicating a significant need for improved follow-up care. Through the grant, WESTERN will answer 1200 calls annually and 3600 calls over the lifetime of the project. The infrastructure development supported by this grant will impact all residents who access 988/crisis/emergency services for themselves, on behalf of others, as well as service providers; 20% are under 18, 59% are between ages 18 and 64, and 21% are 65 and older. Half are male, half are female. Approximately 7% identify as lgbtq+. Eighty-eight percent identify as non-hispanic white, 4% as native american/alaska native, and 4% as hispanic/latino and 12% of residents live under the federal poverty level. The percentage of veterans in montana (8%) exceeds the national rate (5.7%). The overall suicide rate in the service area (28.2/100,000) is twice the national rate (14.5). Suicide rates among native americans/alaska natives in the service are are higher than that of the non-native population. Lgbtq+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers. Goal 1: improve connection to follow-up care for 988 callers to prevent cycling back into crisis, prevent suicide attempts and completions, and promote recovery. (1.1) by end of Y1, develop a plan to confirm which calls with a disposition of "resources given" result in callers making actual connections to resources. By end of Y2, report baseline percentage of "resources given" calls resulting in connection; by end of Y3, demonstrate a 15% increase in connection to services over Y2 baseline. (1.2) by end of Y1, research best practices for peer specialists in crisis services; by end of Y2, develop a plan to incorporate peer specialists in follow-up care for 988 callers; by end of Y3, hire at least one peer specialist to support connection to follow-up care. Goal 2: improve coordination of services, especially for high-risk subpopulations, to facilitate rapid connection to appropriate and culturally responsive care. (2.1) develop four mous with organizations within local crisis continuum each year with at least one MOU in each of the seven counties. (2.2) train all 988 call center staff, WESTERN crisis services staff, and MOU partners in cultural sensitivity to identified high-risk subpopulations by end of grant period. Goal 3: divert individuals experiencing behavioral health crises from law enforcement involvement to more appropriate crisis services by closing service gaps. (3.1) by end of Y1, complete crisis receiving center in missoula; by end of Y2, determine baseline use, including drop-off type; by end of Y3, reduce number of of law enforcement drop-offs by 15% from baseline and increase direct use by 15%. (3.2) by end of year 1, coordinate with community partners to define WESTERN's role in the development and implementation of a crisis receiving center in flathead county; by end of Y2, complete crisis receiving center; by end of Y3, capture baseline use and set goal for reduction of law enforcement drop-offs. (3.3) by end of Y1, develop crisis service plan for each community. By end of Y2, complete implementation of plans through outreach, service integration and training. By end of Y3, capture baseline measurements for call dispositions and set goals for next level diversion.