Project Grant H79FG001450

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.