988 bridge to recovery - the neighborhood center, INC. (TNC), the designated regional 988 suicide & crisis lifeline provider for oneida, herkimer, otsego, delaware, schoharie, and chenango counties,…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded The Neighborhood Center, Inc. $250,000 under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R) on September 30, 2026, to implement the 988 Bridge to Recovery program.

The Neighborhood Center will expand post-crisis follow-up capacity to serve approximately 200–250 participants annually across its six-county regional 988 service area (Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie, and Chenango Counties, serving approximately 469,000 residents). The program delivers structured, evidence-informed follow-up initiated within 24 hours of 988 referral, with support for a minimum of 90 days and up to 12 months when clinically appropriate. Services include ongoing risk monitoring, safety planning, peer support, care coordination, and linkage to behavioral health treatment, substance use services, healthcare providers, recovery supports, and community resources. The program uses standardized workflows incorporating objective eligibility criteria, risk stratification protocols, reassessment schedules, and evidence-based assessment tools including the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

The award period runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2029. Place of performance is Utica, New York.

988 bridge to recovery - the neighborhood center, INC. (TNC), the designated regional 988 suicide & crisis lifeline provider for oneida, herkimer, otsego, delaware, schoharie, and chenango counties, proposes implementation of the 988 bridge to recovery program, a regional post-crisis follow-up initiative designed to strengthen continuity of care and improve treatment engagement for individuals at risk of suicide, behavioral health crises, and substance use crises following contact with 988. The six-county service area includes approximately 469,000 residents and is characterized by substantial behavioral health workforce shortages, rural access barriers, and elevated rates of suicide, self-harm, and substance use-related morbidity. During 2025, TNC received 6,456 contacts through the regional 988 lifeline, including 670 contacts involving suicidal ideation, suicide risk, or other suicide-related concerns. While TNC currently provides follow-up services, staffing limitations require prioritization of a limited subset of callers despite a larger population that could benefit from ongoing support. Through this project, TNC will expand follow-up capacity to serve approximately 200-250 participants annually. The 988 bridge to recovery program will utilize a structured, evidence-informed follow-up model that begins within 24 hours of referral and provides services for a minimum of 90 days, with support available for up to 12 months when clinically appropriate. Participants will receive ongoing risk monitoring, safety planning, peer support, care coordination, and linkage to behavioral health treatment, substance use services, healthcare providers, recovery supports, and community resources. Standardized workflows will incorporate objective eligibility criteria, risk stratification protocols, reassessment schedules, and evidence-based tools, including the columbia-suicide severity rating scale (C-SSRS) and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Grant funding will support a full-time certified peer advocate and a full-time referral coordinator, expanding TNC's capacity to provide recovery-oriented support, care-transition services, treatment engagement activities, and closed-loop referral processes. The referral coordinator will facilitate communication with partner providers, coordinate referrals, verify service connections, and monitor referral outcomes to strengthen continuity of care and successful engagement in services. The project will strengthen coordination across the regional crisis continuum through enhanced collaboration with hospitals, mobile crisis providers, behavioral health organizations, certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCS), emergency response partners, and public safety answering points (PSAPS). Project outcomes include increased engagement in follow-up services, improved linkage to behavioral health treatment and recovery supports, stronger continuity of care following a crisis event, and reduced risk of future crisis episodes, suicide attempts, overdoses, and avoidable utilization of emergency and public safety systems.