Project Grant H79FG001505

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Seven Counties Services Inc. $250,000 under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R) on September 30, 2026, to expand post-crisis follow-up capacity across its seven-county service area in Kentucky.

The award funds a dedicated follow-up team to address a critical operational gap: the ability to consistently contact individuals at highest risk of repeat crisis in the days and weeks following their initial 988 contact. SCS currently completes approximately 500 follow-up contacts monthly, but crisis intervention counselors handle both incoming calls and follow-up work, creating delays during peak risk periods. The grant supports 1.3 FTE dedicated crisis intervention follow-up counselors, a 0.5 FTE quality assurance supervisor, and a 0.5 FTE data administrator/technology coordinator, freeing these positions to focus exclusively on follow-up rather than competing with incoming call volume.

Services target adults and transition-aged youth who contact 988 or other SCS crisis programs experiencing suicidal ideation, recent suicide attempts, substance use-related crises, or co-occurring mental health and substance use needs. Follow-up begins within 24 hours of referral and continues as clinically indicated, connecting individuals to ongoing care and reducing repeat-crisis likelihood.

The service area encompasses Jefferson, Bullitt, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble Counties, serving approximately 1.05 million residents including roughly 70,000 veterans. SCS has operated the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline since 2005 and answered over 90,000 crisis calls in 2025 alone. Performance occurs at Wildwood, Kentucky. The project runs through September 29, 2029.