Pathways 988 follow-up project - the pathways 988 follow-up project will expand the current behavioral health crisis continuum by providing 24-hour follow-up, engaging individuals in follow-up…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Pathways Inc. $249,981 on September 30, 2026, under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R) to expand crisis follow-up services in rural Northeast Kentucky.

The Pathways 988 Follow-Up Project will provide systematic 24-hour follow-up care to individuals identified through the regional crisis system across ten counties: Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Lawrence, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, and Rowan. The project will add two program supervisors and one crisis counselor to Pathways' existing crisis infrastructure, which currently operates the regional 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, mobile crisis response teams, behavioral health urgent care, crisis stabilization services, and outpatient and substance use disorder treatment. The follow-up services will target the approximately 219,000 residents of these counties who experience significant behavioral health disparities, including elevated poverty, chronic disease, substance use disorders, suicide rates, and transportation barriers that typically drive reliance on emergency crisis services.

Place of performance is Westwood, Kentucky. The period of performance runs from award date through September 29, 2029. Pathways Inc., a nonprofit behavioral health provider based in Ashland, Kentucky, is the direct recipient.

Pathways 988 follow-up project - the pathways 988 follow-up project will expand the current behavioral health crisis continuum by providing 24-hour follow-up, engaging individuals in follow-up services, reducing barriers to treatment, and decreasing future behavioral health crises and repeat crisis service utilization. The project will serve ten counties in pathways' rural northeast kentucky catchment area including bath, boyd, carter, elliott, greenup. Lawrence, menifee, montgomery, morgan, and rowan counties. Pathways currently operates the regional 988 suicide & crisis lifeline, mobile crisis response teams, behavioral health urgent care, crisis stabilization services, outpatient behavioral health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, peer support, and recovery services. To serve the approximately 219,000 residents of these counties, grant funding will expand pathways' crisis follow-up capacity by adding two program supervisors and one crisis counselor, enabling systematic follow-up for all eligible individuals identified through the regional crisis system. The population of focus will be individuals experiencing significant behavioral health disparities, including elevated rates of poverty, chronic disease, substance use disorders, and increased suicide rates, disability. Rural geography, lack of transportation and/or lack of reliable transportation, and limited employment opportunities are often barriers to accessing treatment. These barriers often result in reliance on crisis services and emergency departments. County-level data demonstrate elevated rates of frequent mental distress, elevated levels of adults reporting 14 or more days of loneliness, high rates of substance use, and adults reporting elevated levels of excessive drinking. Consequently, data indicates elevated levels of suicide, smoking, obesity, unemployment, fatal drug overdoses, and alcohol-impaired driving deaths. The pathways 988 follow-up project will strengthen pathways' existing crisis response system by reducing unnecessary reliance on emergency services and improving transitions to community-based care. Building upon the foundation of pathways' crisis services, the follow-up program will help sustain recovery after the immediate crisis by reducing repeat crisis episodes, improving engagement with ongoing treatment, and ensuring emergency responders remain available for life-threatening emergencies while individuals experiencing behavioral health crises receive the most appropriate level of care. Individuals identified through the 988 suicide & crisis lifeline and community referral partners will receive an initial follow-up contact within 24 hours, with priority given to individuals presenting with elevated suicide risk or other significant behavioral health concerns. Services will include caring contacts, collaborative safety planning, suicide and overdose risk reassessment, care coordination, scheduling assistance, referral management, resource navigation, and linkage to behavioral health treatment and primary care treatment. The project will demonstrate a reduction of suicide risk of at least 80% of participants who remain engaged in follow-up services and an increase in feelings of safety, hopefulness, and connection among 75% of program participants. At least 65% of participants will successfully engage in behavioral health, SUD, CO-occurring disorders, or other recommended services. Pathways will improve individual outcomes, reduce unnecessary utilization of emergency services, strengthen coordination across the regional crisis response system, and advance samhsa's strategic goals of expanding crisis and intervention care services, improving access to evidence-based treatment, and addressing serious mental illness.