Crisis center follow-up improvement - contact community services, INC., a 501(C)(3) in east syracuse, NY and a regional 988 suicide and crisis lifeline contact center is proposing the crisis center…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded $250,000 to Contact Community Services, Inc. on September 30, 2026, under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R) for the Crisis Center Follow-Up Improvement Project.

Contact Community Services, a 501(c)(3) organization in East Syracuse, New York, will formalize consent-based follow-up protocols, expand crisis system partnerships into underserved rural regions, strengthen 911/988 coordination, and connect individuals to ongoing recovery supports to reduce suicide, overdose, and unnecessary emergency engagement. The project will establish a standardized, risk-stratified follow-up protocol and formalize partnerships with hospitals, certified community behavioral health clinics, mobile crisis outreach teams, and 911/public safety answering point systems.

The service area spans nine counties across Central New York (Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego), the North Country (Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence), and the Adirondacks (Warren and Washington). While Central New York has an existing but inconsistently coordinated crisis system, the North Country and Adirondacks face foundational capacity gaps including sparse behavioral health infrastructure and limited public transportation. The population of focus includes individuals contacting 988 with suicidal ideation or behavior, mobile crisis outreach team recipients, individuals presenting to hospitals with behavioral health emergencies, and individuals whose crises involve 911 or public safety answering point referral. The region includes a substantial concentration of veterans and active-duty military personnel near Fort Drum in Jefferson County.

Performance runs through September 29, 2029, with place of performance in East Syracuse, New York.

Crisis center follow-up improvement - contact community services, INC., a 501(C)(3) in east syracuse, NY and a regional 988 suicide and crisis lifeline contact center is proposing the crisis center follow-up improvement project. The project will formalize consent-based follow-up protocols, expand crisis system partnerships into underserved rural regions, strengthen 911/988 coordination, and connect individuals to ongoing recovery supports - reducing suicide, overdose, and unnecessary emergency engagement. The project will be implemented across contact's nine-county primary 988 service area: central new york (cortland, madison, onondaga, and oswego counties), the north country (lewis, jefferson, and ST. Lawrence counties), and the adirondacks (warren and washington counties). While central new york has an existing but inconsistently coordinated crisis system, the north country and adirondacks face more foundational capacity gaps, including sparse behavioral health infrastructure, limited public transportation, and the absence of formal follow-up pathways. The population of focus for this project includes individuals who contact 988 expressing suicidal ideation, behavior, or risk; individuals receiving mobile crisis outreach team (MCOT) intervention; individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies who present to hospitals; and individuals whose crises involve 911 or public safety answering point (PSAP) referral. This population reflects significant clinical and socioeconomic vulnerability, including elevated rates of suicide, self-harm, and opioid-involved overdose; poverty rates ranging from 9.7% to 16.9% across the service area; and a substantial concentration of veterans and active-duty military personnel near fort drum in jefferson county. Contact will implement a standardized, risk-stratified follow-up protocol; formalize and expand partnerships with hospitals, certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCS), mcots, and 911/PSAP systems; establish a regional follow-up advisory committee rfac to guide implementation across all three regions; and participate fully in samhsa's national cross-site evaluation. Implementing these strategies will: • ensure systematic follow-up of individuals who contact 988 • provide enhanced coordination of crisis stabilization, respite, MCOT, and other crisis continuum services • strengthen 911/988 coordination to reduce unnecessary emergency dispatch • improve connections to ongoing behavioral health and recovery supports for high-risk individuals key objectives include an 85% follow-up offer rate and 65% enrollment rate by the end of year 1; 24-hour follow-up initiation for at least 90% of enrolled individuals; new mous with CCBHCS, mcots, and hospitals across underserved regions; and at least 70% resolution of behavioral health crises without emergency dispatch by year 3 - advancing samhsa's strategic priorities of expanding crisis intervention, addressing serious mental illness, and supporting long-term recovery.