Project Grant H79FG001453

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Centerstone of Tennessee, Inc. $250,000 on September 30, 2026, under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R) to fund the Crisis Center Follow-Up Improvement Initiative (CCFII).

CCFII expands Centerstone's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Center's capacity to provide enhanced follow-up and linkages to ongoing treatment and community supports for consenting callers in the 72 hours following crisis contact. The program will serve an anticipated 7,510 help-seekers over three years (2,050 in Year 1; 2,730 annually in Years 2 and 3) across Centerstone's 20 primary rural counties and 2 secondary urban counties in Tennessee. Centerstone received 12,500 calls to its Tennessee 988 service over the past year, with 26 percent reporting suicidal thoughts; statewide 988 demand increased 24 percent in phone calls and 70 percent in chats and texts year-over-year in 2025.

The initiative strengthens care coordination across crisis and recovery services and improves linkage to ongoing mental health treatment and recovery support using evidence-based protocols, including the Columbia-Suic approach. The focus population is projected to include approximately 50 percent male and 50 percent female participants; 24 percent under age 18; 41.5 percent ages 18–49; and 35 percent ages 50 and older.

The period of performance runs from the award date through September 29, 2029. Work is performed in Nashville, Tennessee.