Wellspace health - 988 crisis center follow-up improvement project - wellspace health's 988 crisis center follow-up improvement project will expand structured follow-up for people at risk of…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Wellspace Health $225,000 on September 30, 2026, under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R) to expand structured follow-up services for individuals at risk of suicide, overdose, and recurring behavioral health crisis through its 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Center.

The project will increase follow-up staffing, strengthen phone, text, and chat capacity, improve referral pathways, and extend follow-up from 90 days to up to 12 months when clinically appropriate and with consent. Follow-up will be initiated within 24 hours of referral or care transition and will include ongoing suicide and overdose risk assessment, safety planning, resource navigation, and warm handoffs to behavioral health and substance use treatment services. The project will serve youth, adults, older adults, veterans, and caregivers contacting 988, with strengthened text and chat follow-up targeted to ages 10 to 14 and 25 to 34, where suicide ranks as the second-leading cause of death.

The project will begin in Sacramento County and expand to all 30 counties by year three. Performance of work occurs in Sacramento, California. The period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2029. Wellspace Health, a nonprofit healthcare organization based in Sacramento, operates the 988 center providing 24/7 crisis call, chat, and text services as part of the national 988 Lifeline Network.

Wellspace health - 988 crisis center follow-up improvement project - wellspace health's 988 crisis center follow-up improvement project will expand structured follow-up for people at risk of suicide, overdose, and recurring behavioral health crisis. The project will begin in sacramento county and expand to all 30 counties by year 3. Grant funds will increase follow-up staffing, strengthen phone/text/chat capacity, improve referral pathways, and extend follow-up from 90 days to up to 12 months when clinically appropriate and with consent. Wellspace health will implement the project through its 988 suicide and crisis lifeline center, which provides 24/7 crisis call, chat, and text services as part of the national 988 lifeline network. Capacity development is needed because demand for 988 follow-up exceeds current staffing, technology, and referral infrastructure, especially as more individuals require continued support after 988 contact, emergency department discharge, law enforcement or 911/public safety answering point involvement, access line crisis contact, or overdose-related referral. The population of focus includes youth, adults, older adults, veterans, and caregivers contacting 988 on behalf of someone else. Services will support individuals experiencing suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, suicide risk, overdose risk, serious emotional distress, substance use crisis, or CO-occurring mental health and substance use needs. The project will serve all eligible help-seekers while strengthening text and chat follow-up for younger populations, including ages 10 to 14 and 25 to 34, where suicide is the second-leading cause of death. Project strategies include additional follow-up staffing; an upgraded CRM system with text and chat capacity; follow-up initiated within 24 hours of referral or care transition; ongoing suicide and overdose risk assessment; safety planning; resource navigation; and warm handoffs to behavioral health, substance use treatment, recovery, crisis stabilization, and community supports. Wellspace health will also strengthen referral partnerships with sacramento county, CA bridge connect, sutter health, emergency departments, advice nurses, law enforcement, access line crisis follow-up, overdose prevention organizations, crisis response providers, and other system partners. Project goals are to expand follow-up infrastructure, strengthen referral pathways, increase staff and partner capacity, and reduce future crisis events. Objectives include increasing follow-up staffing and implementing an upgraded CRM system by the end of year 1; creating at least 10 formal agreements or referral pathways by the end of year 2; training 100% of follow-up staff annually; cross-training at least 10 referral partners per year; expanding to all 30 counties by year 3; and ensuring at least 70% of participants are not readmitted to the hospital during follow-up participation.