Michigan cooperative agreement to build local 988 capacity - over the past year, mdhhs engaged in an intense 988 planning process with key stakeholder groups, elucidating several gaps in resources and…

Michigan cooperative agreement to build local 988 capacity - over the past year, mdhhs engaged in an intense 988 planning process with key stakeholder groups, elucidating several gaps in resources and programming needed for successful implementation of 988. This cooperative agreement will provide michigan with critical resources to increase staffing for 988 call, text, and chat coverage. The funding will also be used to support staffing for coordination between 911 centers, 988 centers, crisis services providers, and others. In addition, the funding will afford the development and implementation of follow-up programs for high-risk populations who seek crisis care through emergency departments or encounter law enforcement. As part of its 988-planning grant, mdhhs developed a 988-implementation plan that integrates 988 as part of a unified crisis services system. This aligns with michigan's work on the development of a three-component crisis services system, consistent with samhsa recommendations, for all michiganders: a centralized crisis line, mobile crisis, and crisis stabilization units. Michigan crisis and access line (mical), staffed by mdhhs vendor common ground, will provide primary text and chat coverage statewide and primary call coverage in all areas of the state except kent and macomb counties, where mical will provide backup coverage. Network 180 and macomb county community mental health, current nspl providers and publicly funded community mental health service programs (cmhsps), primarily serve these respective counties. While there is funding for current contact volume, resources will be needed to cover the anticipated significant increase in demand. Michigan received over 57,000 calls in 2021 and is expecting over 90,000 calls in the first year 988 goes live (in addition to chat and text). Finally, michigan will utilize funding to institute in-state back up coverage as recommended by vibrant. Through the 988-planning process, stakeholders emphasized the importance of 988 offering geographically and culturally equitable services across michigan. Coordination services provided through this grant will focus on michigan 988 centers providing services that meet all vibrant standards. This will also facilitate the development of a two-phase follow-up program: 1) phase 1 in which 988 centers offer follow up calls to all high-risk individuals who contact 988; and 2) phase 2, which will develop culturally sensitive and regionally tailored follow-up service program to high-risk individuals who seek crisis care at emergency departments or encounter law enforcement. This program will be designed with feedback from stakeholders, including people with lived experience, 911 centers, law enforcement, emergency departments, and others. Another focus of this grant is to build formal coordination processes between 911 and 988 so that michiganders are served by the system that best meets their needs. Stakeholders will remain imperative to 988 implementation through identification and prioritization of high-risk populations, marketing 988, sharing resources, and system feedback. Mdhhs will also utilize partnerships to help identify continued resources supported by this initiative.