The purpose of these cooperative agreements is to improve state and territory response to 988 contacts (including calls, chats, and texts) originating in the state/territory by:
(1) recruiting, hiring and training behavioral health workforce to staff local 988/Lifeline centers to respond, intervene,
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and provide follow-up to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis; (2) engaging Lifeline crisis centers to unify 988 response across states/territories; and (3) expanding the crisis center staffing and response structure needed for the successful implementation of 98 8. It is expected that these grants will:
(1) ensure all calls originating in a state/territory first route to a local, regional and/or statewide Lifeline crisis call center; (2) improve state/territory response rates to meet minimum key performance indicators; and (3) increase state/territory support capacity to meet 988 crisis contact demand.