Western kentucky 988 crisis follow-up and care continuum model - project name: western kentucky 988 crisis follow-up and care continuum model rivervalley behavioral health (RVBH) a community mental…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $250,000 to River Valley Behavioral Health on September 30, 2026, under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R). The project, titled Western Kentucky 988 Crisis Follow-Up and Care Continuum Model, will establish a safety-planning-focused crisis continuum of care program designed to expand crisis services, improve care coordination, reduce suicide and overdose risk, and decrease avoidable emergency service use in a seven-county predominantly rural region spanning Daviess, Henderson, Hancock, Union, McLean, Webster, and Ohio counties in western Kentucky.

River Valley Behavioral Health, a community mental health center and certified community behavioral health clinic operating as Kentucky's statewide provider of 988 text and chat services, will fund three full-time crisis follow-up specialists integrated within its crisis line, statewide 988 text and chat center, mobile crisis, and CCBHC services to implement standardized follow-up after crisis contact. The program will serve 350 unique individuals annually within the seven-county service area and disseminate evidence-based crisis follow-up practices across all 120 Kentucky counties through 988 text and chat. The target population includes individuals of all ages and veterans contacting 988 and identified as imminent risk, referrals from 911 and public safety answering points, or emergency department and inpatient discharges following mental health or substance use crises.

Performance runs through September 29, 2029, with place of performance in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Western kentucky 988 crisis follow-up and care continuum model - project name: western kentucky 988 crisis follow-up and care continuum model rivervalley behavioral health (RVBH) a community mental health center (CMHC), certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC), and kentucky's statewide provider of 988 text and chat services proposes to launch a safety-planning-focused crisis continuum of care program to expand crisis services, improve care coordination, reduce suicide and overdose risk, decrease avoidable emergency service use, and connect individuals quickly to treatment and recovery supports. RVBH brings deep crisis-response expertise to this work. Building on more than 20 years of crisis call center operations and its establishment of the commonwealth's first 24/7 mental health mobile crisis team, RVBH will strengthen post-crisis follow-up capacity and improve outcomes for kentuckians. This program will serve 350 unique individuals annually. Geographical area and population focus: daviess, henderson, hancock, union, mclean, webster, and ohio counties, a predominantly rural, underserved seven-county region marked by limited behavioral health workforce, transportation, and specialty treatment access, and high rates of suicide and overdose. Through 988 text and chat, RVBH will disseminate evidence-based crisis follow-up practices across all 120 counties, strengthening the statewide crisis continuum. The population focus is individuals of all ages and veterans, contacting 988 and are identified as imminent risk, referrals from 911/public safety answering points, ER's or inpatient discharge following a mental health or substance use crisis. Capacity development: current 988 systems lack dedicated staffing for systematic follow-up after crisis contact. This project will fund three full-time crisis follow-up specialists integrated within RVBH's crisis line, statewide 988 text and chat center, mobile crisis, and CCBHC services to implement standardized follow-up, strengthen 988/911 integration and community partnerships, expand peer support and veteran-specific pathways, and improve spars reporting and quality improvement. Strategies and interventions: the evidence-based crisis follow-up model provides systematic follow-up for 90 days to 12 months, anchored by collaborative safety planning intervention (SPI) and individualized care planning. Services include follow-up within 24 hours, ongoing C-ssrs suicide risk reassessment, warm handoffs, care coordination, family engagement, peer support, veteran-specific pathways, 911/988 integration, and CQI. Project goals are: (1) ensure systematic follow-up for individuals contacting 988; (2) strengthen coordination across the behavioral health crisis continuum; (3) reduce unnecessary police, fire, and EMS involvement; and (4) improve access to and utilization of evidence-based treatment and long-term recovery. Measurable objectives: initiating follow-up within 24 hours for 90% of eligible individuals; connecting 80% of participants to behavioral health and recovery services; achieving an 80% engagement rate among veterans; reducing repeat crises requiring emergency or inpatient services by 20%; and maintaining 100% compliance with spars reporting. RVBH requests $250,000 annually for three years to expand post-crisis follow-up capacity.