Felton 988 crisis center follow-up improvement project - felton institute's felton 988 program requests funding to expand and formalize systematic follow-up services for individuals who contact the…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services) awarded Felton Institute $241,536 on September 30, 2026, under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R).

Felton Institute, doing business as Family Service Agency of San Francisco, will expand and formalize systematic follow-up services for individuals who contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, are discharged after a behavioral health crisis, or are affected by suicide loss. The project builds a closed-loop continuum of care connecting crisis response, postvention, and long-term behavioral health services across San Mateo and San Francisco counties. Felton 988 will provide follow-up—including risk assessment, safety planning, and care coordination—for a minimum of 90 days, up to 12 months, to individuals at elevated suicide risk. The program will expand dedicated follow-up staffing, standardize evidence-informed protocols, and formalize partnerships with hospitals, mobile crisis teams, and community providers.

Felton Institute operates as the local 988 network center for San Mateo and San Francisco counties and provides 24/7 regional backup coverage for Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Nevada, and Stanislaus counties, plus statewide chat and text coverage for California. The population of focus spans youth through older adults, including individuals experiencing suicidal ideation, those following suicide attempts, individuals discharged after emergency department or inpatient psychiatric stabilization, and individuals referred through 988.

The period of performance runs through September 29, 2029, with place of performance in Alameda, California.

Felton 988 crisis center follow-up improvement project - felton institute's felton 988 program requests funding to expand and formalize systematic follow-up services for individuals who contact the 988 suicide & crisis lifeline, are discharged after a behavioral health crisis, or are affected by a suicide loss in SAN mateo and SAN francisco counties, california. The project will build a closed-loop continuum of care connecting crisis response, postvention, and long-term behavioral health services; expand follow-up staffing; standardize evidence-informed protocols; and formalize partnerships with hospitals, mobile crisis teams, and community providers. Felton 988 will provide follow-up - including risk assessment, safety planning, and care coordination - for a minimum of 90 days, up to 12 months, to individuals at elevated suicide risk, improving continuity between crisis intervention and ongoing treatment. Geographic area and capacity development needs: felton 988 is the local 988 network center for SAN mateo and SAN francisco counties, and also provides 24/7 regional backup coverage for santa clara, alameda, contra costa, SAN luis obispo, santa cruz, sacramento, SAN joaquin, nevada, and stanislaus counties, plus statewide chat/text coverage for california. Primary capacity gaps include dedicated staffing, standardized protocols, breadth of referral pathways, and data infrastructure. Population of focus: individuals experiencing suicidal ideation; individuals following a suicide attempt; individuals discharged after ED or inpatient psychiatric stabilization; individuals referred through 988; individuals in substance use crisis with CO-occurring suicide risk; and individuals affected by suicide exposure through felton's postvention response - spanning youth, transitional age youth, adults, and older adults, and including family members when clinically appropriate. Strategies and interventions to increase capacity: expand dedicated follow-up staffing; standardize an evidence-informed follow-up protocol; formalize a postvention-to-follow-up pathway; expand referral pathways to EDS, mobile crisis teams, and community behavioral health partners; formalize mous; strengthen data collection; and pursue university research partnerships. Project goals: (1) expand rapid, sustained follow-up after behavioral health crises; (2) strengthen continuity of care across systems; (3) improve clinical outcomes for individuals in follow-up; (4) build sustainable follow-up program infrastructure. Measurable objectives (aligned with samhsa strategic priorities): initiate follow-up within 24 hours of referral for 100% of eligible referrals; sustain follow-up for a minimum of 90 days (up to 12 months when indicated); execute mous with key partners, including at least one certified community behavioral health clinic, in year 1; increase completed safety plans and treatment engagement; and expand follow-up staffing while implementing continuous quality improvement.