Through the Louisiana 988 Cooperative Agreement to Improve Local 988 Capacity, the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) will improve Louisiana's response to 988 crisis calls, chats, and texts originating in the state to meet or exceed SAMHSA's target goals. Each year the project will serve approximately 36,000 Louisiana citizens including the general public with a focus on individuals considered at high risk who are experiencing suicide, mental health and/or substance use crisis.
OBH will work closely with Louisiana's two Lifeline contact centers, VIA LINK and the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling (LACG) to achieve the following goals:
1. By 9/29/2026, at least 90% of calls (total # routed), chats and texts originating in Louisiana will be answered in-state.
2. By 9/29/2026, OBH will develop and implement a comprehensive statewide communication strategy.
3. By 9/29/24, both crisis centers will improve the collection of demographic, resource referral and utilization data with a focus on high-risk populations.
4. By 12/31/2023, OBH will submit a report to SAMHSA on crisis services with 988 integration and ways to improve connections.
5. By 12/31/2023, OBH will submit a report with a trackable improvement plan to the 911 administrator equivalent.
6. By 11/30/2023, OBH will submit a tribal engagement and support plan to SAMHSA.
7. By 9/29/2025, the call centers will improve their referral connections after contact with their center.
8. By 3/31/2026, OBH will submit a sustainability plan to SAMHSA for workforce capacity and KPI metrics.
9. By 9/29/2024, OBH will submit a comprehensive quality assurance plan to SAMHSA including protocols for identifying and reviewing critical incidents.
10. By 9/29/2025, call centers will implement their quality assurance plan.
11. By 6/30/24, call centers will develop policies and protocols for referrals to substance use crisis care.
12. By 9/29/2024, the call centers will implement policies and protocols for referral to substance use care.