Project Grant H79FG001454

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.