West virginia 988 state improvement cooperative agreement - west virginia bureau for behavioral health (BBH) is seeking funding through nofo FG-23-006 (FY 2023 cooperative agreement for states to…

West virginia 988 state improvement cooperative agreement - west virginia bureau for behavioral health (BBH) is seeking funding through nofo FG-23-006 (FY 2023 cooperative agreement for states to improve local 988 capacity) to augment the 988 system in the state. West virginia has one 988 lifeline call center, first choice services (FCS), that will be the primary beneficiary of this funding. FCS will receive approximately 83% of the money to augment their crisis center staff by adding 8 crisis counselors, 1 data analyst, and 6 credentialed peers. The additional staff in these areas will be crucial as the 988 lifeline expands. Money will also be allocated to training for call center staff. This will ensure the staff receives annual training on the continuum of services as well as specific training in peer and police programming. With the remainder of the money, BBH will hire a full time project evaluator who will oversee data collection and dissemination, maintain and prepare reports, give presentations to professionals and lay groups, and provide consultative and technical assistance as requested. The project evaluator will also develop relationships with behavioral health providers and other state agencies for the purpose of improving data collection. The funding through this cooperative agreement will further improve west virginia's crisis continuum by increasing the workforce at both the center and state levels, providing better trainings, and assist with data collection to help make better informed decisions about the statewide crisis continuum. All of these things will improve 988 response for the whole state.