Northwest portland area indian health board (npaihb) 988 tribal response project - over three years, the northwest portland area indian health board's (npaihb) 988 tribal response project will…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services) awarded Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board $1.485 million on September 30, 2026, under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R).

Over three years, the 988 Tribal Response Project will increase access to behavioral health on-call crisis services through 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call centers in the Pacific Northwest and strengthen connection and support for Northwest tribes engaging with these centers. NPAIHB, a tribally designated nonprofit representing 43 federally recognized tribes in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, will build regional suicide and substance use disorder crisis response partnerships in collaboration with Northwest tribes, regional partners, and at least three 988 call centers. The project will establish formal collaborations and communications with tribes, crisis call centers, and other partners around 988, suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, and will provide funding for up to six Northwest tribes to increase capacity for crisis response and suicide prevention.

The project will reach at least 10,000 people annually and 30,000 throughout the grant period. Work is performed in Portland, Oregon. The grant runs through September 29, 2029, and builds upon NPAIHB's existing suicide prevention work through the Tribal Health: Reaching Out Involves Everyone Project (active since 2009) and the Tribal Opioid Response Team (active since 2018).

Northwest portland area indian health board (npaihb) 988 tribal response project - over three years, the northwest portland area indian health board's (npaihb) 988 tribal response project will facilitate increased access to behavioral health on-call crisis services through the 988 suicide & crisis lifeline call centers in the pacific northwest (NW) and increase the connection and support felt by NW tribes when engaging with these call centers, which often assist their tribal members and relatives. The NW tribes and partnering call centers are deeply committed to completing this scope of work and sustaining partnerships to assist in improving the response to mental health and substance use emergencies for tribal people. The npaihb is a tribally-designated non-profit organization representing the 43 federally-recognized tribes in idaho, oregon, and washington. Housed at the npaihb, the tribal health: reaching out involves everyone project has worked with the NW tribes to prevent suicide since 2009, and the tribal opioid response team has worked to prevent substance misuse since 2018. In collaboration with NW tribes, regional partners, and at least three 988 call centers, the npaihb will build regional suicide and substance use disorder (SUD) crisis response partnerships to improve the response to and prevent suicide and SUD emergencies among american indian/alaska native (AI/an) people. Our approach builds upon our strong tribal network and expertise in culturally relevant behavioral health strategies, as well as on strategies to promote suicide and SUD resources. The project will reach at least 10,000 people annually and 30,000 throughout the life of the grant. Our goals and objectives are: establish formal collaborations and communications with tribes, crisis call centers, and other partners around the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, crisis response, suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention OBJ. 1 provide funding for up to six NW tribes to increase capacity around crisis response, suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention within their communities; OBJ. 2 provide funding for up to four crisis call centers to facilitate strong partnerships in the NW; OBJ. 3 review call center's training curricula and incorporate necessary culturally responsive supplements if needed; OBJ. 4 assist each call center subawardee to develop a system, or identify improvements for their current system, to collect and report on tribal members' 988 utilization, demographics, and follow-UPS; and OBJ. 5 facilitate collaboration meetings between subawardees, tribes, crisis call centers, and other tribal suicide prevention-based organizations and programs. Increase tribal capacity and expand their delivery of suicide and SUD prevention, early intervention, and crisis intervention strategies to strengthen NW tribal communities OBJ. 1 provide at least two trainings a year for subawardees and tribal community members; OBJ. 2 assist one crisis call center in hosting an event for tribes and partnering organizations to learn about the call center, 988 resources, and crisis education for tribal community members; and OBJ. 3 respond to at least 30 technical assistance requests across 15 or more NW tribes to improve and expand their crisis response or suicide prevention, intervention and postvention programs promote mental health and crisis response education and suicide prevention within NW tribes OBJ. 1 partner with at least two community-based organizations during at least three local events to present and educate attendees on 988 crisis response and suicide prevention; OBJ. 2 create at least one tribal 988 video to increase access to crisis call centers and reduce stigma to seeking support from mental health services; and OBJ. 3 disseminate we are connected and 988 suicide and crisis lifeline social marketing and media materials during health observance months to the NW tribes to reach at least 10,000 people across indian country